California, the go-to state for many in the 20th century is now the must leave state in the 21st century, replete with crumbling cities, high crime, over-taxation, brownouts, stifling regulations, and a pending shakedown for the ages.
In 2020, a nine-member reparations taskforce was established by Governor Gavin Newsom. Since then, heated debates on reparations for black Californians have transpired. Initially the taskforce suggested $220,000 per person. Then, they decided that $350,000 was more appropriate.
Five days ago, the taskforce recommended $1.2 million per person. Days later, activists demanded $200 million for every African-American, the current value of 40 acres and mule! Never mind that since 1860, few U.S. families have ever amassed and maintained such sums.
The Granddaddy of Racial Shakedowns
Based on U.S. Census Bureau estimates, 2.3 million people identify solely as African American or black, not the 1.8 million that everyone seems to be quoting. If each of 2.3 million people receives $1.2 million, the California reparation bill would equal $2,760,000,000,000 ($2.76 trillion). The state’s entire annual budget is merely $320 billion. So the ‘reparations debt’ would be nearly nine times the annual budget.
If California could somehow could raise an additional $1,000,000 an hour, 24 hours a day, non-stop, it only would take 315 years to reach $2.76 trillion. At $200 million per black person, if the state could somehow raise $10,000,000 per hour, 24 hours a day, non-stop, it would take more than 5,000 years to pay for the ‘reparations debt.’
Even at the lower figure, of $1.2 million per person, count on a mass migration to California. And it would be game on for every race-faker in existence. Oh, and does it matter that since 1965, the Federal Government has spent more than $21 trillion on affirmative action and equal opportunity-type programs?
Still, why fret about such trivial monetary details?
Slavery, No; Discrimination Yes
Beyond the insane sums, other insolvable issues linger: California was not a slave state. Okay, maybe former slaves moved there.
During the time of slavery, free blacks in the U.S. owned black slaves. So… now what? Document that your ancestors were slaves, owned by white people, to cash in? If they were owned by black people, however, you receive nothing?
Regarding discrimination, it is undeniable. Darker skinned and yellow skinned citizens who have emigrated within the last generation do well, however, according to the American Community Survey, part of the U.S. Census Bureau. How is reparation accounting affected as Pakistani, Indian, Malaysian, Sri Lankan, and Filipino Americans residing in California and across the country have higher median family income than whites? Are whites being discriminated against?
Counting Everyone?
Other groups besides blacks faced, and face, discrimination in major ways. The Chinese, in San Francisco and statewide, suffered decades of discrimination, as did Mexicans, Latin Americans, and American Indians. In some respects, such discrimination continues. People with disabilities and woman faced, and face, discrimination.
For generations women were discriminated against, certainly in terms of businesses they may have operated or tried to launch, in property rights, and even in family rights.
As to the question “Who is black?” should California resort to the racist doctrine about “one single drop of blood?” So, if you have any black ancestors, you’re considered black? Or, do you have to pass a contemporary standard? It’s a conundrum that can’t be solved.
Boiled down, a wokester’s favorite target remains: White males. Apparently white males never endured hardship and caused everyone else to suffer. These males, however, have had historically higher suicide rates than women, shorter life spans, higher incarceration rates, and a greater incidence of mental illness.
Okay, Settle It
The notion of reparations, beyond being the all-time shakedown, that makes BLM look like amateurs, is a ludicrous attempt to re-direct and correct every part of history, apparently a key Leftist agenda item. It cannot be done: Tall people have higher lifetime earnings than short people. Active people fare better than inactive people. Educated people, obviously, have the odds stacked in their favor, and so forth.
Do you want to emulate Kurt Vonnegut’s plot in his short story Harrison Bergeron? In it, equality reigns supreme: no one is permitted to be stronger, better looking, or smarter anybody else. If you’re strong, you must proceed in life with one hand literally tied behind your back. If you’re attractive, you need to wear a mask.
Here’s a thought that I once felt I’d never have: If there were some fair and effective way to distribute a reasonable, affordable sum to verifiably black people, whose descendants have long been discriminated against, okay. Put this grievance to bed for all time.
Recipients can invest the money, pay for their children’s education, or do whatever they want with it. Once the money is dispensed, no more talk about reparations.
Ever.
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