I don't know whether reparations are the best use of our resources or not. Presumably were we to pay out, it would be to people who were direct descendants of slaves. Seeing as how we keep pretty good records, we might be able to account for many folk. Failing that, instead of actual cash, perhaps we could find some other way to help balance the tables. We've spent long enough with the tables balanced against minorities, perhaps we might spend a little while with the tables balanced the other way. Rather than proposing a specific solution, I think perhaps we should actually have the National Discussion on Race that Clinton attempted while the Republican Congress stuffed their fingers in their ears and said, "Nonny, nonny, nonny. I can't hear you."

Of course, in order to do that, we'd have to have someone in office interested in something other than short-sighted, narrow-minded, personal self-interest. While the Republicans carry that as a banner, the Democratic party has not traditionally strayed far from the Me Generation hit parade.