Keyes has plans for reparations

Chicago Tribune ^ | 8/17/04 | Allison Benedikt and David Mendell

[Aquinasfan]

One day after their first meeting, U.S. Senate hopefuls Barack Obama and Alan Keyes were back on the campaign trail again Monday.

Speaking at a news conference at the Hotel InterContinental in Chicago, Republican Keyes added to his now familiar talking points his stance on slavery reparations.

Prompted by a reporter's question, Keyes gave a brief tutorial on Roman history and said that in regard to reparations for slavery, the U.S. should do what the Romans did: "When a city had been devastated [in the Roman empire], for a certain length of time--a generation or two--they exempted the damaged city from taxation."

Keyes proposed that for a generation or two, African-Americans of slave heritage should be exempted from federal taxes--federal because slavery "was an egregious failure on the part of the federal establishment." In calling for the tax relief, Keyes appeared to be reaching out to capture the black vote, something that may prove difficult to do, particularly after his unwelcome reception at the Bud Billiken Day Parade Saturday...

[Bob J]

"No taxes for slave descendants is still the beginning of no taxes."

So, you believe once we've eliminate taxes on blacks, that eliminating taxes on all will surely follow? This thread get's weirder by the minute.

[Howlin]

I think you're spinning like a F6+ tornado.

[Lee Heggy]

If this is for real then I propose that white people also be given 'reparations' for the 'suffering' their ancestors endured due to the Federal excuse for war in regards to owning slaves and that all of us who contiue to suffer from sub-sonic 'rap music' in cars, indecipherable use of slang and the general cultural break down by those who promote the notion that 'diversity' somehow spells 'unity' should also get their share of 'reparations'.

[spunkets]

"Yeah but this idea is going over as well as the Bush amnesty plan."

That was just his idea to get them documented. IL is Kerry country. Bush can't afford to waste time there. Keyes is trying and giving it a shot. If he succeeds, so does Bush. Keyes isn't offering to give away anything. If IL gives him the Senate seat and he promotes this, he promotes low tax for everyone and the rat gravy train gets cut.

[cyborg]

I hope Keyes knows what he is doing.

[TomServo]

Well, since nobody can put a true definition on the word 'Conservative', I don't think anybody like a true conservative can or will ever exist. The reason being is of course, we all have differences in our conservative beliefs.

With that said, I did vote for Alan in the primaries thinking that he was more conservative than anyone else. Of course - the general was quite different. ;-)

[Area51]

Now get this, Keyes says they don't have to file taxes.

Okay so that means that the 50 Million that were getting Welfare thru the guise of the EITC because they didn't earn squat or paid anything in would get ZERO. See they have to file to get their Big gobmet check.

SUCKERS!

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

All the black people I know pay taxes. I think you're correct to identify the problem more by ideology than race.

Our local "Tent City" isn't occupied or run by a group of black people. As far as I can tell, they're mostly white.

[evad]

I'm in Chicago, I heard the actual tape, Keyes voice, on the news. He most certainly put this bull in the china shop.

I can't tell you how disappointed I am to hear this.

I consider my$elf a $olid $upporter of Dr. Keyes and I know I can't agree with him on everything but I'm starting to take a second look at my position.

Believe me, that doesn't happen often!

[Blood of Tyrants]

True: The average income of blacks is lower than the majority of Americans.

True: Nearly half of all Americans pay little or NO income tax.

Conclusion: Since blacks earn LESS than the national median, the majority (50% +1) would fall in the group of Americans that pay little or no income tax.

I hold no ill will toward anyone who is in the lower 50% of income tax payers and have been in that class myself, however, it is an inherently biased system that uses class envy to build a voter base. Get rid of the entire income tax system and go to a NST.

[Right_Handed_Writer]

"I think you're spinning like a F6+ tornado. "

I'll take that as a compliment since I have a sick hobby of storm chasing!

[proudpapa]

Okay freepers, pay attention. What Dr. Keyes is doing here is deleting an issue that the dem's have used in recent years to keep black people on the plantation.

It's a brilliant move.

Of course reparations in any form will never pass through congress. But by supprting it in this form, Keyes makes it pretty much a non-issue.

[jordan8]

Under Keyes' plan, African-Americans would still have to pay the Social Security tax, because "it's not a tax in the strict sense," said Keyes, calling it instead a payment to support a social insurance program.

Actually it is.

Keyes is desperate for support among blacks but this will turn off most of his non-black supporters. Again, I'm flabbergasted at the sorry state of democracy in general and the pseudo-opposition Republicans in particular that they could not come up with one legitimate local candidate for this race.

[Hank Rearden]

If true - way to go, Alan!

I'm sure they'll spend it wisely.

[Chad Fairbanks]

Well, apparently Keyes is the real Messiah, returned as foretold...

[TigersEye]

the pro-life Libertarian candidate.

Isn't that a contradiction in terms? Or is Jerry Kohn throwing a major Libertarian Party principle overboard?

[Southack]

c#359

[Bob J]

"I take it you don't want them to reduce the Federal government?"

Your refusal to address the question and subsequent evasion by misrepresenting what was said is quite revealing.