My opinion as humble observer...
I normally don't agree with RacerX but I have say I agree with him 100% regarding the global (meaning the bigger picture) Haitian issue. I have read many posts present and past on the board about Haiti and Haiti vs. Dr over the years but in my opinion very few understand the full scope and even less have knowledge of the history based on their comments.
I know have a long way to go still in understanding the full plight of Haiti's political demise/ crisis from the day it became the first Black republic in the Western hemisphere to modern day, however, I do feel the Haitian people, keeping mind 80% live in abject poverty with less than $2.00 per day are the victims of its series of corrupt and ineffective governments as well useless foreign intervention that have contributed to it being the poorest country in Western Hemisphere. This is such a sad contrast to when it was once the pearl of the Antilles and one of the wealthiest (yes) and beautiful nations in the Caribbean to visit.
In my life experience, the poor have absolutely no political power or influence anywhere. Therefore, it's very difficult, in some cases impossible to evoke change. Pulling teeth from a hen may be simpler. It's the small percentage of wealthy affluent folks who control these countries like Haiti (and the DR) and sit at the top the pyramid and enjoy life from above. To start an effective social revolution today as compared to their historical past is a different beast altogether. I don't believe in Willowtears' socialist tendency as expressed in many threads but I do believe that the poor in Haiti will not be available to help themselves given the past and present tendencies and trends. It's the corrupt governments that have had many an opportunity to make the economic and social improvements that they needed in place in order to make a dent in Haiti's long road to recovery meaning just making the country livable on a day to day basis that have failed miserably.
Even going back just twenty years when Aristide came into power moving forward to now with Rene Preval what has been done? If progress is gradually made by a government to improve the social and economic conditions of a country some improvement should be noticeable in twenty years. Yes, the people elected the government they have but the same can be said for DR's dysfunctional governments in recent years depending on whose party you support. The poor are numerous and politicians manipulate them to get their vote. Once in power they do bugger all.
What this earthquake brings to light once again for the world to see is that the current system and the foreign aid in Haiti is not working. Yes, the civil unrest has been stabilized over the years but all other progress as it relates to improving the lives of the majority of Haitians has been very limited. There has been very little or no help on a local level that I can perceive since the quake. People have been wondering on the streets for almost three days now and the local government has no apparent emergency task plan in place. In the Caribbean, all governments should have a contingency plan for natural disasters because most countries are susceptible. However, to see that there's absolutely nothing in place in addition to the daily situation/ crisis to me is really devastating.
To quote our governor general in Canada, Haitian born and raised in a speech yesterday addressing the situation:
?Nous sommes un peuple vaillant, restez debout?
?Restez debout?, dit Micha?lle Jean aux Ha?tiens | S?isme en Ha?ti
-MP.
?Restez debout?!