Gary Drescher wrote:

But as much as I enjoy trading English lessons, it really doesn't matter
because (regardless of what you may have been implying initially) we're now
in agreement that not working for it has no bearing on the deservedness of
inheritance here.

Right, because inheritance isn't the issue. The issue most raise is
"compensation for the sins of the fathers." I'm simply against that
concept for a number of reasons. This is what is fundamentally behind
the problems in the middle east. I think bringing that concept to
America is simply stupid and will cause untold harm to race relations
going forward.



Actually, you just did. You made an analogy with *punishment* (jail) for
your grandfather's crime, whereas no one in the reparations debate is saying
that punishment is a valid rationale for reparations. Crucially, punishment
is something that's imposed on someone *for the purpose of* disadvantaging
that person (which may in turn be a sub-goal of some other purpose, such as
deterrence or vengeance).

Punishment is almost entirely the rationale for reparations, whether it
is stated explicitly or not. The honest folks admit this, the
disingenuous don't.

I say, crap happened and crap will happen. Get over it and stop trying
to find someone to blame or someone to punish. That is a good part of
what is wrong with our country and our legal system today. Nothing is
anyone's fault and every bad thing that happens must be blamed on
someone and someone made to pay. It is ridiculous.


Matt