The Central Pacific Railroad (CPRR) was a rail company chartered by U.S. Congress in 1862 to build a railroad eastwards from Sacramento, California, to complete the western part of the "First transcontinental railroad" in North America. CPRR ceased operation in 1885 when it was acquired by Southern Pacific Railroad. Now the railroad is owned by the Union Pacific Railroad.
What Should be Done about Past Discrimination?
California has discriminated against many minorities including Jews, Native Americans, Asians and Mexicans. We cannot afford to provide reparations for all of them. Further, current California residents should not be forced to pay for the discrimination that took place more than fifty or a hundred years ago.
But we do have an obligation to attempt to right the wrongs committed by our ancestors. I propose that in lieu of reparations, we should dramatically increase school funding in inner cities, like South Central Los Angeles, Oakland, Watts, Indian reservations and other poor areas. Currently, schools in poor areas have failed to properly educate students and prepare them for careers.
We need to pay teachers significantly more to work in these areas. Education is the best way to escape poverty. It should also start with preschools. The University of Pennsylvania found that, "Public preschool improves the eventual labor productivity of young children who are enrolled. These labor productivity effects show up much later. Preschool also provides childcare and thereby increases labor force participation for certain lower-income households that show up earlier." It would be a good start.
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