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Comment by lainga | Hacker News Reader

Do you think the proposed American bill to purchase and distribute land to descendants of African-American farmers will change that?

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No. Most of that land will then be sold to the highest bidder.

No kidding. Not making any comment on validity or ethics of reparations, but just putting myself in the shoes of someone who would be the beneficiary of this policy, would I like to uproot the life that I have led, and many generations of my ancestors have led as non-farm-owners, to go try to figure out how to farm? Or would I like a big fat check from Mr Gates?

That’s a really bad idea. Farming is a profession and an essential one. People need to be educated, trained and experienced. We can’t waste valuable farmland and distribute it.

However, if it does pass..then it could just be the dollar value of farmland that is redistributed or with the caveat that they form a co-op to professionally farm the acreage to be productive.

All farmland needs protection. Transitioning of farmland into commercial land or residential land should be fully discouraged.

Also..small holdings(less than 1000 acres) should be automated. Farming is for the rich. You need to lose a lot of money first before you can start making returns.

Encouraging those with no farm experience with farmland is pushing them into debt and penury.

That would just delay the same process that has allowed these larger landowners to own most of the land in the first place.

You are speaking of land ownership and redistribution of property.

I am talking about food production and farming.

They are two entirely different issues

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