politics: “Poly” means “many”, and ticks are little blood sucking insects.
One man’s right is another man’s wrong. Henry K (Noble Peace Prize Winner) maybe tried for war crimes. History is written by the winners. Just ask the founder of Carthage.
We can not change the past, but together we can work for a better furture. How? Well I am not going to get on my soap box here. But if we each work to better the world around us and set the example, maybe just maybe things will slowly change. It is like riding and exercise bike. You don’t get anywhere but it is good for you.
lisa –
There is no current theory of liability by which one person can be liable for actions he did not do or cause to be done. And that is a damn good thing too.
This whole idea that corporations “profited” from slavery is interesting, but it is not a theory of liability because people always profit indirectly from the actions of others, but they are not liable. Right now American consumers are “profiting” from Chinese slave labor in that prison-camp-produced goods are imported and are available at cheap prices. That does not, nor should it, make American consumers liable for the fact those people are imprisoned unjustly by someone else.
Secondarily, the focus on corporations that “profited” from slavery is misplaced as well. The only reason corporations are even being examined is because corporate origins can be traced. Because corporations are state creations and not people, one can trace back to antecedent corporations and, in a sense, find entities that existed back then. However, none of those entities owned slaves or mistreated slaves. They simply “profited” from slavery, by doing such “horrible” things as writing insurance contracts for slave traders.
Additionally, people think that taking money from corporations is OK, because they’re just big, evil, profiteering groups. However, everyone overlooks the fact that corporations just pool other people’s investment capital. The people who would pay these reparations are the current shareholders of the corporations, which include mom-and-pop investors, individual investors and pension funds, in addition to those evil rich people (who had nothing to do with slavery).
The bottom line is that, for all the brilliant legal minds dedicated to the idea, there has not been one single viable theory of liability advanced to support people today paying reparations to other people today for wrongs that ended almost 150 years ago.
Lion, I wrote:
“On another note, I always held the idea that slaves were treated horribly, but a teacher pointed out that an owner probably would have taken care of an investment and fed them and gave them shelter. Its an idea but I don’t really know if its true.”
In the first sentence I wrote “held” and I meant to write “hold.” This thread was from a month ago but I need to clarify. Also, I didn’t state it but I said that my teacher stated it. I know you probably got pissed off and needed to vent and it was from my post so I was the target. I have no problem with that because I do it at times. I don’t know, maybe I did mean to write “held” and the idea of paying taxes for the slave reparations just made me sick. Or maybe my ultra-conservative teacher’s thoughts crept into my head and onto my keyboard. In any case I apologize for pissing you off(and anyone else) and as I reread my comments I don’t know why I wrote that. As an update to the thread, an article I have read stated that the lawyers initiating this suit have turned there attention to any and every corporation they can think of that had any ties to the slave trade and they are now trying to sue them. The article went on to say that the lawyers even believe they have next to no chance of winning but they are looking for out of court settlements. They believe the corporations will want to settle out of court to avoid tremendous trial costs and to really avoid boycotts from the public. Whether or not this is true I cannot tell but its food for thought. And I hope that is all this turns out to be.
Jesse Jackson and Al sharpton are nothing but shakedown artists and poverty pimps. Someone said the government wouled pay reparations. That mean WE would with our taxes. As far as companies paying, great their goes your bonus or your raise. If one cent of my tax money goes to these pimps, then by god I want my Black slave. Cause I never had one, and If I still have to be punished for it, then I want one mowing my damn lawn.
Just so you feel better. Back when I was in school one of my teachers also told me the same thing about protecting investments. Sounds fucked up, but I can see the truth in it. BTW This was a Louisiana Culture class and the teacher was Creole-half black/white. She seemed to believe this quite whole heartedly.
To Sak- he he he White Entertainment Television WET there would be sooo many lawsuites about racial discrimination. If anyone is at a disadvantaage it’s the white male population. Really if you look at how the whole system is set up. If you’re not a minority you’re at an inherent disavantage for all kinds of government programs and business opportunities. Also I live in N. Cali. Here I am the minority, but get no special privileges. Whats up with that? Thats it I’m gonna cry to the press and who ever else will listen about how unfair this SHIT is…boo hoo boo hoo hoo.
Lisa-
My ancestors came to this country and lived in tenament housing(multiple families in a handful of rooms) and worked 12+ hours a day under extremely dangerous work conditions. The industrial might of the United States was built with the blood and sweat of countless poor and uneducated immigrants. Thanks to their sacrifice I enjoy one of the highest standards of living in the world and countless opportunities. Likewise, those Africans forcibly removed from Africa and enslaved paid a terrible price that now allows Americans of African descent to enjoy one of the highest standards of living in the world. I have no desire to return to Germany and I don’t know anyone that wants to return to Africa. Frankly, the seperatist attitude exhibited by many people and leaders within the ethnicity (“African-American”) has done just as much to continue racism as the attitudes of closed minded bigots. This type of lawsuit is just another example of a few corrupt individuals capitalizing on the divisiveness they helped create.
BTW, the corporations were engaged in perfectly legal enterprises and is just one of many reasons why this lawsuit has no hope of success. As far as reperations go, if it ever happens then I’ll be waiting on my check from the government for the suffering it allowed to be inflicted on my immigrant ancestors. : )
Lisa- The “government” should pay? Just where in the hell do you think the government gets there cash? From all of us. So, WE will be paying, just like we pay for everything the gov. does. Thats why they need OUR permission before cutting checks (through congress), in my opinion.