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Comment by spacemanmatt | Hacker News Reader

That's not what they said, and I believe you know that. Not sure what you're trying to achieve here.

His literal first line and 50% of his total statement:

> Absolutely. African Americans were excluded from its benefits by a viciously racist society. We should rectify that today.

...then follows it with complete dismissal of their opportunity cost and our loss of their productivity. Which is what I addressed, because it undermined what seemed to be an otherwise decent statement.

Please refer to the first or third definitions of the word "rectify" here:

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rectify

You are arguing against something he did not say.

So to make it easier for you, he is saying:

1. We should correct the wrongs that we have inflicted upon African-Americans in the past, including opportunity costs. 2. We should also recognize that making an investment in all people is a net benefit for our society

I don't know how to make it any clearer than that.

The disparity of benefits provided by the GI bill yielded exactly a modern racial disparity. I think you and OP are on the short side of explaining why such an overtly racist event can be described as a net benefit. The sentiment that you believe it should be better does have any weight in this context.

I've already explained it to you, but I can't understand it for you.

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