My ancestor from 135 years ago was an outlaw who supposedly killed 39 men before dying in a gun battle...who cares? It has no bearing on me and how it relates to the decendants of those supposedly murdered, with regards to anything,...especially compensation or any damages whatsoever... You make your own good, your own bad, the choice is individualized and we are capable of both...
I'm not sure what you mean here,...but granny said him and the law (government) mixed like oil and water. Supposedly, I look just like him, sans the "p*rn star" moustache...
Who benefits from this besides lawyers? The companies getting sued pass on their losses to consumers and the people suing get crap after lawyer fees. I really respect your opinion Max so please enlighten me.
People who get legitimately hurt have no other way of seeking compensation for what they've lost. Really...no other way. The only way to create a punishment/deterrant for organizations is to hit their bottom line. That's the only language spoken. Without tort law, there is zero disincentive for companies to just cut costs and play loose and fast with public safety. Also...keep in mind that tort law doesn't necessarily mean that the defendant is a corporation. It may very well be an individual. I have a friend who runs a personal injury firm here in town...one of the big ones. I know him to be a good person. He sees his job as a big time service to those who have no where else to go. Sometimes I get calls for that kind of stuff, even though I don't do that kind of work...the desperation in these peoples' voices is tragic. A lawyer will typically take anywhere from 30-40% contingency fee on these sorts of things...but keep in mind he/she takes ALL risk. If an expert has to be hired, the attorney is paying for it....all court costs and expenses are borne by the attorney...and all his time he could be spending doing something else goes in to this. And if he loses...he gets nothing...and is stuck with all the bills. I couldn't work that way. Wouldn't want to. I'm not asking you to feel sorry for the attorney...but I am trying to make you understand that every client who walks in the door is not a winning game for these attorneys...and even people who are legitimately injured don't often get the recovery they deserve to fully compensate them for what they've lost.
You do, because you don't have to drive in Ford Pintos that explode, your coffeemaker won't catch on fire, your kids won't get lead poisoning....etc. I'm not saying there are not abuses; there are many, and I have seen them first hand. But you take the bad with the good.
Maybe some companies (coughtobacco) are sued because they kill, injure or poison their consumers with their products. The only "frivolous" lawsuits are the ones we read about in the papers. Why do we read about them? Because they're unique. Tort "reform" gives corporations a free pass which, in turn, passes the expenses on to you and me.
If a slavery descendant took a payoff, seems like they should have to leave the country immediately. After all, if the debt has been paid.... The idea of paying anyone for anything is just stupid. If the government was really feeling like doing the right thing FOR ALL AMERICANS, they would find a way to fund a quality education (K - college) that every American could afford. (Preferrably as close to free as possible.) Of course an educated society might discover how much they wouldn't need government but I digress...
how ultimately capitalistic of you . . . so you agree with the concept of slavery? Interesting Rocket River
I think we should pay reperations. Anyone that was an actual Slave should be paid by anyone who actually owned a slave. DD
Since when does disagreeing with reparations equate to agreeing to slavery? Somehow I missed the memo on that one.
Oh, though I disagree with reparations I'd take the money though. I'd be the one on tv screaming "I'm rich beotch!". (Damn I love Chapelle.)
What long term benefit is it to Black Americans if they do get reparations. Suppose at the very most each black person gets 10,000 dollars after a hundred billion dollar settlement. Will that really improve the quality of life for one minority? Will that make them percieved "equals" in the social hierarchy? Is that an end to affirmative action? Is that enough to cover the eventual backlash from every other race who has to pay for this? Will that pay off the supposed "white guilt"? People tend to claim victimization with frivolous lawsuits. While this issue isn't frivolous, principle have been overcome by profit. You already have angry protests over "reverse discrimination" by people living in their own bubbles. Reparations would be counterproductive to any substantial movement in racial equality. Not only that, you force them to live "your way" and shift them to the dirtier parts of the land while stripping down the valuable assets for your or your business buddies' gain. Once in a while their children gets to open some casino while the rest of them are at the mercy of government sponsored tribal owners. And yet, this seems to have a happy ending, appeasing the noble savages for the crimes the government commited while giving greedy people a place to willingly throw away their money.
How is getting money today for people who are extrememly distantly related going to help??????? How bout we take the 1 billion and help all the descendants of slaves that are in a rather compromising situation. If they are so honorable as to ask for 1 billion doolars, to be split 8 ways (125,000,000 a pop) they should make it for the other descendants as well. But that wont work, its all about the money. Not the idea that you want whats right, which is help everyone that needs help and was also a descendant of a slave.
