*PLEASE GO THE LINK BELOW TO UNDERSTAND WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT.*
http://weblogs.sun-sentinel.com/news/politics/dcblog/2010/01/us_considers_allowing_more_hai.html
The president is asking people to donate to WhiteHouse.gov to the people of Haiti. Each and every time a natural disaster like this happens, we step up. We are there. But the Haitian economy is entirely dependent on foreign aid. They produce nothing. Zilch, zero, nada. And it's been that way for the longest time. Will aid help? For now, yes. Most countries hate America but when things of this mass happens they look to us for help whether with money, security and any other types of aid. I know it’s not just us donating to this country but it is being ask of us (as Americans) to let the Haitian people come in to this country even if they don’t have relatives here without green cards. The question becomes how is that our burden to take this on? America wants to help so we give even with times like these where our country is pretty much broke we give. So what else are we to do? Say “Hey ya know what just come on over we’ll take care of you. Forget the people that live in this country already we’ll just worry about you.” I'm not sure how right it is to run to the front of the line to risk our nation’s lives to save theirs. The fact that we might have hurt their development isn't something that can you blame on us. Their government has been victimizing its own people in its own lack luster attempts to make itself a developed nation. Just because we are a power house doesn't mean that we are consistently looking to ensure their underdevelopment as a nation.
Western aid to Haiti has not only perpetuated poverty but also worsened it. It has brought dependency. Largely aid has held back Haiti; could this be why Africa hasn't been developing anything? You get the corruption. Historically, ever since aid has been given to impoverished countries, leaders have stolen the money without penalty and you get the dependency, which kills entrepreneurship. You also disenfranchise African (and Haitian) citizens, because the government is beholden to foreign donors and not accountable to its people.
The country is in ruins, stepping in at this moment won’t be a bad thing, but once we give aid, there is little to show for it in terms of economic growth and human development. So at what point does it need to stop? Their government has done nothing for its people to improve. Max Bellerive has shown his face once that I am of aware of since the earthquake happen. He has not given his people any sense of security that they will overcome this. Making them feel in my eyes that the only way they can survive is depending on others. if the developed world actually stepped in and ameliorated them from their condition by increasing trade and commerce would help them towards prosperity and eventual self-government
The cycle will probably repeat unless with about the $1 billion or so donated they buy a new island and transport all the people there. I'm not saying donating for food, water, and temporary shelter isn’t worth it, but it's just prolonging the cycle from repeating again.
I am in no way saying that this is something any of these people should ever go through or that the people of Haiti deserved this in anyway. Watching the images that come through my 42' TV while I sit in my warm room truly does give me a sense of shame. I did my part I gave what I could and though I felt it wasn't much I know its more then most Haitians make in a day. I would like to believe that maybe from this the people of Haiti will come out on top and be that story I am telling years from now saying 'I remember when it was just a city of rubbles. Now look at them!" I just hope that its not at the cost of my nation.
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