Berkeley Poll: California Voters Oppose “Unfair” Reparations Cash Payments For Slavery

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A  new poll from UC Berkeley and the LA Times reveals that California voters overwhelmingly oppose the idea of cash payments for black descendants of slaves by a 2-to-1 margin. The poll found that 59% of voters oppose cash payments vs. 28% who support the idea. The majority simply says it’s unfair to today’s taxpayers for injustice in the past that they had no part in; those polled also agreed that it is wrong to single out one group for reparations. Almost two-thirds of white voters were opposed as were 6 in 10 Latino and Asian voters.

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The sprawling social experiment known as California faces an uphill battle on reparations, after a new poll from UC Berkeley and the LA Times reveals that voters overwhelmingly oppose the idea of cash payments for black descendants of slaves by a 2-to-1 margin.

The poll found that 59% of voters oppose cash payments vs. 28% who support the idea. Four out of 10 voters “strongly” opposed the idea.

Interestingly, just 19% of those opposed cited cost as an issue. The majority simply says it’s unfair to today’s taxpayers and wrong to single out one group for reparations.

In the Berkeley poll, when voters who oppose reparations were asked why, the two main reasons cited most often were that “it’s unfair to ask today’s taxpayers to pay for wrongs committed in the past,” picked by 60% of voters, and “it’s not fair to single out one group for reparations when other racial and religious groups have been wronged in the past,” chosen by 53%.

Only 19% said their reason was that the proposal would cost the state too much, suggesting that money alone is not the main objection.

Among Democrats, 43% favored and 41% opposed cash reparations. Republicans were strongly against the proposal at 90% with only 5% in favor. Independents were 65% opposed and 22% in favor.

Black California voters were more likely to support cash payments than any other demographic, with 76% in favor and 16% opposed, the survey found. Almost two-thirds of white voters were opposed as were 6 in 10 Latino and Asian voters. -LA Times

“It has a steep uphill climb, at least from the public’s point of view,” said poll director Mark DiCamillo, who was obviously disappointed at the results. “The idea of cash reparations is really what’s being strongly opposed,” he continued, adding “There could be other solutions that could be much more warmly received.”

The sobering reality could put Gov. Gavin Newsom and his fellow Democrats in a tight spot, after state leaders have vocally endorsed the idea of reparations – going so far as to create California’s Reparations Task Force in 2020. The objective was to create a model for national reparations. But as the poll reveals, they are sailing against strong winds.

The task force has indeed been hard at work. They propose payments to all descendants based on a plethora of criteria, ranging from health disparities to housing discrimination. But there’s more: The group also suggests ending the death penalty, restoring voting rights to all incarcerated individuals, and implementing rent caps in historically redlined areas.

Read full article here…

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Milton Farrow
Milton Farrow
7 months ago

CALIFORNIA CITIZENS , BEFORE YOU ARE TOTALLY DESTITUTE , PACK YOUR BAGS LEAVE YOUR HOME AND YOUR DEBTS TAKE YLOUR FAMILY
OUT OF THIS WHOREHOUSE OF A STATE AND LEAVE GRUESOME NEWSOME-LET THE BASTARD HANG