Cori Bush, Congresswoman from St. Louis called for reparations:
"The Declaration of Independence was written by enslavers and didn’t recognize Black people as human.
Today is a great day to demand Reparations Now"
Okay, let's think about reparations for a minute.
If a black man robs a corner store, we don't shake down all black people for restitution, right? We try to find the robber, and make him make restitution, right? To do otherwise would be unjust.
So, who was responsible for black oppression in the past? Who is responsible for black oppression now?
Which party was in control of the South during the slave era? Democrats.
Which party was in control of the South during Jim Crow? Democrats.
Which party controls the cities where most black people live today? Democrats.
Which party controls the failed government schools, and fights tooth and nail to keep black kids trapped there? Democrats.
So, here's my proposal:
1) For the next 100 years, no income tax for black people.
2) To make up for the lost tax revenue, increase taxes on anyone who a) belonged to the Democratic party b) is a 1st or 2nd generation descendant of a Democratic party member.
Is this perfectly fair? No. Some Democrats played no part in black oppression.
However, the cost of the Black Tax Holiday will hit mostly the people who were largely responsible for (and enjoyed the benefits) of slavery and Jim Crow (and their descendants).
It will also hit the people who are responsible for police brutality and black poverty in the present (War on drugs, licensure/minimum wage, welfare, zoning.
And Democrats today can't really complain if reparation claims are laid upon them unfairly-- after all, they don't care that many people not responsible for black oppression would be unfairly taxed under _their_ reparation proposals.
And unlike other proposals to date, Republicans should be happy to a) reduce the income tax for black people b) increase taxes on Democrats.
So, what say you, Democrats? Are you willing to take responsibility for your crimes? And the crimes of your fathers and grandfathers?
(Proposal inspired by @HotepJesus.)
"The Declaration of Independence was written by enslavers and didn’t recognize Black people as human.
Today is a great day to demand Reparations Now"
Okay, let's think about reparations for a minute.
If a black man robs a corner store, we don't shake down all black people for restitution, right? We try to find the robber, and make him make restitution, right? To do otherwise would be unjust.
So, who was responsible for black oppression in the past? Who is responsible for black oppression now?
Which party was in control of the South during the slave era? Democrats.
Which party was in control of the South during Jim Crow? Democrats.
Which party controls the cities where most black people live today? Democrats.
Which party controls the failed government schools, and fights tooth and nail to keep black kids trapped there? Democrats.
So, here's my proposal:
1) For the next 100 years, no income tax for black people.
2) To make up for the lost tax revenue, increase taxes on anyone who a) belonged to the Democratic party b) is a 1st or 2nd generation descendant of a Democratic party member.
Is this perfectly fair? No. Some Democrats played no part in black oppression.
However, the cost of the Black Tax Holiday will hit mostly the people who were largely responsible for (and enjoyed the benefits) of slavery and Jim Crow (and their descendants).
It will also hit the people who are responsible for police brutality and black poverty in the present (War on drugs, licensure/minimum wage, welfare, zoning.
And Democrats today can't really complain if reparation claims are laid upon them unfairly-- after all, they don't care that many people not responsible for black oppression would be unfairly taxed under _their_ reparation proposals.
And unlike other proposals to date, Republicans should be happy to a) reduce the income tax for black people b) increase taxes on Democrats.
So, what say you, Democrats? Are you willing to take responsibility for your crimes? And the crimes of your fathers and grandfathers?
(Proposal inspired by @HotepJesus.)