An election year always means talk of reparations for slavery begin to make headlines — Democrats use this issue to bolster their own campaigns against “heartless” Republicans. In the current field of Democratic presidential hopefuls, several, including Cory Booker, have already floated the idea of reparations as part of their presidential goals.
Pete Buttigieg took that proposal one step further this week, indicating that he not only supported reparations, but that the amount “owed” should be treated like an investment, offering compound interest over the generations.
The former mayor pointed out what he calls an obligation for US taxpayers of today to fund reparations for those enslaved in the past:
“If the federal government, in other words, the U.S. taxpayer, funded these harms, then we have to fund a way to mend what was broken,” Buttigieg said.
Buttigieg was speaking at Clafin University in South Carolina; he indicated his belief that compound interest should be included in reparations – and that the people of today have a heavy burden to repay to previous generations.
“The fact that some of these harms came about a long time ago doesn’t make it better, it makes it worse,” he said.
Buttigieg says that reparations are needed to right not only the wrongs of the past, but to address racism still present today. Citing the Homestead Act of 1862, he pointed to an unfair distribution of land. He did not mention that the land in question was taken from Native Americans, just that when it was redistributed, over 1.5 million white settlers received land, while only 6,000 black settlers did.
Buttigieg shared his belief that tax payers should shoulder this burden and that some form of reparations should be offered to descendants of slaves today. Like most politicians who use reparations as a way to gain campaign points, Buttigieg railed about injustice, but had no real solution.
He has signaled that the US tax payer would be the ones on the hook for the costs, but had no proposal for identifying descendants of slaves, distributing the money that was collected or determining which taxpayers should be responsible for the bill.
“Taxpayer money” could come from people who are descendants of slaves themselves (unless the law somehow taxed upon racial lines), those who immigrated to the country long after slavery ended and those with roots in other parts of the nation, that had nothing to do with slavery and did not benefit from the practice.
Like other Democrats before him, Buttigieg had strong opinions about the concept of reparations – but very little to say about how they would work. So far, the closest thing to determining how reparations would work is H.R. 40 – a House bill that would create a “Commission to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African Americans” Buttigieg, like other Democrat candidates, has indicated he would support the formation of this committee and the exploration of just how to identify those who should pay and those who should receive.
The buttgig stench is typical democrat far left socialistic, commie support for wannabe dictator ways of bo & hilary treasonous law violations ! This type of NWO attacks on U.S. Constitutional Freedom & Rights has to be totally eliminated to protect U.S. National Security from the now proven #1 enemies in the dem party that have made themselves prime examples of their logo of an ass ! The butt in butgig proves the fact .. !
Buttigieg is one irresponsible candidate with no common sense, He needs to go back to his diapers and crib. Baby Butt is not qualified to be President of the United States.
This jackass could not run tiny South Bend, now he thinks he has the smarts to run the US. Has zero backing of the African Americans now he is trying to buy their votes with free money just like Obama. Food stamps for all……..remember Obama’s stash and free cell phones. How did that work out for us taxpayers? He will fade into anonymity just like Booker and the rest of the libtards.
todays blacks werent slave and my family didnt own any.. im 2nd generation american.. do the math,, He is a total idiot
Well, if reparations are in order, then count me in! I’m a white dude but my great grandmother was chained to a machine to make socks for the Union Army, an indentured servant to the company. Also, my great grandfather, General Micheal Corcoran, lost his life to a confederate soldier at the battle of 2nd Bull Run in his quest to abolish slavery.
So send me the dough as soon as you can, a cool million ought to do it! Thanks!
History is history – the past is the past! Nothing can be done to change it, and it is fantasy to pretend you can. No amount of money can erase it. We learn by remembering and never repeating, not by tearing down statues, silencing opposing thought, throwing money at it, or in silliness purifying our “conscience by claiming you have white guilt.” His comments and thinking shows the rationale of a junior high school and political neophyte pandering for votes. Do yourself a favor and remove yourself from the presidential race, put on big boy clothes and get in the real world (the opposite of politics) and realize what everyday citizens do, face and think. You are a spoiled child living in a make-believe world. There is a big, mean planet out there and you are a pimple on its’ butt!
Buuta jug is totally out of his mind to say these things. Dose it mean that much that you would lie your ass off about something that would never happen. Reporations? ? WITH A SO CALLED INTEREST?? This is why we are in this political mess. LOONYISM
Excellent point Ann Bravo to you I couldn’t agree more
Since the democrats were the ones that wanted to keep slavery going I suggest if they want reparations then they should be the ones to pay them. Of course they don’t want to admit that they were the slave masters or proponents of the KKK but they were. Check history, which they want to change, republicans were the ones who abolished slavery. So, if democrats want reparations let them pay the them, goodness only knows they have the money which they have stolen from taxpayers over the years.
My family fought for the union and then were also native Americans who lost their lands thanks to the buffalo soldiers and white union soldiers in the Indian wars how about giving it back to the Native Americans? Oh that’s right Native Americans won’t give the democrats the win the White House so screw them / us once again. Remember wounded knee
Was it not the CONFEDERATE STATES OF AMERICA that was so keen on slavery?
Just sayin’
I agree about the Democrats paying reparations from their own personal money-not government money from all taxpayers. The Republicans freed slaves, the Republicans established that they could integrate and vote. The Democrats wanted to keep slaves in order to enrich their bank accounts. They want to continue to enslave them with welfare and government benefits in order to keep them voting Democrat. Anyone that does not know this history-shame on you.
Pete , You can pay for my reparation part. Are you crazy. I should get some reparation for just listening to you democrats. Where do you democrats think of these things. Why are you guys out to destroy America?
REMEMBER WHAT HILLARY SAYS, ” THE VOTERS ARE STUPID”. ( THE DEMOCRAT VOTERS THAT IS)
My Irish ancestors neither owned slaves or came here from Ireland after slavery had been abolished. A couple fought in the civil war to free the slaves. My mother came from Australia so that side had nothing to do with slavery. How many millions of Americans are in the same boat?
My solution would be to provide reparations for the damage done to the black family by Great Society and Poverty programs. They would be in the form of charter schools and school vouchers to get black kids out of those unionized rat traps they try to pass of as schools. For a change, let’s teach the mass of black children smart.
why don’t we sue the italian government for roman depredations?? The interest on that would be huge!! but wouldn’t get much cuz Italy is already broke.
Baby Face?? Are you kidding? That’s the face of Alfred E Newman…don’t recall? Look up Mad Magazine. He may act like baby, but IN residents see him as a total loser, more engrossed with his failing campaign, than the city of South Bend.
What did you expect from a gay person? Gays are not tuned in!
I never owned slaves and you never picked cotton, That’s all folks.
Ugh, he nauseates. What kind of parents did he have? They really messed him up.
The only blacks that support this, are the ones living as government slaves.
You know, welfare, food stamps and affirmative action.
The last slaves owned, was over 150 years ago.
With generations, of families since then and they still cannot succeed?
Then it’s up to them to take responsibilities, for their own choices.
I am a third generation European immigrant.
My ancestors owned no slaves and weren’t even here, when slavery was legal.
It is not my responsibility to pay for someone else’s crime.
Likewise, I feel no guilt, for something I did not do.
I thought we were already paying them, it’s called Welfare.
Great ideal. Let’s bankrupt white america so that black Americans receiving govt entitlements can blow thru a bunch of money in 2 yrs or less and be right back where they were and wanting more reparations. 40 acres and a mule was reparations, they had already received.
Tarheel, you are right. As evidenced by professional athletes, they make millions in their careers. When they retire, however, the money is spent like water, and many are broke in a short amount of time. There are some who wisely plan ahead, but many squander it and are left with nothing. When people are given money, especially large sums, they waste it.