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Enough is enough: A Statement of Accountability on Haiti
I don't know about the rest of Rantburgers, but there is an incessant drumbeat of "give, give, give" around here, to the point of badgering and denigration. Sorry...as un-PC as it is, the obvious NEEDS to be stated, despite the fact that they are still in rescue mode. Below is my statement of accountability on Haiti. Good day.Enough is enough: A Statement of Accountability on Haiti Haiti has been the recipient of HUNDREDS of Millions of dollars of aid (if not Billions) in the past 20 years, plus numerous efforts at sending the nation on a course of self-reliance...all for naught. Measured against the Dominican Republic 'next door', the nation of Haiti is an abject failure and the people of Haiti have no one but themselves to blame. Is this (the earthquake aftermath) a humanitarian crisis? Yes. We (the US) will help...we always do. The US government (remember: OUR money) will end up rebuilding the country, the UN and USAID will see to it that food, water & medical gets to the people and the NGOs & civilian search & rescue will wrap up their 'rescue' efforts in the next couple of days (despite problems with the initial response and apparent ongoing organizational problems and what appears to be a turf battle between the UN & US). If you really want to make a difference, donate as your wallet & conscience allow to a US national organization DIRECTLY (NOT text, twitter or the like) via their websites and tell your congressman how much you believe the US should do for Haiti before turning it back to the Haitians. If you are able-bodied, suitably well-off, retired or the-like and in the business, go there and help rebuild. However, with US obligations already weighing down MY children and grandchildren, and the economic crisis FAR from over, I REFUSE this to be a drumbeating, open-ended, no-limits exercise of aid. I also refuse to be criticized for EXPECTING people to show appreciation for our help by helping themselves after the humanitarian crisis has subsided. By the way, reports are already coming in of the Dominican Republic trying to seal off its border to prevent a corollary humanitarian crisis in THEIR country from migrating illegal Haitians. Haiti is likewise not the Dominican Republic's fault, but they will assist as they are able, but not at the expense of their own population. Do not BADGER me to give; do not expect me to give 'unendingly' (that includes of my government). I have a limit with welfare/aid of ANY kind when it comes to people that REFUSE to help themselves. If some object to my 'early' critiquing of the Haitians while they are still in shock, that's just tough. Get over it. Get real. This isn't conservative; rather, this is PRAGMATIC. Support the military, support your local first-responders, support your favorite domestic and Int'l charities but, most of all, support those that help themselves. Money won't solve Haiti's problems and never will. Oh...and for those angrily reaching for the phone or hitting the comment button, if I had a need, I would accept help 'to a limit' and would REFUSE more than I needed. I believe that is a HUMAN trait, as is, unfortunately, its antithesis. Posted by: logi_cal 2010-01-20 |
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