Languish.org

General Category => Off the Record => Topic started by: jimmy olsen on May 23, 2014, 11:20:51 PM

Title: Ta-Nehisi Coates: The Case For Reparations
Post by: jimmy olsen on May 23, 2014, 11:20:51 PM
A pretty interesting, albeit long article, with a lot of fascinating anecdotes. It has a very misleading title. He's really arguing for affirmative action, the ending of discriminatory laws, and a historical exploration of the issue of white supremacy in America by a government committee, sort of like the equivalent of the South African Truth and Reconciliation Committees. Monetary compensation is barely touched on and when it is talked about, it's more in the vein of class action suits by living victims of racist policies.

http://www.theatlantic.com/features/archive/2014/05/the-case-for-reparations/361631/
Title: Re: Ta-Nehisi Coates: The Case For Reparations
Post by: CountDeMoney on May 23, 2014, 11:48:38 PM
Wrong crowd to sell it here on Languish, Timmay.  Blacks lost personal and real property in the 1920's through legally sanctioned theft?  Shouldn't have been black.  That's on them.  ITS ABOUT INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY
Title: Re: Ta-Nehisi Coates: The Case For Reparations
Post by: Razgovory on May 24, 2014, 12:42:32 AM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on May 23, 2014, 11:48:38 PM
Wrong crowd to sell it here on Languish, Timmay.  Blacks lost personal and real property in the 1920's through legally sanctioned theft?  Shouldn't have been black.  That's on them.  ITS ABOUT INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY

Yeah, not much sympathy here.  Red lining is the market at work!
Title: Re: Ta-Nehisi Coates: The Case For Reparations
Post by: Admiral Yi on May 24, 2014, 01:33:58 AM
I've read about 4 pages so far.  Up till now he hasn't really developed the argument about collective vs. individual responsibility.
Title: Re: Ta-Nehisi Coates: The Case For Reparations
Post by: Viking on May 24, 2014, 04:08:59 AM
Does he set a threshold or condition or time when affirmative action can be ended?
Title: Re: Ta-Nehisi Coates: The Case For Reparations
Post by: The Brain on May 24, 2014, 04:19:23 AM
Seems like a lot of trouble. Would it be easier to just make them slaves/differently equal again?
Title: Re: Ta-Nehisi Coates: The Case For Reparations
Post by: Viking on May 24, 2014, 04:23:24 AM
imho the people who agreed to colonization in liberia are the ones who might have a good claim for reparations.
Title: Re: Ta-Nehisi Coates: The Case For Reparations
Post by: Scipio on May 24, 2014, 10:06:49 AM
After I read the article, my first thought was: assuming I agree with his premise (which is by far the most legitimate argument for reparations I've ever read), what next? Answer: nobody fucking knows.
Title: Re: Ta-Nehisi Coates: The Case For Reparations
Post by: derspiess on May 24, 2014, 01:26:41 PM
I didn't read anything there I hadn't heard elsewhere. And it just gets plain whiney towards the end. What if all white people just kill themselves-- will that make him happy?
Title: Re: Ta-Nehisi Coates: The Case For Reparations
Post by: Ed Anger on May 24, 2014, 01:28:15 PM
Quote from: derspiess on May 24, 2014, 01:26:41 PM
I didn't read anything there I hadn't heard elsewhere. And it just gets plain whiney towards the end. What if all white people just kill themselves-- will that make him happy?

check your privilege.
Title: Re: Ta-Nehisi Coates: The Case For Reparations
Post by: Admiral Yi on May 24, 2014, 01:58:51 PM
I didn't know before reading it that red lining was FHA policy.  I thought it was something banks did on their own.  Also had never heard of that "rent to own" fake mortgage.
Title: Re: Ta-Nehisi Coates: The Case For Reparations
Post by: CountDeMoney on May 24, 2014, 03:31:11 PM
Quote from: derspiess on May 24, 2014, 01:26:41 PM
What if all white people just kill themselves-- will that make him happy?

Let's start with you and see how it goes, sport.
Title: Re: Ta-Nehisi Coates: The Case For Reparations
Post by: CountDeMoney on May 24, 2014, 03:35:43 PM
Quote from: Admiral Yi on May 24, 2014, 01:58:51 PM
Also had never heard of that "rent to own" fake mortgage.

It was a common practice in Baltimore well into the 1970s.
Title: Re: Ta-Nehisi Coates: The Case For Reparations
Post by: Razgovory on May 24, 2014, 04:22:41 PM
I wonder, if my dad robs a bank and dies and I inherit the money, do I legally get to keep it?
Title: Re: Ta-Nehisi Coates: The Case For Reparations
Post by: Savonarola on May 24, 2014, 05:14:02 PM
Quote from: Admiral Yi on May 24, 2014, 01:58:51 PM
I didn't know before reading it that red lining was FHA policy.  I thought it was something banks did on their own.  Also had never heard of that "rent to own" fake mortgage.

I ran into land contracts a couple times when I worked in cellular.  They're not common but they're still done in rural areas.  They were a nuisance from our perspective because there can be multiple sub-contracts and we needed to get permission from all contract holders in order to build our tower.
Title: Re: Ta-Nehisi Coates: The Case For Reparations
Post by: Admiral Yi on May 24, 2014, 06:22:29 PM
Finished it.  Didn't do any better job in the second half addressing the issue of collective vs. individual responsibility.
Title: Re: Ta-Nehisi Coates: The Case For Reparations
Post by: Scipio on May 24, 2014, 10:01:06 PM
Quote from: Admiral Yi on May 24, 2014, 01:58:51 PM
I didn't know before reading it that red lining was FHA policy.  I thought it was something banks did on their own.  Also had never heard of that "rent to own" fake mortgage.
Shit. People pull that shit all the time, all over the country.
Title: Re: Ta-Nehisi Coates: The Case For Reparations
Post by: Siege on May 25, 2014, 07:07:16 PM
Quote from: Viking on May 24, 2014, 04:08:59 AM
Does he set a threshold or condition or time when affirmative action can be ended?

What are you talking about?
Progressive policies have no end.
There is not even one single entitlement program that have been ended after it begins.

Title: Re: Ta-Nehisi Coates: The Case For Reparations
Post by: Siege on May 25, 2014, 07:10:22 PM
Quote from: Razgovory on May 24, 2014, 04:22:41 PM
I wonder, if my dad robs a bank and dies and I inherit the money, do I legally get to keep it?

Bad analogy.
Robbing banks have never been legal in any country.
Now, if your dad had a legal business, despite the negative moral outcomes, you get to keep the earnings unless congress change the law and says no.