From: ZT
Sent: Saturday, August 20, 2016 5:49 AM
To: Walter Block
Subject: Re: Reparations
Walter, While I was at work and just before I sent that E-mail earlier today I googled “Walter block reparations” and I read over your jointly authored paper on the subject from a few years back. I don’t think this was addressed, and of course as I try to go to sleep a question pops in my head: Suppose my dad kidnapped 100 American fathers and sold them into slavery. Also he was a serial killer and murdered 10 more, and therefore the lifetime income those men would have generated, not to mention all the other good they could have provided to their family, was lost. Say he died 20 years ago, this all happened during his lifetime obviously, and now it has been uncovered. I had no idea and no part in it, as I was only 10 when he died and obviously was not a participant. Am I too guilty of my father’s sins?

Am I culpable for the loss of income the families incurred due to my father’s awful actions? I hate to make it simple here, but, for specificity, no property other than what they had in possession at the time was taken. The families claimed insurance, possessions left behind, houses, etc., if there were things left behind. But the income was lost and the lives clearly suffered in many ways from the loss of life and presence. I think I just answered this question on my own……. According to you, I am only responsible for what my father directly stole from them, correct? Not loss of income… Okay, now, a few what if’s: What if I am beyond broke, I’m already in debt? What if my dad stole a priceless ruby, no slavery involved, and I never saw it or the money from it, we were estranged? What if my family went broke after the property was received, but generations prior to my being born? Thanks, ZT

Dear ZT: You are not responsible for any of your “father’s” horrific crimes. It is only if he gave you any of the proceeds of his criminality that you must return them. You are not required, at least not by libertarian law as I understand it, to make good to his victims, or their heirs, in any other way.

The Best of Walter E. Block