The case against reparations: My committee testimony Larry Elder shares thoughts with lawmakers about a bill promising 'justice'

wnd.com ^ | 2/24/2021 1842 hrs est | Larry Elder

[rktman]

Last week, I testified before the House Committee on the Judiciary's Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties regarding H.R. 40: Examining the Path to Reparative Justice in America. In other words, reparations. This is the first part of the statement I submitted:

"Reparations is the extraction of money from people who were never slave owners to be given to people who were never slaves."

It is also interesting that we are having this hearing at a time when racism as a barrier to success has never been so insignificant. In 1991, black Democrat and Harvard sociologist Orlando Patterson said: "The sociological truths are that America, while still flawed in its race relations and its stubborn refusal to institute a rational, universal welfare system, is now the least racist white-majority society in the world; has a better record of legal protection of minorities than any other society, white or black; offers more opportunities to a greater number of black persons than any other society, including all those of Africa."

In 1997, Time/CNN did a broad survey of black and white teens. Asked whether racism is a major problem in America, both said yes. But, when black teens were asked whether racism was a big problem, small problem or no problem in their own daily lives, 89% said small or no problem. In fact, nearly twice as many black teens, compared to white teens, agreed that "failure to take advantage of available opportunities" was a bigger problem than racism.

[rktman]

Thanks Mr. Elder. Your honesty is appreciated. According to "slavevoyages.org", the U.S. is not even close in this debate. Not that it was right but too bad there are folks who know no history. And, if people are hell bent on erasing history, erase this while you're at it. Link in next comment.

[rktman]

If anyone is interested in some data by Emory University:

https://slavevoyages.org/

Ugly, yes. A lot of history is. Seems like a lot of people dismiss just who captured the majority of people traded and sold. And, there were plenty on non ‘poc’ enslaved over the centuries. No monopoly there.

[V_TWIN]

“people are hell bent on erasing history, erase this while you’re at it”

Great point.....as far as I’m concerned we’ve BEEN paying reparations for 60 or 70 years....its called WELFARE.

[econjack]

Blacks have not thought this through. I was a legal consultant for almost 40 years figuring out the economic losses from an accident or wrongful death. Applying the same method used in the courts, you figure the cost by comparing the current status to what might have prevailed. In this case, in the early days of slavery, most came from Ghana. So, comparing income rates for blacks in the US with wage rates in Ghana and accounting for black population, it turns out that blacks owe non-blacks about $600 billion for each year since the Emancipation Proclamation.

I look forward to receiving my check.

[rktman]

How many buhzillion$ have been spent since cra64?

[Bon of Babble]

We’ve discussed this endlessly here.

Reparations have been paid by the 600,000 mostly white lives lost in the War Against the States.

Further reparations have been paid to blacks via massive welfare programs.

That should be the end of it (but won’t be).

[Osagegirl]

The minute they are successful is the minute we should stop paying federal taxes

[rktman]

Yup. Transportation, housing, food..............

[rktman]

I’m kinda ready to stop paying taxes for our local schools about now. :-)

[cdcdawg]

Larry Elder is simply not going to say what the Left wants to hear. It also doesn’t help the Left that he generally comes across as a very reasonable and normal person.

These hearings should be used to highlight Dementia Joe’s recent use of the n-word.

[libertylover]

And, there were plenty on non ‘poc’ enslaved over the centuries.

I suspect that if you go back far enough in anyone's family tree, you'd find that virtually everyone on the planet's family was enslaved at one time or another.

[monocle]

Who comes to equity must come with clean hands. Blacks must assume responsibility for their African ancestors who sold their African captives to slave traders.

The demand for reparations is the epitome of racism because the demand is based solely on race regardless whether one’s forebears ever owned slaves or not.

[Jimmy The Snake]

Having worked in the Corporate world since 1980, I find that race relations, (team work in mix environment, opportunities for promotion, hiring) hit their peak in the 1990s. It has since gone backwards to where we were in the 1970s. It seems the more we talk about it, the worse it gets

[escapefromboston]

They can give the money to any black American who rescinds their citizenship and returns to their ancestors country. If America is so racist they would surely take that deal. My guess is that none of them would.

[1Old Pro]

One of the big reasons race problems exist is that the media (Gayle King et al) keep pushing it.

[Captainpaintball]

Larry KILLED IT last week.

[Bon of Babble]

The minute they are successful is the minute we should stop paying federal taxes

Yep. If the Rev. Sharpton can do it, so can we.

[SkyDancer]

Let the ancestors of those Democrat plantation owners who held slaves pay it then.

[rktman]

I think had they’re ancestors remained in africa a large number of them wouldn’t exist today due to wars, famine and disease.

[rktman]

Yes he did.