African American
In reply to the discussion: Ta-Nehisi Coates, Bernie Sanders, and Reparations [View all]MADem
(135,425 posts)people are clamoring for) are 'better' or 'more important' or 'more worth discussing' than other revolutionary ideas."
That may not be what you intend to say, but that is how it comes across.
Black people are tired of getting caged into shitty neighborhoods, given crappy loan opportunities with high interest rates, being last hired/first fired, and having to deal with racist police who will kill them as soon as look at them .... and white people want "free college" and UHC as their FIRST priority.
One would assume that reparations would not just be about a check, but about rectifying those issues I have articulated.
But here's the real bottom line.
Congress isn't going to pass ANY of that shit. If states want to do it (and some have given a few 'free college' opportunities at community college--for the 'smart kids') they can, but don't expect Congress to sign on to any of Bernie's pipe dreams. There will be no UHC. There will be no "free college for all."
Thus, if his campaign is all about pie in the sky, about dreaming about things that might be, but are impossibilities in the near or even medium term.... why not some of that sweet potato pie, too? Why doesn't he advocate for the people whose slave labor and economic marginalization formed, and continued to form into the 20th Century, the foundation of this nation? Even after Emancipation, black labor came at BARGAIN prices.
#BLM had it right with regard to this guy. His issues and concerns are aimed smack dab at white people. Even his latest AD has that vibe:
http://www.vox.com/2016/1/21/10806582/bernie-sanders-america