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How will reparations do that? If the problem is something going on today, then fix today's problem now yesterday's.

labster 11y ago
Good question. A lot of the differences between the races is not in today's problems, but in yesterday's. In particular note: the income gap is a problem, but the capital gap is even bigger. Capital is often inherited, which means that white families are still benefiting from historical slavery. By providing capital, potentially through reparations, we could offset a portion of our historical debt. Not sure it would work, but that's the theory.
- brbsix 11y ago
  This is something you'd really want to be sure about. If the cause of said income gap is instead cultural, genetic, or something else altogether (e.g. drug war, single motherhood), reparations have the potential to make things far, far worse long term. Shielding people from reality (e.g. cause, effect, self-ownership) for a sufficient period of time is a dangerous game.
- vixen99 11y ago
  Why focus on income gap as a problem rather than the inability to afford or enjoy (for whatever reason) a reasonable standard of living? [ Answer: it rouses emotions and is thus rhetorically useful. ] Re inherited wealth: let's be clear - there is no country in the world where slavery was not practiced at one time or another in Asia, Europe America and Africa. Incidentally it was abolished by the British who then, with difficulty, brought pressure to bear on other nations. As to inherited wealth, in the main, Marx's recommendations in the Communist Manifesto have been largely implemented for most of us (40% tax in the UK above a fairly low threshold).
- greggman 11y ago
  Reparations or not this ep of This American Life gave me a new perspective on some of the related issues http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/512/house-rules?act=2#play http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/512/h...

Good question. A lot of the differences between the races is not in today's problems, but in yesterday's. In particular note: the income gap is a problem, but the capital gap is even bigger. Capital is often inherited, which means that white families are still benefiting from historical slavery. By providing capital, potentially through reparations, we could offset a portion of our historical debt. Not sure it would work, but that's the theory.

brbsix 11y ago
This is something you'd really want to be sure about. If the cause of said income gap is instead cultural, genetic, or something else altogether (e.g. drug war, single motherhood), reparations have the potential to make things far, far worse long term. Shielding people from reality (e.g. cause, effect, self-ownership) for a sufficient period of time is a dangerous game.
vixen99 11y ago
Why focus on income gap as a problem rather than the inability to afford or enjoy (for whatever reason) a reasonable standard of living? [ Answer: it rouses emotions and is thus rhetorically useful. ] Re inherited wealth: let's be clear - there is no country in the world where slavery was not practiced at one time or another in Asia, Europe America and Africa. Incidentally it was abolished by the British who then, with difficulty, brought pressure to bear on other nations. As to inherited wealth, in the main, Marx's recommendations in the Communist Manifesto have been largely implemented for most of us (40% tax in the UK above a fairly low threshold).
greggman 11y ago
Reparations or not this ep of This American Life gave me a new perspective on some of the related issues http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/512/house-rules?act=2#play http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/512/h...