Is America taking over Haiti?

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Steve, stop it. Please don't say you seriously want to compare Germany and Western Europe Post WWII to Haiti.

Germany had an educated workforce, industry, an infrastructure, civic institutions. It had been a major industrialized world economy long before the War, and before the Marshall Plan. It was entirely predictable that it would rise again as such a world power.

We also had clearly good reasons to invest efforts in a liberal post-war Germany. The horrors of WWI and WWII were proof enough of the need to never allow such a thing there again.

Haiti? Get real. There is a humanitarian crisis, sure. But there's no similar compelling American national interest.

Oh come on. You don't have to make a point for point comparison for the argument to be sound. Haiti is a country that is stuck in perpetual poverty and after years of humanitarian, still has not improved...and it won't under the status quo. We could something really remarkable here...and I'm optimistic that Obama just might be thinking along those lines. Whether Haiti would need to become a U.S. Territory for such a plan to succeed is difficult to say, but it would give the U.S. the chance to do whatever is necessary without as many obstacles.

(I need to go for tonight....think about what I'm saying here)

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Sounds to me like a left-wing justification for good ol' fashioned imperialism.

[spookyturtle 9,466]

What benefit would there to be to America?

We could have more poor criminals come to live here to supplement the blacks and hispanics.

[scandal 951]

Sounds to me like a left-wing justification for good ol' fashioned imperialism.

You got that right.

American commitments of troops and personnel to foreign countries should be made only VERY reluctantly and after a great deal of reflection. I, after weighing the risk of NOT making such a commitment it's determined that an unacceptably high threat exists to America - then commit. Otherwise - no way Jose.

On that basis, I reluctantly support Obama's commitment of additional troops money and logistics in Afghanistan where a real and present danger to America exists.

Haiti? Not even close.

We could have more poor criminals come to live here to supplement the blacks and hispanics.

Would this make us more like Australia or less like Australia?

That, after all, should be the guiding principle of all our foreign policy decisions.

[spookyturtle 9,466]

You got that right.

American commitments of troops and personnel to foreign countries should be made only VERY reluctantly and after a great deal of reflection. I, after weighing the risk of NOT making such a commitment it's determined that an unacceptably high threat exists to America - then commit. Otherwise - no way Jose.

On that basis, I reluctantly support Obama's commitment of additional troops money and logistics in Afghanistan where a real and present danger to America exists.

Haiti? Not even close.

Would this make us more like Australia or less like Australia?

That, after all, should be the guiding principle of all our foreign policy decisions.

They don't like poor immigrants or criminals, so blacks and hispanics are out. And Haitians are very poor.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

What benefit would there to be to America?

More dependents for Democrats and a population incapable if surviving without the government to "help them"

Obama is desparate to make it appear he can do something, somewhere.

It would be a long term investment...to rebuild the country, bring it out of dire poverty and give it stability.

It would be a "blue state" for sure. We need another siphon foir prosperity.

[justashooter 430]

osama is just trying to add more democrat voters before 2012.

[Darnell 8,479]

I had a big '#######' moment last night, as I was studying a map.

Lets see - Cuban boats can get there in about 20 minutes, and boats from Puerto Rico can get there in about 30 minutes. ####### ?

Also - 'relief planes coming in at the airport'. Pardon, how are they getting refueled ?

and.. geez - the Texas Task Force is stuck at Ellington Field, awaiting a military plane to transport it all. Surely a non-military plane could be diverted? Ya, I know - it's a lot o cargo, but sheesh. Perhaps one that already emptied a load in Haiti, get diverted to Houston for a pick up.

Oh Well. I have other thoughts about this, but will keep mum about them, here on VJ.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Oh Well. I have other thoughts about this, but will keep mum about them, here on VJ.

Don't do that. Share.

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Please stop the racial slurs and comments - they are inappropriate as well as a violation of TOS.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Haiti has been ranked as the most corrupt country in the World by Transparency International (TI), followed by Burma and Iraq.

The Berlin-based anti-corruption watchdog said that for the first time, Haiti topped the table.

The survey relates to perceptions of the degree of corruption in different countries, as seen by business people, academics and risk analysts.

Bangladesh had headed the rankings for the previous five years.

The chair of TI, Hugette Labelle, said that there was a strong correlation between corruption and poverty.

"Corruption traps millions in poverty," she said.

"Despite a decade of progress in establishing anti-corruption laws and regulations, today's results indicate that much remains to be done before we see meaningful improvements in the lives of the world's poorest citizens."

link

(which is why continuing to just provide monetary aid beyond earthquake relief isn't going to pull the country out of dire poverty)

....

We need a different strategy to rebuild Haiti from the ground up. Dismantle whatever government exists and start from scratch.

Edited January 15, 2010 by Galt's gallstones

[chri'stina 190]

link

(which is why continuing to just provide monetary aid beyond earthquake relief isn't going to pull the country out of dire poverty)

....

We need a different strategy to rebuild Haiti from the ground up. Dismantle whatever government exists and start from scratch.

Hmmm...for some reason I find this kind of talk odd coming from you hehe. Do you know if Haiti wants the US to do this? I am all for helping poor people, but don't think the government has all the answers to it. Never mind it can't even afford it right now.

[Nikita2Charles 32]

How many Haitian criminal do you know about? It's a really racist statement,

Haiti got into this dire condition because of the embargo that was imposed to the country for being the 1st BLACK REPUBLIC, they fought against the FRENCH and got their independence way back in 1804. That's over 200 years ago, but those colonial powers didn't like that and made sure that news didn't spread out to the other nations that had slaves.

France fleece the island and most of those European colonial powers fleece those small countries.

I don't know if you are originally from here but did you know Haitians fought for this country independence? Haitian soldiers along side the French were fighting the british for this country you are living now.

Go read the battle of Savannah Georgia where thousands of Haitian Soldiers give their life, haitian ancestors shed blood for America independence.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Savannah

http://www.heritagekonpa.com/Haitian%20sol...%20Savannah.asp

We could have more poor criminals come to live here to supplement the blacks and hispanics.

A lot of time people promise aids and so on but it's all a bunch of bull it never materialize, I got the feeling some folks never got over the fact we were the 1st people who revolt against White colonial power back in 1804 to become the 1st black republic.

Edited January 15, 2010 by Nikita2Charles

[FortLaudy 10]

Reminds me somewhat of Zimbabwe

Some people take a piece of land, build infrastructure, schools, prosperous businesses, government, mostly abide by the laws etc.

Some other people can take the same piece of land and: grow only enough food to eat for today and tomorrow if any,, build barely any infrastructure, no education system, corrupt governments and poverty etc. eventually sitting and waiting for handouts from foreigners

Growing up in Africa I have learned one thing: "westerners" and most Africans measure SUCCESS in life completely differently, we look at a guy living in a hut with a goat and a few chickens and small family and think he's so poor and pity him, we judge by our Western standards. That guy aint poor, in his mind he has everything he needs, they've been living exactly like that without electricity and running water for centuries...

I know I'm going to get flamed for saying this: I think people who send money to Africa/poor countries are stupid and wasting their money... If these people wanted to live like us Westerners they would've invented infrastructure and technology and done so, they're quite happy with their meager existence, some of them think we're stupid the way we're making ourselves crazy chasing after money - I've been told this personally. Just let them be and stop interfering and giving out free handouts, especially in these times where America can't even afford to take care of its own people. CHARITY SHOULD START AT HOME.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Hmmm...for some reason I find this kind of talk odd coming from you hehe. Do you know if Haiti wants the US to do this? I am all for helping poor people, but don't think the government has all the answers to it. Never mind it can't even afford it right now.

Haitian Refugee Immigration Fairness Act (HRIFA) of 1998