Charles Peter Straman *****************************BACKGROUND********************************* This is a progressive proposal to help eliminate the race war, eliminate the need for a slavery reparations bill that is now in congress, and cost the government (you the tax p Read more ... ayer) nothing. I have discussed it with both liberals and conservatives and they have all concurred that in theory it sounds good and should work. I was speaking to an incarcerated African American male about race relations. I mentioned to him that minority and majority leaders and politicians need to stop talking about race and change the topic to poverty. Talking about race alienates while talking about poverty is common ground for any race. He agreed and asked what I would actually do to fix the problem if a dialogue were started. I said the first step is to be able to talk about it, but I did not have an actual solution. I spoke with another incarcerated African American male about the same problem and mentioned that the black-white race issue did not appear to exist in Europe when I visited in 2012. He mentioned he had an African American friend in the music business that went to Europe and he made the same comment. The percentage of each race that actually use marijuana is the same for all races. If marijuana legalization continues on its current path only the 1% or corporations that will make any real money, all poor (especially minorities) will be put in jail at a higher rate because the illegal trade that they now get a piece of will be taken away. The result may be poor will turn to a more harmful drug trade and be more violent doing it which will perpetuate the problem. African American men are shot by police more than any other race because they do present the greatest threat. They are the greatest threat because they are faced with the highest percentage poverty level and least chance of getting out. There are plenty of statistics to backup this statement. Any reasonable person of any race is bound to seek high risk, high reward, to do better than just survive and develop a warrior mentality to accomplish it. African Americans have been asked to be a warrior to maintain or with a promise of freedom since the inception of this country even by Native Americans. If they did receive a promised freedom it was usually taken away in a short period of time. They experience the highest percentage of poverty of any minority because they are faced with more barriers than any other race to rise out of poverty which directly correlates to their place in history at the beginning of this nation. Every race born into poverty has to have a warrior mentality to survive at times but in this country it is required more so from the black community due to circumstances beyond their control. Anyone with a warrior mentality will resist arrest. Police take the action they do because at times they need a warrior mentality to survive as well. The police and poor minorities have more in common in this arena then they realize but fail to recognize it. There are plenty of historical records and statistics to support the above statements. We need to understand how we in the US got this point if we want to have a better future. Communication, understanding, and acknowledgement will be the first step towards a solution rather than fighting race wars ***********************TALK POVERTY NOT RACE*********************** Race was purposely used to form a wedge (class barrier) between white and black in this country (Colonialism) to prevent uprisings of the poor (black & poor while united) that had already happened more than once (Bacon Rebellion). http://msuweb.montclair.edu/~furrg/spl/thandekawhiting.html Europe abolished slavery long before the US civil war and through legislation. However Europe does experience a problem that parallels the US race war with the muslin community killing people in France recently. These muslins originated in a country that was once a colony of France where a class structure was again created. The muslins that live in France are in the "Projects" which is a relative term because their projects are better than where I now live. But the class structure is the same problem we have here with the black and other minority communities in the US. **********************$50 BILLION NEW BUSINESS *********************** I have watched Pot Barons on TV and researched online to see if I can find one black entrepreneur trying to get into the marijuana business. I have read online articles with comments like, “Common African Americans what are you waiting for to get involved?” I have seen sites mentioning parameters how African Americans can become involved, steps required, and time frame from the bottom up. Yet not one black entrepreneur can be found. This does not surprise me the least bit. It is so naïve to think African Americans, if they had the good fortune and strength to overcome all the barriers placed on them, would receive an equal opportunity and warm welcome into this business. African Americans are already disproportionately imprisoned and demonized for many reasons but especially by the war on drugs. I am sure a nonviolent criminal record for simple possession is enough to exclude them from participation in this business. So assuming the above statements are correct, where are the 1% (any race) advertising online to finance those African American’s who possess business experience and botany degrees desiring to get into the business? The Pot Baron’s do not appear to have started at the bottom and worked their way up. The financial investment required is $300,000-$500,000 to get into the business. Why can’t the minority that experiences the highest poverty level jump right in? Based on the startup cost barrier what entrepreneur of any race can afford to get into the business except the top 1% or corporations (1% Income = $521,411, drug or tobacco companies). **********************************PROPOSAL****************************** There is a solution to the problem that will would allow minorities and the 1% to profit from this new agricultural business. The problem will be convincing the 1% and corporations that it is reasonable and responsible to make great profits from an investment and yet not have all the profits, make reparation for a 300 year oppression, and it would be worth it to heal our nation. It would take legislation and government involvement to make it happen at the federal level. FIRST - Get minority leaders (any race politicians with courage to speak out) to stop talking race and change their agenda to speak of poverty which includes all races not just minorities. SECOND - Legalize marijuana production at the federal level THIRD - Stipulate that all marijuana related businesses from production through sales must be a minimum of 50% minority owned giving preference to the minority with the highest proportion of its population experiencing poverty level (First- African America, Second - Hispanic, etc.). FOURTH - Take working business models from Colorado or elsewhere and let each state modify as it sees best to make them work (I do not really know if this best but sounds good when I say it). FIFTH - Investment should and would come from the 1% (or whomever can afford it). No one can be demonized if everyone is all in it. SIXTH - Give government incentives to existing marijuana businesses to convert to 50% minority ownership as well as offer federal grants to investors who will commit and contribute to make the business successful and equitably profitable for all stake holders. I understand all the barriers to making this happen. However, it is a good as or better than the gambling casinos idea for Native Americans which takes money from people who can least afford to lose it and teaches Native American no discernable skill to help them rise out of poverty. African Americans (and other minorities) were put into the plight they are now in due to the desire to have slave (cheap) labor for agriculture. Making reparation through the legalization, distribution, and use of new (now legal) agricultural product is justice and profitable for all stake holders. I am probably not the first person to have this idea but maybe the first one foolish enough to take the time to write it down and publish it. I have not heard any other solutions being offered to help resolve this issue of any sustenance and it is not a welfare program. On the job business aspects such as sales, marketing, accounting, cash flow, break even, forecasts, engineering (medical aspect), etc. will be result. If the development of the legal marijuana business stays on the path it is now, it will not help anyone but those that do not need it. More poor (especially minorities) will be incarcerated at a higher rate because harmless (meaning heath issues due to recreational use) illegal marijuana trade that they now get a piece of will be taken away. The loss may increase the trade of harmful and dangerously addictive drugs, leading to more violent in the process, and perpetuate the race war charade. We need to develop a middle class income jobs again and this is a way to help get started. I sincerely believe we will all be elevated financially regardless of race if we help those who need the most help first.