American Slave Labor Compensation Act.

This petition calls for an amendment to the the present stimulus package or any further stimulus packages provisions that grant monthly cash payments to black Americans who have been disenfranchised and excluded over time from fair representation and participation in the American economy which was built on the backs of slaves for nearly 400 years allowing us in the U.S. to compete with and successsfully establish the U.S. government and economy as a world leader in business, agriculture and military power.

If this can not be done through the present or future stimulus packages we would like to see it written and passed as the American Slave Labor Compensation Act.

The trillions of dollars of wealth that is now circulating through the U.S. and world economy is now largely in the hands of a relative minority of wealthy white Americans who's children have greatly benefited from this wealth generated by utilizing the practice of slavery for nearly 400 years and now enjoy one of the highest standards of living on earth.

Although black Americans are now also beginning to participate and enjoy the wealth of the American economy many still live in abject poverty on the fringes of large metropolitan areas across the U.S. and disproprtionately fill up Americans prison systems which are reported to be unsafe and places of great violence and predation for the inmates unlucky enough to be incarcerated there.

The incarceration and crime levels in poor minority communities can be seen as a direct effect of poverty and lack of legitimate economic opportunity which has led too many young black Americans to turn to the drug trade and crime as a means of income despite the risks.

This is a great shame to the American government and the American people and reflects poorly on us across the world.

Although making apologies concerning slavery in America is a noble act and worthy of some praise it does not seem to be enough in the eyes of many of us who would like to see payments made to black Americans to compensate them for their ancestor's nearly 400 years of enslavement and their present economic exclusion because of historical and present prejudice and racism.....with stipulations for the money to be used pay back debts incurred if they have any.

The money paid out would be used only for debt repayment if those receiving it carry debt if not there would be no stipulations on how to spend the money, this also would greatly stimulate the U.S. economy.

The cost of this over a 20 or 30 year time period is not exceedingly prohibitive and would go a long way to healing racial wounds in America which continue to fester under the surface.

The cost of this would only be a fraction of the cost of the present U.S. stimulus money being spent.

Native Americans who now are experiencing some of the highest poverty rates in the developed world and are isolated on various reservations across the country could also greatly benefit from such reparations especially on reservations which presently do not have gambling casinos.

Although other minority groups have also suffered and been oppressed throughout the history of America these two groups have disproportionately been affected by and taken advantage of historically and are still presently affected to a great extent by extreme poverty, disenfranchisement and racism/prejudice.

Also increasing safety, mental health counseling and healthcare in our nations prison systems and creating more opportunities for the incarcerated to learn new skills for gainful employment when released would be a great help. 

Based on the present population of 40 million black Americans now living in the U.S. the cost of 200 dollars a month reparations for 20 years for the head of each black American household......let's estimate that to be one out of four of the total black population of 40 million or 10 million people, would be roughly 24 billion dollars a year or 480 billion dollars over a 20 year period, roughly half of the present stimulus package now in effect.

This figure would likely be even smaller if reparations were paid only to African American or Native American families now living at or below the poverty line or carrying unmanagable debt levels. 

This less inclusive repayment plan would only apply if there was no recovery of the U.S. economy or reduction of the U.S. debt and trade deficits in the near future.

Of course this money would be given out with stipulations for it to be used and be proven to have been used to pay back debt in families where that would apply which would greatly help to salvage U.S. banks and economy in general.

Those who would qualify would simply need to have a birth certificate that identifies their race as black or native American with a significant ancestral history in America.

Further stipulations in this Slave Labor Compensation Act could propose that it go into effect only when the U.S. economy begins to go fully into recovery from the present economic recession.

What is the second greatest commandment that Jesus spoke of after the first and greatest commandmant?

The first and greatest commandment was and still is this:

"you shall love the Lord God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength".

The second greatest commandment was and still is this...."you shall love your neighbor as yourself".....Jesus said there is no greater commandment than these two.

If we can make stimulus payments to U.S. banks and financial institutions who have used some of the stimulus money to pay executives, collectively, 10's of billions of dollars in bonuses this year, then surely we can use some of this money to directly aid the poor in debt relief and improved conditions in U.S. prisons and jails where many poor black Americans presently reside in disproportionately large numbers.

As a white American male I would like to see our political leaders step up to the plate on this matter and begin to create a dialog which can further the process of racial healing in America.
 
We the undersigned agree with the sentiments of the author of this petition.