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Originally Posted by Slims
I was trying to clarify the difference....because most calls I have heard for reparations have been of the "pay me some cash" variety.
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Were they serious? Or on the Dave Chapelle show? I've heard the cash thing plenty of times, too, but it's almost always made in jest.
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Originally Posted by Slims
I think what you suggest should be the product of a functional social system rather than reparations...we shouldn't be focusing on blacks but rather blighted areas, disadvantaged people, high crime demographics, etc. If the shoe fits for the black community at the moment, great they will get most of the resources. The focus should be on the current situation, not past wrongs, and shouldn't be about race, etc.
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That's perfectly fine with me. Could we just call it reparations for the hell of it, though?
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Originally Posted by Slims
I think an increased police presence in high crime areas is a no-brainer, but the black community will probably disagree...they have certainly raised a stink about how many black people are arrested and extra cops won't fix that, at least not short term (though they could if they can begin to offer a significant deterrent effect).
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I don't want to freak you out or anything, but the lower income black, latino, and Asian families I know are virtually united on wanting more police presence in their areas. And this is in a city that has a reputation for racial profiling.
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Originally Posted by Slims
There is very little money going to the average drug dealer, most would be better off working for a living, keeping most of their money, not going to jail, etc. That so many people choose that path against all indications that failure is virtually guaranteed is a testament to a failing culture, not a problem with racism. I feel social efforts should also focus on changing the culture where that sort of nonsense is considered acceptable.
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It's not culture, though. The few drug dealers I know that aren't white guys with dreadlocks selling weed were born into a situation that is self-sustaining. Sure, it's possible to get good grades at that horrible school. It's possible to endure the beatings by not joining a gang. It's even possible to get accepted to a decent college. But it's not by any means easy.
Imagine you're 14 and living at home. Your dad is long gone and your mom works two crappy jobs just to keep you housed and clothed. She can't provide structure necessary for developing an objective understanding of your situation because she's working her ass off at work, so when you see an opportunity to make $300 in an afternoon being a spotter, you take it. Before you know it, you're dealing. And let's just be honest: there actually is a lot of money to be made in illegal narcotics, especially for people that have grown up impoverished.
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Originally Posted by Slims
Will, please try not to patronize people for disagreeing with you.
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He was oversimplifying and I felt like calling him on it. He's not the only person that thinks in those terms, and it has to stop.
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Originally Posted by Slims
However, we should be fixing that because those problems are a drain on society, not because the people causing them are black.
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Why can't we do it for everyone and simply call it reparations? It's an honest effort at equality for everyone, including black people. Why can't this be how reparations take shape?