Ta-Nehisi Coates: Why Precisely Is Bernie Sanders Against Reparations?

[Bernin4U]

231. Far more questions than answers

Given the (lack of) context especially, it comes off more as a verbal sucker punch.

Was there more discussion about it, or was this a question out of left field?

Bernie gave a 5 second answer, to point out the impracticalities, as well as what he sees as a much higher priority. Does that necessarily make him against reparations? No. Does that make him for reparations? No. He could be for, or against, or undecided. From his brief answer, we can't tell. All we know is that he doesn't see it as something that makes sense to pursue. Just like I can be all for the idea of being in good enough shape to race triathlons. That's very different from committing oneself to the actual training required.

I do appreciate that Mr Coates at least tried to reach out to Bernie to discuss this in more detail.

But to call Bernie the "candidate of partisanship and radicalism"? Sorry, that's such utter bullshit. Laughable really, considering how often we hear that Bernie isn't even a Dem. How the party has shown so little interest in supporting him. How he apparently has the ear of so many Trump supporters. Not to mention how he's simply trying to steer the country back onto the same "by the people, for the people" track as TR, FDR, and Eisenhower. This is called "radical" only in a very cynical sense.

And without said bullshit foundation as the premise of his argument, the conclusion has little to stand on. Which is a bummer, because it would be quite interesting to hear Bernie's actual thoughts on this. I would hope Coates can pursue it further. As is, his conclusion is frankly, lame. (Although not on the level of calling non-Hillary supporters misogynists.)

Personally, I'm undecided. Apparently I don't see Mr Coates' essay as air-tight as some:

1. It can be said that post-Nazi Germany set a precedent, but how does that make the decision correct? Bush v Gore may have set a precedent too, but it sure as hell wasn't correct. Being awarded millions for having "too hot" coffee spill on your crotch while driving doesn't make it correct.

2. What does Mr Coates want? What exactly is he looking for? Quite possibly I missed it, but all I picked up is that he wants a study. Really?? After all that, is it the best he can say? Isn't his essay already a study? So what does he suggest? Not to offer anything concrete (what reparations might entail, and the expected results) seems pretty intellectually dishonest. But again, sorry if I missed it, as I'm quite curious about this.