I just returned from Haiti, I have some words for morans who want to slash taxes and gov't programs

[garybeck]

I was just in Haiti for 10 days. I went there to install a solar energy system on a building in a small remote village that has no electricity. I flew in and out of Port-au-Prince, and spent 2 days there on each end of the trip.

I was not prepared to see the living conditions there. Out in the rural country people have nothing, but their lives are very simple and they don't need much. But in the city the conditions are deplorable. In today's modern world people should not have to live like this.

For the time I spent in the city, I was being driven around mainly to find supplies for the solar installation. I saw the devastating effects of the earthquake, now over 2 years ago but there are still piles or rubble everywhere and half-standing buildings on every block.

But the real devastation is not from the earthquake. The conditions in Haiti were very bad before the earthquake hit. The more I asked questions, the more I realized that while it almost seemed like "Hell on Earth" to me, to people like Grover Norquist and Ron Paul, it must be their "Heaven on Earth."

This idea kept resonating in my head:

To all the conservatives and libertarians who want to slash taxes, government programs, and government regulations: "Go to Haiti and see what it's like when there are no taxes, programs, and regulations. If that's really what you're looking for, you can just stay there."

Imagine a city of 3 million people, with no municipal water system, no sewage system, no reliable electric grid, no garbage collection, no homeless programs, no health care system, and no public schools. What you end up with is, the gutter of every street becomes the sewage system. You have to literally walk over a stream of sewage when you walk across the street. People drink water out of hand dug wells that are literally a few feet away from sewage canals. There are no trash cans. Just piles of garbage everywhere and no one collecting it. Many people have nothing more than a tarp over their heads as a home. The roads are crumbling. The best hope for anyone is to send your kids to school, but most can't afford school because there is no public school system. Most homes have no electricity, no running water, no flush toilets, no sewage system. Waste that leaves the home enters the ravines and gutters of the city. City stream beds are backed up for blocks with piles and piles of trash. For those that do have a hookup to the electrical grid (or an extension cord from their neighbor who does) the power only comes on for a few hours a day, so you can't have a refrigerator or any appliance that needs steady power. Electricity is a convenience that goes on and off unexpectedly with no reliability. Here are a few photos to illustrate















Now before i get into my rant, just pause for a moment and imagine what life would be like if you lived in these conditions. I can tell you just observing it for one day will make you appreciate all the things back home that you take for granted. I've been back for a week now and I still stop and pause nearly every time I turn on the bathroom sink to wash my hands and realize how lucky I am. Last night was garbage night and as I wheeled my trash can to the end of the driveway I realized how fortunate I am to have something as simple as garbage collection. For millions of people in Haiti, they have none of these things.

But what I kept thinking about is how there are lunatics in the public discourse back here in the US, who actually want to cut or eliminate taxes, slash government programs, cut education spending, and all these things that make it possible for our country and living conditions to NOT be like Haiti. I really think that if those people want to cut taxes and spending, they should simply go down to Haiti and see what it's like. They have very little taxes and basically no government programs or regulations. A conservative's dream!?

I know their answer is to privatize everything. But let me tell you, you can't just rely on private industry to pick up garbage and provide a sewage system. These things don't happen on their own. Who will pay for it? Government has to be involved.

We need taxes. We need regulation. We need government. Without these things even our great country would slip back into a 3rd world country and we'd have sewage in the streets too.

So I'll say it one more time.... For all those conservatives and libertarians out there who think government is the problem and the answer is to slash taxes and spending, I say go to Haiti and see what it's like. If you really like it there, you can just stay there.

[malthaussen]

1. Do you really not get it?

The rich will not have to endure those conditions. They don't care about the rest of us. If they took a trip to Haiti, they'd tell the people to get off their butts and go to work.

-- Mal

[jorno67]

4. And then the rich would feel so good about themselves

because they have it so much better than those wretched poor people...

[malthaussen]

6. Justification by wealth alone

It's the new faith. Beats the heck out of grace and works.

-- Mal

[LynneSin]

61. clearly their faith doesn't talk about how it's easier for a camel to go thru the eye of a needle...

than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.

[SemperEadem]

69. Meet Bubbles...

gracefully executing half gainers through the eye of a needle.

[garybeck]

5. No sir, I do get it.

there are no jobs in haiti. that's part of the problem.

you are correct that the rich do not have to endure those conditions. but they can't just say "get a job" because let me tell you there are millions of people in haiti who would gladly flip burgers or collect garbage for minimum wage, but there simply are no jobs.

I agree that the rich have it OK there. I was told there are about 5 families in Haiti that control virtually all the wealth.

My point is that if we take away the taxes, programs, and regulations, we don't end up with a strong economy, and a good workforce. We end up with a few people controlling everything and 99.9% of the population living in horrible conditions.

My point is that if we do what the conservatives and no-tax advocates are calling for, that's what we'll get. Not the "everyone pick themselves up from their own bootstraps and we'll be better off" that they think we'll get.

[progressivebydesign]

9. next time someone posts that they/their friends can't vote for Obama, we must link this thread n/t

[OnyxCollie]

58. The Obama administration likes the conditions in Haiti very much.

Wikileaks Haiti: U.S. pushed to lower minimum wage
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503543_162-20068872-503543.html

However, the Columbia Journalism Review has written up a summary of the Nation piece, recounting how American clothing makers with factories in Haiti were displeased after the government raised the minimum wage more than two and a half times the previous minimum 24 cents an hour.

WikiLeaks: U.S. Fought To Lower Minimum Wage In Haiti So Hanes And Levis Would Stay Cheap
http://articles.businessinsider.com/2011-06-03/news/30003110_1_minimum-wage-haitians-garment-workers#ixzz1ywY2AXZY

This infuriated American corporations like Hanes and Levi Strauss that pay Haitians slave wages to sew their clothes. They said they would only fork over a seven-cent-an-hour increase, and they got the State Department involved. The U.S. ambassador put pressure on Haiti’s president, who duly carved out a $3 a day minimum wage for textile companies (the U.S. minimum wage, which itself is very low, works out to $58 a day).

Haiti has about 25,000 garment workers. If you paid each of them $2 a day more, it would cost their employers $50,000 per working day, or about $12.5 million a year ... As of last year Hanes had 3,200 Haitians making t-shirts for it. Paying each of them two bucks a day more would cost it about $1.6 million a year. Hanesbrands Incorporated made $211 million on $4.3 billion in sales last year.

Thanks to U.S. intervention, the minimum was raised only to 31 cents.

[malthaussen]

13. With respect, sir, you prove you don't get it.

The rich Republicans would be perfectly happy if the US turned into Haiti. I believe that, in fact, they dream of it at night.

If we were to send, say, Mr Bohner and Mr Cantor on an all-expenses tour of Haiti, what we'd get is a few pious platitudes and a redoubling of the effort to slash everything as soon as they got home. I believe you err, if you think that certain of our public servants actually wish to serve the public, and only need some facts to set them straight.

-- Mal

[garybeck]

14. YOu are correct. But

What I'm saying is that their cover will be blown. For the 1% it's fine to want no taxes or programs. But in order for them to maintain power they have to convince a significant portion of the population that their ideals will make things better in the US for the average person, not just the rich. No one can win an election saying that we need to make things better for the rich and worse for the average person.

my point is that seeing the conditions in Haiti is a reality check. it shows what life is really like in a country that has no effective government or programs. I do believe there are some conservatives who are just brainwashed and/or stupid and they think that conservatism would be good for the country and wealth would trickle down. For them, seeing Haiti could make them realize that's not the case. But I agree with you that some of them would see Haiti as the holy grail.

But until you go there, you can't realize that even the rich in Haiti have to walk across sewage in the streets. there aren't really any havens for rich folks. There aren't any clean shopping malls or restaurants. No nice park to go for a walk. Yes you can drive through the streets with your eyes closed and through the gate to your nice home if you have one. But that is a kind of prison too. No one, not even the rich, can escape the stench in the air that is from the sewage in the streets. There are no highrise apartment buildings with a carpet at the front door. I really don't think rich folks in Haiti are that happy. You can't completely escape the conditions.

[malthaussen]

17. Sorry if I sound harsh

But you struck a little nerve with me. I think a lot of good people honestly believe that RW fanatics are just misguided and misinformed, and that a little education will open their eyes. I'm much more cynical than that. I think good, progressive people mostly have a limited understanding of schadenfreude, and that is why they are so often left with their mouths agape at some of the things the RW crazies pull. The rich in Haiti might have to put up with some nasty conditions, but they can enjoy the misery of the poor to a greater extent than our wealthy.

As for the average voter, imagine a group of Tea Partiers on a tour of Haiti. You can try to convince them until you're blue in the face that this is the logical outcome of the policies their heroes want to enact... but they won't see it. All they will see is a bunch of lazy, poor, and black people living in the filth they deserve. Because, however close to the bottom you may be, ya gotta have somebody to look down on.

-- Mal

[Javaman]

32. More over...

the rich would state that the proble with Haiti is there isn't enough rich people to create jobs.

[RKP5637]

29. One problem is some believe the really conservative republicans give a F about

the future of America. The short answer is they don't, they don't give a F about the people or the country. They are out to rip off what they can and believe their SH** runs downhill. A real fallacy (I think) with many is they believe these really conservative republicans care ... they don't, they are mostly comprised of sociopaths filled with greed and corruption. They literally don't give a F if America fails as long as they make out OK.

[KakistocracyHater]

60. BUT we should send GOP & LIbertarian VOTERS to Haiti

perhaps the reality of it would sink in to THEM. They'd quickly see all the garbage laying around & demand to know why it wasn't being picked it, the Tea Party is like that. & hopefully those voters would tell other voters & so on

[ashling]

27. Your post reminds me of Ghoulianni in Colombia

they'd tell the people to get off their butts and go to work.

when the president there arranged to give homes to the poor.

Rudy the Ghoul was in Cartagena and had the nerve to say that the president was wrong to do this because the poor wouldn't appreciate it if they didn't work for it.

[malthaussen]

30. Yep, very similar

I have often racked my brains trying to figure out if these people are driven by mendacity, or are really speaking what they believe is true. If the former, they deserve contempt, if the latter, they deserve pity. But because it becomes more and more evident that they are not interested in any real enquiry into the truth, I have come to the conclusion that in the majority of cases, they are driven by mendacity.

-- Mal

[quakerboy]

56. thats the 1%

Sure, they have it good, and they don't have to care about what anyone else will have to endure.

But what about the other 30-49% who vote conservative?

[bahrbearian]

2. Wow, how quickly we forget, thanks for posting.

[raccoon]

3. Recd. Thanks for posting. nt

[4th law of robotics]

7. I've always wondered why Haiti is so much worse off than the Dominican Republic

they have a similar history and more or less the same natural resources.

[garybeck]

12. government corruption, no taxes, no spending, no schools, no programs.

I was told that most people in the government in Haiti want to keep things the way they are.

If there's going to be any change or improvement in Haiti, it has to be led by the government. No private company is going to come and clean things up on their own.

I think greed is at the root of the problem.

Technically the solutions are right there. Nearly every other city in the world has a sewer system and Port-au-Prince could too. What's standing in the way? I think it's greed and corruption.

[ieoeja]

25. The world isolated them as the only successful slave rebellion in history.

They turned to the United States for assistance during and after their rebellion. But the US was afraid their rebellion might inspire similiar rebellions in the US (and it did, though those were not successful).

Had Tousaint L'Overture not been kidnapped, things might have turned out different. He was an unusual slave in that he had a classical** education. After his kidnapping building the country was up to a bunch of former slaves. And oddly enough, slaves generally don't receive much of an education which made building a country kind of difficult.

Hard to teach your kids to read when you don't know how to read. Hard for your kids to teach your grandkids how to read since you couldn't teach your kids to read. Hard for your grandkids to teach your great-grandkids how to read since they weren't taught by their parents who weren't taught by their parents who weren't taught by you.

And so it goes....


**And he did somthing odd when studing the ancient Greek and Roman cultures. While the Renaissance brought back a lot from those studies, they completely ignored the Roman military history. Tousaint paid it very careful attention which is why he was able to defeat Napolean, a Spanish army and a British army simultaneously. After his kidnapping - at the peace table; but he was African, so it's okay to violate the rules of diplomacy - Napolean was said to have spent considerable time talking with him back in France. This was before Napolean began his war of conquest using strategies and tactics not seen in Europe since the fall of the Roman Empire.

[SunSeeker]

34. Excellent post. Thanks. nt

[progressivebydesign]

8. Oh, that's terrible. What you've said is my standard reply to those whining about taxes and laws.

I know that the most of the richest Americans (which is a tiny percentage holding most of the wealth,) will never care about that. It won't affect them.. They have gated homes, security details, servants, and plenty of food.

What galls me and confuses me is the other folks who are fighting for us to become a third world country. You know, the angry old men that live in a modest or rented home, own an older car, and barely qualify to be middle class. They are the ones I can't figure out.. why do they pimp for the 1%? Do they honestly believe that supporting guys like Mitt that they will have more money in their pocket? Do they think that Mitt and Co. care a shit about them? These angry old men are trading our American Dream for $100.00 less a year in taxes (or so they think.) Our wealth distribution now resembles places like Pakistan, and this is how it happens.. This is how Haiti happens, with a small group of unscrupulous people controlling the wealth, and leaving everyone else fighting for crumbs and blaming the poorest people for the trouble.

Frankly, THIS is why Mexico continues to flee into America. And yet, the repubs and libertarians (Koch bros and tea partiers) want us to become like this. The numbers don't lie.. the richest here used to control 9% of the wealth even in the 80s, which is normal for a capitalistic society. they know control more than 35% of the wealth. And that is how this happens... A vote for Mitt or any repub at this point, is a vote for America as Haiti.

[chervilant]

64. I know some of those 'angry old men'...

The members of the Global Oligarchy are few in number (less the 370), yet they own and control more than 45% of the world's resources, including human resources.

The top 400 richest people in the world are from Australia, Austria, Bahama, Belgium, Bermuda, Brazil, Chile, China, Colombia, Czech Republic, Denmark, England, Egypt, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Israel, Japan, Kazakhstan, Korea (South), Kuwait, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mexico, Monaco, Norway, Portugal, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Sweden, Spain, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, the United States, and Venezuela.

Despite the geographic diversity of these uber wealthy people, their common socioeconomic status renders each a member of Richistan, whose citizenry enjoy the rarest of comestibles, the finest accommodations, the most expensive trinkets, and richly appointed, exclusive residences. Denizens of Richistan travel in private jets, yachts, and limos; and they NEVER discuss their wealth.

Fully one-third of the wealthiest 400 are from the United States. Almost half of the 50 wealthiest people are from the United States. (Bill Gates was toppled from his rarefied status as the richest person on the planet in March of last year; replaced by Mexican mogul Carlos 'Slim' Helu.)

When you contemplate this radical income inequity, dear reader, please understand viscerally, that you are NOT a member of this exclusive club, nor are you likely to EVER be. You are an insignificant member of the vast hoi polloi. The denizens of Richistan comprise a mere 5.28 X 10^(-6)% of our planet's population. That number--0.00000528%--is quite a bit SMALLER than 1%. Your chances to join the ranks of the uber wealthy are on a par with your chances to win the lottery-- slim to NONE. AND, the uber wealthy are diligent about promoting their wealth carrot meme, to keep the vast Hoi Polloi deluded about 'upward mobility' and 'becoming wealthy.'

If anyone thinks that the decline of this nation as the relentless Global Bully will have any real impact on the wealth and power of the uber wealthy, I have to offer you exclusive beach front property in downtown Las Vegas.

[ceile]

10. K&R! n/t

[Turbineguy]

11. Looks like

a republican paradise!

[xxqqqzme]

15. I have read, but have no direct links,

the reason behind Jean-Bertrand Aristide's forced departure from Haiti was because he wanted to begin taxing property so a revenue stream could be generated. TPTB were not about to pay taxes on or for anything, so the coup was initiated by the US & France.

I'm certain there are other DUers who are more informed on this matter than I am.

It is interesting because I have always used Haiti as the primary example of a libertarian utopia. Your pictures and words tell a story even more devastating than I imagined.

[jwirr]

16. Even worse than the medieval era because of the larger population. Thank you for the article and

for the work you were doing over there.

[HiPointDem]

18. i'd like to know why there's still rubble in the streets & what happened to all that relief money.

also, since there are more ngos per square mile in haiti than anywhere else on the planet, what the hell they're all doing.

[secondwind]

19. Whatever happened to all the $$ that was collected for Haiti??? n/t

[Puzzledtraveller]

20. Furthemore, I did not know Haiti was part of the union.

[clang1]

21. Yep. THATS SMALL GOVERNMENT AT WORK

Even fools should heed that. But they don't because they are TOLD not to. THINK ABOUT IT.

[Wounded Bear]

22. Careful.....

The Repubs will want to go get that kid's bike.

[clang1]

40. Heh heh fuuuk, they would to n/t

[aggiesal]

23. As Michael Moore said ...

If you're republican, go to Haiti, it's a republican paradise, with
no government regulations anywhere.

For example, when Haiti was struck with a 7.0 earthquake, Thousands of
Haitians died from the earthquake because buildings collapsed.

A couple of months later, Chile had a 7.9 earthquake, and only a couple
of building collapsed, and less than a handful died.

The difference?
Chile had building regulations
Haiti had no regulations of any kind.

[Iggy]

39. Right

coming at this from the design/construction bidness, I was more than astonished to hear one of
the few engineers in Haiti state "we don't have building codes here".

WTF??!

the wealthy class wants to turn our clock back 200 years.

[nadinbrzezinski]

43. You know what was funny

When Mexicali had a 7.5 there was damage, no deaths.

There was more damage in El Centro, on the US side, but not a pip from us media, since there were no rescues to chase.

[SunSeeker]

24. This is a prime example of why NGOs can't replace a functioning government.

There have been so many NGOs involved in Haiti, but their involvement is uncoordinated and inefficient. They spend most of their money just keeping their volunteers alive.

My dentist went down to Haiti to volunteer to pull teeth for one week. Easy right? Nope, it cost a fortune to fly him and his assistant down there, house him in a secure building (and he still got robbed) and protect him while he was there. He stands out like a sore thumb and was a prime target for desperate, starving Haitians. He said the most sickening thing he encountered was the young girls who would run up to him and offer sex. They obviously had gotten money this way before. I wonder how many "volunteers" had taken up these girls on their offers. He came back disillusioned and saddened.

For what it cost to fly him down there and house him for one week, a functioning government in Haiti could have employed a full time Haitian dentist all year--and he or she could have done more than just pull rotten teeth.

And thanks to those worthless Nepalese UN peacekeepers who brought cholera with them and introduced it to Haiti for the first time, Haiti has been suffering a horrible cholera epidemic for two years now that will kill more Haitians than the earthquake did.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/01/world/americas/haitis-cholera-outraced-the-experts-and-tainted-the-un.html?pagewanted=all

[clang1]

41. Yes and very sad. I ask, how much of this is our fault

for what we do in the region... Probably a lot. We certainly have not helped things. That's for sure.

[sinkingfeeling]

26. Not only do they wish to cut taxes and government, they want to use our

military might to create even more countries like Haiti. Look what we did in Iraq.

[clang1]

53. They are 'Haitizing' America. It's the truth. Just matters of degree...and who you are

a shack is a shack, whether there or here. In fact just go deep into East Texas for instance. You'll see.....Shit is no different.

[bbgrunt]

31. see Leo Strauss, philosophical father of the pnac group and far

right. This is exactly the thing he thinks is needed.

[xchrom]

33. Privatization is and will be paid for out of taxes.

Just like mercenaries or charter schools.

Taxes are an ever re-newing Magic Well.

[Iggy]

35. "Morans"

uuh, why can't people spell moron?

[malthaussen]

36. Many long-time inmates of DU use "moran"

sarcastically, because of a pic once posted of a tea-partier who spelled it that way on his sign.

-- Mal

[Iggy]

38. Oh yeah... ;-)

That guy.. I remember the photo.

Thx for clarifying

[garybeck]

48. because this is still funny

[randome]

71. What I said. People have forgotten where the word comes from so it makes us look uncultured.

Instead of clever.

[ErikJ]

37. This is what Gated Communities are for

Republican ideal is to live in a gated community while looting the treasury for themselves.

[nadinbrzezinski]

42. Yup, poorest country in Latin America.

And the RW in this country would love nothing less.

They really, most f the drones that s, understand what the ideology leads to.

Those controlling them do, on the other hand...and they love it...all that potential cheap labor.

[happyslug]

72. At the time of the American Revolution, one of, if NOT the richest country in the Americans

Sugar was THAT profitable at that time. Beat Sugar did not come into use till Napoleon (as an response to the British Blockade of Europe at that time period). Even during the American Revolution, the French, Spanish and British main concern was NOT the 13 colonies, but the Sugar Islands of the Caribbean.

Haiti started to go down hill in the 1800s, first with the refusal of the US to have diplomatic relations with Haiti till the US Civil War (This started under Jefferson, it was a necessary bow to the South for Jefferson needed Southern Support, and the South hated any idea of a Slave Revolt as what happened in Haiti in 1804). The subsequent infighting and take over of the what is now the Dominica Republic has little affect on the wealth of Haiti. Made Hispaniola history interesting, but no permanent harm to either country of Hispaniola.

The real problem was the demand from France to compensation for French losses when Haiti became independent and the agreement of Haiti and France in that regard so that Haiti could have trade relations with Europe. Given US trade was forbidden, Haiti had to agree to pay France compensation, even for the price of the Slaves freed in the Slave Revolt.

In the late 1800s the US became more and more involved. Finally getting Haiti to adopt a new Constitution that permitted Foreigners to own land in Haiti (Something outlawed till the American Occupation). The New Constitution was NEVER put up to a vote, for the simple reason most Haitians would have voted against it, but made the Constitution anyway.

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

It was this time period you saw a dramatic decline in economy of Haiti. The American Occupation acceleration the decline, but it had been going on since the 1880s. In many aspects Haiti by 1910 had become so poor, that when the Germans started to move in and bring money with them AND were willing to marry into Haitian population, things were on an upswing, except for US interests in Haiti. Thus US intervention, to accelerate US influence in Haiti even at the expense of Haiti. When the US forces left in 1934, US interest stayed top do to US influence over the Haitian National Guard. It was the overthrow on the National Guard that forced Baby Doc to give up power and the US has hated what has been going on in Haiti ever since (Except when the US is running Haiti as it has been since the last time the US overthrewJean-Bertrand Aristide subsequent Presidents have been elected, but first forbidding Aristide's party from fielding a Canidate).

[sabrina 1]

44. What happened to all the money that was donated to help the victims of the Earthquake?

Who got their hands on that money? It looks like it sure did not go to the victims.

Aristede was ousted because he wanted to raise the minimum wage and a few other humane policies the Global Cartels were not happy about.

For some reason there appears to be a need to keep Haiti from succeeding. And always has been.

But considering we are supposed to be so brilliant, and considering how much of a role the US decided to take in 'helping' Haiti after the hurricane, this is a crime.

I have asked many times where all the money went, there doesn't seem to be an answer. People responded to that earthquake with millions of dollars, and because it all seems to have gone elsewhere, many people I know will never again donate to organizations. It would be better to find a family and give them the money directly. At least they would eat for a few days.

Haiti is an indictment of the West's interference with third world countries. What a tragedy.

Thank you for this OP.

[malthaussen]

51. Call me crazy, but

I've always thought the "some reason" we need to keep Haiti from succeeding is because its government originated from slaves casting off their chains. True, that was a couple of hundred years ago, but some pills are harder than others for bigoted white folk to take. And once the habit was formed, the origin of the prejudice would be forgotten.

-- Mal

[clang1]

54. Seems like it's been that way, at various points in history it HAS been that way

Colonial powers been fucking Haiti for a long time....and still are.

I only glanced over this but saw enough of it that I post it. Neoliberalism is trash. Nothing but modern colonialism.


http://bigwhiteogre.blogspot.com/2011/03/haiti-neoliberal-paradise.html
Tuesday, March 22, 2011Haiti - Neoliberal Paradise
Haiti is one of the poorest nations in the world and also one where neoliberal programs have been in full swing for a long time. This is something that some want to deny, but I don't know how it can be denied.

In December of 1990 the top two candidates for President in Haiti were a former World Bank official, Marc Bazin, and Jean Bertrand-Aristide. Bazin was the US favored candidate because the World Bank and IMF are the primary implementers of neoliberal policies, the implementation of which is frequently referred to by the term Washington Consensus. Bazin's plans are simple. Cut import restrictions beyond their already non-existent level, reduce tariff's, and variously do all the other things favored by business. These supposedly will be a tremendous benefit for the poor.

Aristide is basically a progressive. He wants to do the very opposite. Rebuild Haiti's industries to where they can be self sufficient again. This means tariffs, taxes, and government that provides services to the poor. Make companies pay social security taxes. Increase minimum wage. There is some info on his policies here.


----
In 1994 Clinton allowed Aristide to return, but on conditions. He had to accept the harsh neoliberal regime of the defeated Bazin. Aristide had no choice but to comply, and did so.
----
This is neoliberalism. Good for short term profits which benefit the already wealthy. Good even for Americans that can buy really cheap clothes at Wal-Mart. Really bad and really cruel towards the millions of peasants in Haiti that have been denied self determination.

Posted by Jon at 5:12 PM
---


I am sick of Neo-Cons, Neo-Liberals, and our Neo-Fascists we have here in America. All are steaming piles of shit to me. To many people suffer for this crap.

A lot of people here seem to support an awful lot of Neo-Liberalism to me and it disgusts me. NOT my kind of Democrat. It's all like Republican bullshit...Fuck that.

Absolutely NOTHING wrong with that post hidden directly below mine that refers to eating things. I care less what the DU Jury says on that one. It's true. Facts suck don't they! OWN it people. It's yours. Pfffft. I see a lot of hypocrites in too many places. I have already seen far too many people here cannot deal with TRUTH. It reflects America. So not surprised in a demographic sense to see it here as well. It is worse than hypocritical... Nothing more need be said. It is what it is and wrong.

[midnight]

46. It should not have to be this way...Anywhere... The Paul Ryan's of the world telling us

that the basics for those who have the least are driving our deficits get away with this lie.... An even harder life is being dished out to those with the least hear in Wisconsin... These bums hide behind the flag and the cross...

[randome]

47. I humbly suggest we stop using the so-called word 'morans'.

Many people don't know it's origin any longer so it makes our posts look...uncultured, let's say.

Just a suggestion!

[freshwest]

49. Thank you so much for putting this here. I hope you post it elsewhere, too. K & R

[malaise]

50. Excellent post

100% correct

[msongs]

52. please post your plan to provide jobs for people in haiti.

while I agree in general with your tax points, raising taxes on the people of haiti is not likely to generate much income unless the people with the money are the ones taxed. What kinds of jobs do you propose for these people and who will hire them or patronize the job sites? just curious

[garybeck]

63. Okay

to start things off, if I had some tax revenue, I would start with cleaning up the streets and waterways, which would create a potential to get some tourism. right now NO ONE is going to visit haiti as a tourist. Tourism would spark other industry and jobs. where I live in Vermont, tourism is one of the biggest industries and it greatly affects our economy one way or the other. so I would start by cleaning things up, creating some tourist spots, and use some of the tax revenue for education.

the cleanup effort itself would create jobs and the resulting tourism would create jobs and the better education would create an educated workforce

[KG]

55. another Libertarian paradise, right up there w/ somalia.

[clang1]

57. Libertarian, Neo-liberal, whatever you wish to call it, people starve

and I'm going to say, that in the world today, no one exploits people/countries like America does. Not even China. It needs to be said. The world is sick of being deluded by America. It is TRUTH and I am saying it. I think about that when I read threads like these.

[Curmudgeoness]

59. Excellent post. Thanks for taking the time

to enlighten us to the conditions in Haiti and the reasons behind them.

Also, thank you for the work you did while you were there.

[pa28]

62. Everybody needs to read this. K&R

[cstanleytech]

65. You also get an even less informed population in the end who are easier to manipulate which

I suspect is the goal.

[clang1]

66. Based on what you just wrote

If you see it then, why do you still doubt it? This is a fact. We already know less informed people are eaiser to manipulate. I don't understand what you 'suspect'? Even if you've never picked up a book, it is common sense to know that someone less informed about something is easier to manipulate. This is common sense even. It is the way it works in nature even.

[cstanleytech]

73. Ummm

did you mean to reply to someone else?

[pacalo]

67. This is a keeper!

Wow.

[Raine]

68. THANK YOU for posting this account I wish EVERYONE could read it

especially those who support the morans' assine plans for this country.

[ehrnst]

70. And.... no environmental protection. All those trees gone

that could have mitigated landslides and flooding during hurricanes.

Haiti is our future if the GOP has its way.