Words are not sufficient for the immense and unimaginable loss of perhaps 100,000 lives during the recent earthquake in Haiti. The immediate question is what can be done to help. I wrote recently in "Guns or Health Care?" that it was Clara Barton and a group of fellow Americans who founded the Red Cross and Red Crescent, and not the federal government. The Red Cross has already begun operations by contributing $1 million from their International Response Fund and sending stocks of tarps, mosquito nets, and cooking sets to Haiti. I myself made a donation today to the International Response Fund, which can be done here or from the home page, redcross.org. There are other charities working there as well, and I encourage anyone to investigate if you choose to donate.
The federal government has also pledged assistance with our military. While I certainly hope this assistance helps save lives, Americans should not forget the Hurricane Katrina fiasco so quickly. Our own country was wracked by a serious disaster, though smaller than Haiti's, and the federal response of FEMA was famously ineffective. Now, I will not question the government's benevolent intentions to help, but we must recognize that they are incapable of even balancing their own budget, and was within 72 hours of a technical default last month. They have failed for 8+ years, spending billions and billions, to locate the leader of the al-Qaeda terrorist group.
As George Washington once said, "Government is not reason; it is not eloquent; it is force." The function of the government is to provide the rule of law and protect liberty, not to redistribute wealth, grant special privileges, or interfere with the lives of individuals and their actions. Government has nothing - it must first tax or plunder resources by force from citizens before redistributing to Haitians or even fellow Americans.
What is our past history with Haiti? We have sent in the Marines many times before, even in recent years, and we invaded and occupied the country from 1915-1930. Pennsylvania native, two-time winner of the Medal of Honor, and the highest decorated Marine in history, Smedley Butler, eventually decided to write his powerful essay "War is a Racket" in large part due to his experiences in the occupation of Haiti.
What has our current government done in terms of aid? In HR 3081, passed by the House and voted FOR by my competitor, the incumbent Congressman Dent, in Section 7045 grants Haiti $300 million dollars in military and economic aid and unspecified amounts for military training. In fact, in 2007 alone the federal government gave $208 million in economic aid and $2.4 million in military aid to Haiti. Since 1946, American taxpayers have sent $4.5 billion estimated in constant 2007 dollars to Haiti. We have done much the same for other countries across the world. [Source: Visit here and run a 'Country Report' in 'Constant Dollars'. Select Haiti under 'Standard Country Report.']
Has this strategy of giving away tax dollars even worked? From the appearance of Haiti even before the earthquake and all of the other Latin American and African countries where foreign aid has been spent, I do not see any beneficial results from all this aid. Where is the accountability?
In summary, point #1 - the American government should not award any foreign aid whatsoever and the current Congress and individuals should realize that not only is accountability missing, but the money simply is not theirs to give, as Colonel Davy Crockett noted so long ago. Instead of voting to plunder the taxpayer, each and every Congressman, Senator, and President should reach into their own millionaire pockets and contribute. There is such a thing as leading by example and after my election I have pledged to only accept the median household income and donate the remainder to local non-profit hospitals. I do not see any logic in offering foreign aid when our nation has such a large foreign debt already. Indeed, I would certainly not approve ANY grants of foreign aid while the unemployment rates in the Lehigh Valley are at 23-year highs with the official numbers, and at Great Depression rates if the more realistic but unofficial statistics are used.
Point #2 - do we as a people, in our local communities have rapid response and insurance plans to survive disasters? What about the next Katrina? What about when California is hit by a massive earthquake sometime in the decades to come? In our local communities and media (and yes, local governments!) we should use events like Haiti or the Asian tsunami to remind us of these important discussions. However, we must recognize that federal government is NOT a cure-all and is inherently inefficient - we should rely instead on charitable non-governmental organizations to plan out responses both locally and internationally. In other words, we should rely on ourselves. I've cast my own vote with the Red Cross instead of expecting Congress or the President to act. In the years to come, hopefully humanity can improve its track record.
January 14, 2010
26 Comments
Anonymous
Mariafolsom
Absolutely right, Jake. We should all show our generosity and our believe in the power of the individual by making a donation NOW. If I had one complaint (and I always have one) it would be that the Red Cross is perhaps not the best outlet. They really screwed up with 9/11 donations, mine being one the contributions that got "held in account for future disaster." (I later demanded a refund of my contribution and sent the money to another charity.) All this aside, your point about accountability and government ineptitude is right on.
Edward
Jake, I also don't trust the Red Cross. I still remember how they solicited donations for 9/11 victims right after 9/11, then said they were going to keep some of those funds for future operations and public outrage finally caused them to cave in and say all proceeds would go towards 9/11 victims.
StuckInNJ
The Red Cross can go pound salt.
There are many more worthy organizations ... organizations that don't pay their leaders outrageous salaries and who don't have excessive administration costs ..... and, who stay out of politics. The Red Cross fails in all of these.
A good organization to consider if you don't know where to contribute is Food For The Poor; http://www.foodforthepoor.org/about/
Over 97% of monies received go DIRECTLY to the people being served.
JakeTowne
Thanks for the feedback! I've looked into the Red Cross and have been satisfied and view my donation as pretty much helping replace the $1 million they already spent. I don't deny there are better ones, and feel free to list them!
therooster
Didn't the Nestle family have a great deal to do with the development of the Red Cross .... you know, big time arms dealers and manufacturers of baby food and disaster nutrition ...?
Rob P.
Jake,
Spot on. Thank you for referencing Colonel/Congressman Crockett's experience related to this very issue, charity. This historic account just may be the single best guide available to the American people, Congress, and the legions of bureaucrats who seek to redistribute our private property. When left to their own devices, in the absence of government intervention, the American people are the most giving people on the planet. We can, and do, take care of our own when given the opportunity.
As you stated relative to the federal government's inability to respond adequately when the need arises, "...the federal response of FEMA was famously ineffective". Agreed. The question remains, do Americans want to be the wards of a nanny state, or the masters of their own destiny and providers of their own security in times of need? Can we restore "Constitutional Homeland Security" and be prepared in the face of a natural or man-made disaster? I am firm believer that the citizens of the respective states should plan for, and provide for, their own security. Committees of Safety, a grassroots organization dedicated to supporting state legislators in fulfilling their vital duties, provides the solution with its Economoc Security Bill. Based largely on research of Constitutional Scholar, Attorney, author and lecturer Dr. Edwin Vieira, the proposed legislation will put the teeth back into the 10th Amendment, and restores sound, constitutional money to the states. The mechanism for implementation is the reestablishment of the statute state Militia structure (which was subverted by the Dick Act in 1903). The Constitution provides the legal standing in Article I Section 8, and in the 2nd Amendment of the Bill of Rights. The rest is up to "We the People"... http://CommitteesofSafety.org
For liberty,
Rob
Anonymous
GOOGLE up: economy of haiti, bottom of pg 3. quite a resemblance to the good ole u ass a.
Anonymous
This is so true it hurts. Of course, people will attack you for saying things like that - but they either have to come to terms with the fact that FEMA and the rest of the federal govt. cannot effectively help ANYONE or they have to ignore it. Most ignore it, because to face it and deny it is simply foolishness and naivete. Beside, isn't that what the Haitian govt. is for?
ReverseEngineer
The Red Cross is a thoroughly corrupted organization, you could well describe it as the Charitable Arm of the Illuminati. Whatever large charitable organization you donate cash to, you can about guarantee that more funds will be wasted in the administration and bidding process with private contractors to provide aid then will ever go to the people themselves. We are organizing up a Canned Food Drive, and we will ship it ourselves to Haiti. Once at that end, we no longer have control and no doubt the food will go to the wrong people, but at least we aren’t contributing to a huge slush fund of money that generally does not help the people all that much. If everybody just ships them food directly, then there should be enough to go round even after the local military and goobermint appartchiks take more than their fair share of it.
On Da Goobermint end, in reality how can a Bankrupt Goobermint that cannot provide a social safety net for its own citizens be sending $Billions in Aid to rebuild Haiti? You can’t, but of course you can rack up more debt, and then this will actually provide JOBS for plenty of unemployed construction contractors here in the US who will be sent in with heavy equipment to clear all the rubble.
Haiti has been a failed state for many decades, really it was a failed state as soon as the Slave Trade went south for the Illuminati just after the Civil War. The island was abandoned by all Capital, and the folks who were shipped there really never had any idea how to make the place a sustainable environment. Haiti is just another version of Detroit, abandoned by Capitalistas once it outlived its usefulness.
The tragedy there is likely just beginning. With that population and such a catastrophic failure of the Conduits all at once, the disease and starvation and lack of potable water will magnify the immediate death toll. It will gradually fade off the MSM Radar, but for the people there they will be dying for long time to come here still. This is just one place hit. More will be hit here as time goes by, and the ability to rebuild anywhere will disappear as the money and the oil disappears. Get used to it, Haiti is just a harbinger of things to come. When it comes to a Theatre Near You, then you will really have problems, and real issues with how charity gets distributed.
RE
Dr. Farid
I think 100000 to 200000 peoples if we shift from the affected area in to the neighboring country for at least three months, from there rehabilitate and send back again with education and training that needed may be the successful rescue work.
Now there are a lot of problems in distribution of foods, insufficient foods in the market, looting,insufficient fuell, in time T"he hounoured and dedicated persons" those who working for helping the affected peoples will become exhausted,
Not enough doctors,specialists, relevent equipments for brain and spine surgery in there. Here many peoples are now suffering from paraplegia, hemiplegia and quadriplegia due to trauma. These patients needs urgent operation for spine decompression and stabilization. As I am a doctor, having speciality in two life saving subjects-Anesthesiology and Neurosurgery and also having strong desire to help the peoples of Haiti, I am tearing without doing anything for them just sitting infrnt of net. I am realizing every minutes is important for them. With my own expense I want to give my services to affected peoples. But systems made by human is the main barrier.
StuckInNJ
I read today that Haiti looks like a nuclear bomb was dropped on it -- but without the radiation.
For excellent high quality photos of the destruction, go here. 34 pics. Same site from where I got the "ice" pictures.
http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2010/01/haiti_48_hours_later.html
Also, Time Mag. 45 pics
http://www.time.com/time/photogallery/0,29307,1953257_2024771,00.html
If you have the means, please donate. Anything ... no matter how small,
Anonymous
wonder the ceo of the red cross makes a year.
BekaForney
Davy Crockett's speech is an important one to remember.
forlbrty
I worked in Haiti through the 1980's.I've given this a lot of thought and the best way to help Haiti is to give directly to the Hopital Albert Schweitzer in Deschapelles (Artibonite Valley). The hospital is north of Port-au-Prince so it was not damaged and it will be the closest local point of quality service. It has been there for 54 years, and we visited them often during our time there. Every nickel will go directly to Haitians. http://www.hashaiti.org/ The friends of HAS have art, books, etc for sale in their online gallery. All proceeds are donated to HAS... http://www.friendsofhas.org/
Anonymous
is alfredo gonzales, the tounge tied mouthpiece, working. obama could make him the next dictator in haiti. that would sure make the repubs happy. but only if there were substantial natural resources left to pilfer.
Anonymous
Bush Jr. and Clinton shucking
and jiving, using Haiti.
Video:
http://www.brasschecktv.com/page/789.html
You better believe it.
And Obama is part of the same crowd.
Bush classic: "Channel compassion in a proper direction"
Heaven forbid someone looks at the real problem in Haiti: centuries of vicious outside influence.
coyill
If every country did not donate federal money and break their bank in the process, as pretty every single nation does today, to help out what ever current crisis hits, then where ever that crisis does hit, they will be in a shit-hole. When the big earthquake hits Cali, and US keeps a record of offering no fed help, were not gona get much help. And sure we'll have $$ saved from not sending it over seas, but we could get alot more by going w/ the flow of the world and accepting other nations' money, (this is a global problem. the US is the odd man out. were pretty much screwed. Its the principle of USA to not give Fed $ overseas, but because its a culturally accepted principle pretty much everywhere else, realistically, were forced to do the same.