I do not believe you are so dense as to not recognize the web of Chicago patronage, that included the indited and convicted former Governor, the current Teflon President and the leaders of various church groups and affiliations used to grease the wheels. Perhaps I did not express it very well. It is called patronage. It is a major feature of the Democrat Party. In Illinois such patronage is a major part of urban political survival. It is why President Obama joined Reverend Wright’s congregation and why despite never listening to a single sermon, Obama considered the Reverend to be a father figure. He learned about patronage from the Rev. Didn’t you read his books, those autobiographies of Obama?
On reparations, I do recall the conversations, and I believe that Horowitz, using some nifty quotes from MLK, was arguing that the Great Society of LBJ was sufficent payment. It was part of his argument about why reparations were a bad idea, I think. In fact I believe his points were addressed in a First of the Month Club article, but I don’t recall the substance, having only glance at it last year.
But the question for me boils down to this, which neither Horowitz or King address, Does the acceptance of a handout make you richer or does it impoverish a man even more? As it certainly does nothing for ones spirit or self esteem, I firmly believe it is the not the richer answer that is correct. Also, by that definition access to education is a form of welfare and by extension a form of reparations. I do not think, and I hope you can agree, that is not the case. I hope you understand that universal education is a mutually beneficial contract entered into freely because it is in all our interests. While most forms of government and socialized welfare are not in anyone’s interest beyond sustaining a person for a hopefully brief period. The longer a person is dependent on welfare the more beholden a person becomes to the government. I have found that arrangement to be nothing more than a form of slavery. Imo, it is better to go hungry. That is not any form of reparation I would or could agree to.
Just a note, many former slaves were offered a chance to emigrate and start anew, the thinking being that the experience of slavery would have jaded their thinking about America. But the overwhelming majority believed they had no ties to Africa, they were Citizens of the United States.
