African American
In reply to the discussion: Ta-Nehisi Coates, Bernie Sanders, and Reparations [View all]sahel
(87 posts)and that you are passionate about global warming, poverty, opposition to war, save the whales, healthcare and the entire myriad of leftist causes. But of course you want your pony at the top of the bill. Thats fair enough. There are so many worthy causes out there, and I will be the first to admit that I don't pay much more than lip service to a lot of them.
However, there used to be a rule, admittedly honoured more in the breach than in the observance, that even if you didnt actively support one cause or another, at the very least you wouldnt tear them down in an effort to try and secure oxygen for your own cause.
TNC doesnt support reparations himself, at least not with very much gusto:-
http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2016/01/should-bernie-sanders-support-reparations
Ironically then, if you contend that TNC does support Sanders' causes, he is criticising Sanders for holding positions similar to his own.
Even John Conyers doesnt support reparations explicitly, his own bill calls for "appropriate remedies".
John Conyers is a stand up guy, by the way. The single payer bill that TNC allegedly supports with such faint praise was actually authored by him. He and Sanders have been front and centre on a lot of bills that would make a real difference to the lives of working people. Thats probably why he's been unwilling so far to join the Fuck Bernie Festival, unlike others. Many others. Others that think that "public awareness" in and of itself actually matters worth a damn.
Put it this way: what would your reaction be if next year a 1% property tax was levied on your property in order to (for example) compensate Japanese Americans interned during World War II?
Sudden clenching of the jaw? Taut neck muscles? "Hang on I didnt have anything to do with...".
Yes, exactly. A non starter. When you realise why you're not willing to pay reparations to the native Americans, Japanese Americans, you will realise why they don't want to pay reparations to you.
BTW, he's an intelligent man. I don't buy the "surprise" line for a second. If you truly don't comprehend why affluent whites are prepared to indulge someone like Coates once a month then I am happy to explain further.