I've never "gotten it" about reparations for slavery and such.

[Zeitghost]

46. The problem with direct reparation payments

is the implementation. Who qualifies? Is it need based? Is it race based? What if you're mixed race? What if you and all you relatives are blue eyed, blonde haired WASPs but your 23 & Me says you're 1/128th West African because Great-Great-Great-Great-Great Gandma was a slave? Does President Obama, who is mixed race and who's family comes from Africa much more recently qualify? What if your ancestors were enslaved, but in another country like Jamaica?


I'm not trying to make light of the situation, but you can see that it becomes real messy, real fast if we're taking about directly compensating individuals. Lines would need to be drawn and I don't see any fair or easy way to draw them. I think the far better option is to invest in all impoverished communities regardless of race and try to better all Americans rather than get bogged down in divisive race politics that will only serve to further the right's agenda of divide and conquer.