When is enough ………… enough Haiti

[Belly35]

The population of Haiti is 9 Million may be even less now, the annual income is US $450.00
Money donation from around the world is estimated to be $2022702837 is does not include the value of food, clothing, medical, potable shelters and the other material thing required for emergency support.

I’m all for giving, supporting and helping in situation like this but when is too much ..too much.
With so much funds the accountability of the funds are difficult track and at what point does this become a hinder to Haiti people to rebuilding for themselves. This is like creating a welfare state that at some point the money will stop and then what?
Is there a point when to much is not a positive benefactor for the people of Haiti but a negative effect creating the population dependences of short term prosperity?

[Fabio]

What worries me is we are pouring all this money into Haiti for relief while Haitian "presidents" have been known to notoriously use the money designated for their country on their own personal exploits. I feel bad for those who were hurt/maimed/killed in Haiti but haven't we stopped, thought about the history of Haiti and their constant misuse of foreign aid and figured out "waitaminute- how do we know they won't do the same thing?".

I agree that their need to have a stipulation with this money, maybe use this disaster to establish some order in there, but Haiti will not economically become stable until they get an actual altruistic president to run things. If you know anything about the geography of the island of Haiti/Dominican Republic, the two countries are cut off by a mountain and Haiti got the raw end of the deal when it comes to natural resources, which is why they can't really rely on that for any economic stability- putting the burden of the economy on someone who knows how to run a country- who they never had.

[Gobuckeyes1]

If you don't like the cause, or you feel enough has already been done, don't give to them. Seems simple enough.

[tk421]

If you don't like the cause, or you feel enough has already been done, don't give to them. Seems simple enough.


There's nothing wrong with questioning how this money is going to be used. I don't think anyone on the huddle can say that this money will probably be spent wisely if left up to the Haitian government. They will probably rebuild using the same poor standards and this will all happen again in the future.

[THE4RINGZ]

How much does it cost to rebuild the country to its already substandard conditions? If that is what they are shooting for, then there should already be enough money. If they are going to try to rebuild the country to be something other than a third world nation some additional funds might be required.

So let's say they rebuild everything to modern standards, will we also have to give money to maintain the country once it is up and running.

Reminds me of an old saying from my Texan Grandmother..."that's like putting a $200 saddle on a $20 horse."

[Al Capone]

After all the countries helping decide to leave there will be massive infighting for control of the money. I can see Haiti turning into another Somalia in a couple of years, and our military will have to go down there and try to settle it.

[GoChiefs]

How much does it cost to rebuild the country to its already substandard conditions?


$7.29

[TBone14]

The people from Haiti are making out like bandits from this situation.

[tk421]

We've been in Iraq and Afghanistan for years and haven't been able to rebuild those countries, what makes anyone think we'd be anymore likely to be able to rebuild Haiti? The U.S. isn't very good at rebuilding.

[SQ_Crazies]

Belly has a great point, and one I tend to agree with.

I mean it's great to help people struggling like they are. But I think we should only help in the rescue effort, not the rebuilding. When you do that you create a welfare state basically. We don't need them relying on us and it only hurts them to have to rely on us. Until a country like Haiti stands on it's own feet then it's just going to be the same way it was before the disaster. I'm totally down with the cause to go and help people medically and use our resources to help find people, etc. But I don't think we should push any effort to rebuild. You have to get yourself out of the bottom--if you rely on help to get up, you'll never be able to get up by yourself.

[SQ_Crazies]

We've been in Iraq and Afghanistan for years and haven't been able to rebuild those countries, what makes anyone think we'd be anymore likely to be able to rebuild Haiti? The U.S. isn't very good at rebuilding.


:huh:

We aren't at war with Haiti. We're certainly going to rebuild.

[ytownfootball]

How much does it cost to rebuild the country to its already substandard conditions?


$7.29



unfortunately, I lol'd

[tk421]

We've been in Iraq and Afghanistan for years and haven't been able to rebuild those countries, what makes anyone think we'd be anymore likely to be able to rebuild Haiti? The U.S. isn't very good at rebuilding.


:huh:

We aren't at war with Haiti. We're certainly going to rebuild.


Why does it fall on the U.S to rebuild? It's one thing to send aid, but we shouldn't get stuck rebuilding that country, hell, the we haven't even rebuilt N.O. yet.

[gorocks99]

If you don't like the cause, or you feel enough has already been done, don't give to them. Seems simple enough.

[SQ_Crazies]

It just does. I'm not saying I agree with it, but that's how it works. It's part of the job of being the worlds only super power and it's a precedent that we've set for ourselves over time.

[Little Danny]

Wouldn't it be cheaper to just move the 9M residents off of Hait and put them into various spots in this country to live on the public dole? At least in that regard, we would be sure they are getting what they need and not be concered about Haitian elite taking it all.

I would think the Democratic Party would be all for this. After all, it would be 9M more voters for them.

[Glory Days]

How much does it cost to rebuild the country to its already substandard conditions?


$7.29


about tree fitty

[Writerbuckeye]

If you don't like the cause, or you feel enough has already been done, don't give to them. Seems simple enough.


There's nothing wrong with questioning how this money is going to be used. I don't think anyone on the huddle can say that this money will probably be spent wisely if left up to the Haitian government. They will probably rebuild using the same poor standards and this will all happen again in the future.


Exactly.

Haiti has a history (the government) of corruption -- and here we are, pouring tens of millions of dollars that you just KNOW is going to end up in those same corrupt hands.

I have NO problem with providing these people with help; I just find it hard to believe the dollars will end up where they can do the most good if Haiti's government has control of the purse strings.

[Mr. 300]

Sounds so familiar this song......let's see.....what is it??? Africa, that's it. Millions to fight aids, with Bush II gifting the largest amount ever by a US admin, and yet hmmmmmm. What's the rest of the world done???

[dwccrew]

As long as it is not taxpayer money, I don't think much about it. I disagree with the US government giving aid to countries out of taxpayer money, when we in fact are in a terrible economy.

Now private donations are a totally different and I am all for that, but the government should not be a charity to other countries.

[krazie45]

If people want to privately donate to Haiti then the money can keep on going there as long as people let it as far as I'm concerned. However, I agree that taxpayer money should be going to better places. I don't recall Haiti sending relief to New Orleans

[BoatShoes]

If people want to privately donate to Haiti then the money can keep on going there as long as people let it as far as I'm concerned. However, I agree that taxpayer money should be going to better places. I don't recall Haiti sending relief to New Orleans


What might be some more urgent, moral and better places to spend taxpayer money?

[cbus4life]

If people want to privately donate to Haiti then the money can keep on going there as long as people let it as far as I'm concerned. However, I agree that taxpayer money should be going to better places. I don't recall Haiti sending relief to New Orleans


How in the hell could they have been expected to send relief to New Orleans?

I understand what you're saying, but the New Orleans reasoning is a rather shitty argument.

[Gobuckeyes1]

If people want to privately donate to Haiti then the money can keep on going there as long as people let it as far as I'm concerned. However, I agree that taxpayer money should be going to better places. I don't recall Haiti sending relief to New Orleans


I didn't realize that helping other people who desperately need it required a quid pro quo.

As someone who is fairly comfortable financially, I would never expect a neighbor who is destitute to help me monetarily if my house burned down.

"For everyone to whom much is given, of him shall much be required." -- Luke 12:48

[ManO'War]

It would be one thing if America's streets were paved in gold and we had extra money just laying around collecting dust, but in our current state it is foolish to give any tax payer money to anyone.

It is like a family that is in debt up to it's eyeballs and filing for bankruptcy, charging money on their Visa card to help out their neighbor.

Heck, Haiti is probably in better shape than the U.S. They don't have anything, but at least they don't owe anyone either.

[FatHobbit]

Heck, Haiti is probably in better shape than the U.S.

if you say so

[cbus4life]

It would be one thing if America's streets were paved in gold and we had extra money just laying around collecting dust, but in our current state it is foolish to give any tax payer money to anyone.

It is like a family that is in debt up to it's eyeballs and filing for bankruptcy, charging money on their Visa card to help out their neighbor.

Heck, Haiti is probably in better shape than the U.S. They don't have anything, but at least they don't owe anyone either.


ROFL.

Our current state? Was our capital just hit by an earthquake, thousands dead and lacking the infrastructure to rebuild and provide basic necessities of life to those who have survived?

We want to be a world "superpower," it is our responsibility to help in certain humanitarian causes, where we have the ability to do so.

This is one of those cases.

I know it isn't always feasible to help, or send a large amount of aid, but this is one of those cases where we absolutely should be.

And, it isn't just money that will make the difference. It is the people there, right now, who have come from the United States, who are doing a world of good. And many organizations will stay, helping with the actual reconstruction.

I know that there are concerns about the money, at this point, but i think even the corrupt government lacks the ability right now to embezzle/steal the money. With the amount and variety of foreign aid pouring in, i have faith that it will be used as well as one could expect.

[iclfan2]

If people want to privately donate to Haiti then the money can keep on going there as long as people let it as far as I'm concerned. However, I agree that taxpayer money should be going to better places. I don't recall Haiti sending relief to New Orleans


What might be some more urgent, moral and better places to spend taxpayer money?


Appalachia. Inner cities. Americans. I agree Haiti should get some relief, but there is a point where the amount of money they get is ridiculous. Especially with a corrupt government running the show over there.

[ManO'War]

I mean in a general sense.

I would rather be a homeless man with no debt, than a man living in a big fancy house that owes so much he will never be able to come close to paying it back. At least the homeless man still has the hope of someday building up his wealth.

Haiti is going to be rebuilt on someone else's dime, and in 20 years we will be hearing stories about how Haiti is doing well....what will those stories say about the United States at that time?

[iclfan2]

Haiti is going to be rebuilt on someone else's dime, and in 20 years we will be hearing stories about how Haiti is doing well.


No we won't. They will be living in poverty again. There country has a chance to be like the DR, and travelled too, but they didn't. Getting hit by an earthquaker and getting tons of money isn't going to change it.

[BoatShoes]

So...suppose I have a neighboring apartment complex...and it's say a poorly maintained housing complex....most of the resident's are poor and have little income and are in effect living across a political boundary...say they live in East Cleveland but I live in Cleveland. I have a huge mansion, large amounts of assets but I also have a large amount of liabilities that I need to start getting under control....if an earthquake happens and those destitute neighbors are trapped and dying and starving underneath collapsed rubble....I'm not going to run up some more on my liabilities to help them???

Is this how people really think in emergencies...instead of helping their fellow man they're concerned with their credit score???? It doesn't seem like that fits with our experience of the world and how humans act towards other humans in emergency situations.

Americans die from diseases that stem from gluttony and affluence...We're so well off that if the rest of the world ate like us we would need three earth's to produce that much food....most Americans live in and experience more comfort than Henry the VIII did when living in the Palace of Versailles. Heck, even before the earthquake, Haitians had to wash their cloths in sewage. If people think the U.S. large debt, although the most pressing problem facing the Union, is bad, they really need to get some perspective on life as it pales in comparison to what the people of Haiti are facing. Normally, I feel as if I'm not so dismissive of other views on here...but, perhaps even if you don't care about haitians...at least admit that....just say it...I don't care if they're dying, trapped under rubble and have nothing to eat because I have to focus on being able to afford that vacation to Disney Land....just don't say we have bigger problems because that is, from any reasonable view, completely false.


The U.S' Gross National Income for 2008, was 14.3 trillion dollars. We could cut that in half and put that half of it toward our Debt that we've carelessly racked up unnecessarily and STILL have more national income than the next richest country by 3 trillion dollars, Japan; (not counting the European Union as a whole). So realistically, if we really wanted to get serious about paying our national debt as a whole....we could pull it off by tightening our belts for two years....maybe we could try eating like most of the world will do for their whole lives for a year or two...

I REALIZE I'M GROSSLY OVERSIMPLIFYING...please, you don't have to point that out....but my under lying point that I'm trying to hammer home...is that what's going on in Haiti, and realistically what has been going on there is way more pressing than anything going on in the ole U.S.A. You don't want to help them...fine...but don't say we've got bigger problems because that ain't true son.

[goosebumps]

I haven't been on this forum for a long time... What happened? I agree with Boat Shoes!!! :huh:

Just gave around 80 dollars in change to my school for Haiti Relief. Was planning on taking it to the coinstar but figured they needed it more than I did. I'm out a new game for the Wii and a night on the town... big whoop.

I'm as conservative as they come, but have no objection to helping this country out.

[dwccrew]

If people want to privately donate to Haiti then the money can keep on going there as long as people let it as far as I'm concerned. However, I agree that taxpayer money should be going to better places. I don't recall Haiti sending relief to New Orleans


What might be some more urgent, moral and better places to spend taxpayer money?


I'd say our homeless in this country, our orphans in this country and the sick in this country. And I mean this stictly on the taxpayer's dime; private donations are great and will continue to happen.





It would be one thing if America's streets were paved in gold and we had extra money just laying around collecting dust, but in our current state it is foolish to give any tax payer money to anyone.

It is like a family that is in debt up to it's eyeballs and filing for bankruptcy, charging money on their Visa card to help out their neighbor.

Heck, Haiti is probably in better shape than the U.S. They don't have anything, but at least they don't owe anyone either.


ROFL.

Our current state? Was our capital just hit by an earthquake, thousands dead and lacking the infrastructure to rebuild and provide basic necessities of life to those who have survived?

We want to be a world "superpower," it is our responsibility to help in certain humanitarian causes, where we have the ability to do so.

This is one of those cases.

I know it isn't always feasible to help, or send a large amount of aid, but this is one of those cases where we absolutely should be.

And, it isn't just money that will make the difference. It is the people there, right now, who have come from the United States, who are doing a world of good. And many organizations will stay, helping with the actual reconstruction.

I know that there are concerns about the money, at this point, but i think even the corrupt government lacks the ability right now to embezzle/steal the money. With the amount and variety of foreign aid pouring in, i have faith that it will be used as well as one could expect.


I believe that everything you just said is correct; however, the S government shouldn't (and really doesn't need to) donate money. The only thing we could really do that I wouldn't have a problem with is sending the military to help organize donations by private organizations.

We should send money as citizens, not as a government IMO.



I mean in a general sense.

I would rather be a homeless man with no debt, than a man living in a big fancy house that owes so much he will never be able to come close to paying it back. At least the homeless man still has the hope of someday building up his wealth.

Haiti is going to be rebuilt on someone else's dime, and in 20 years we will be hearing stories about how Haiti is doing well....what will those stories say about the United States at that time?


Ummmm, I'd rather live in the house with the debt than be homeless. At least I'd have a place to stay at that time. And who is to say the man in the big fancy house still can't dream of regaining wealth, just as the homeless man is dreaming of gaining his wealth. I'd say the guy in the house at least has the know how of gaining wealth moreso than a homeless guy, but to each their own.



I haven't been on this forum for a long time... What happened? I agree with Boat Shoes!!! :huh:

Just gave around 80 dollars in change to my school for Haiti Relief. Was planning on taking it to the coinstar but figured they needed it more than I did. I'm out a new game for the Wii and a night on the town... big whoop.

I'm as conservative as they come, but have no objection to helping this country out.


This post is a perfect example of how many people in this country think. We, as a people, are very generous (more than some would like to give credit) and private donations will continue to go to Haiti. The government should not be giving any money. A government shouldn't have any emotions i.e. compassion, greed, etc.

Leave it to the people to donate, the government should worry about how it is ruining this country before trying to stabilize another country.

[krazie45]

Look, I'm all for helping Haiti. I think the Red Cross and other organizations are doing a great job getting people to donate to the Haitian relief cause and I think people should (I've even donated). What I don't think is that the government should be involved. Let private organizations handle it but the government needs to focus its resources on its own country. Their are thousands of poor, destitute people in this country and that's where the government's taxpayer money should be going. If everyone wants to make donations privately to Haiti then that's wonderful because they do need the help.

[ManO'War]

I guess I just don't like the idea of having insurmountable debt. I have no debt in my personal life, and I don't agree with spending money I don't have. A country should be ran the same way. But hey, the mentality of people now a days is that they can just file bankruptcy and everything is fine!

I don't begrudge anyone of giving their private money to any charity they want, but US tax money should not be used on any country.

BTW, why wouldn't someone donate their coinstar change to people that actually need help in our country?? Is suffering in another country somehow greater than suffering here?

[dwccrew]

I don't begrudge anyone of giving their private money to any charity they want, but US tax money should not be used on any country.

Why do you make this statement......



BTW, why wouldn't someone donate their coinstar change to people that actually need help in our country?? Is suffering in another country somehow greater than suffering here?


And then ask this question? People can donate their money to whatever charity they choose, whether it be domestic or foreign. Suffering is suffering. What people personally believe is the greater suffering and choose to donate to is their business.

Personally, I generally donate to domestic causes, but on occassion will donate to foreign causes as well.