Why The US Owes Haiti Billions
The Briefest History…
By Bill Quigley / Originally posted on the Dissident Voice
(Editors Note: Bill Quigley represented Pere Jean-Juste many times in Haiti along with the Bureau des Avocats Internationaux in Port au Prince and the Institute for Justice and Democracy in Haiti. Bill is on leave from Loyola University College of Law in New Orleans serving as Legal Director of the Center for Constitutional Rights. He can be reached at: quigley77@gmail.com. Read other articles by Bill, or visit Bill’s website.)
Why does the US owe Haiti Billions? Colin Powell, former US Secretary of State, stated his foreign policy view as the “Pottery Barn rule.” That is: “if you break it, you own it.”
The US has worked to break Haiti for over 200 years. We owe Haiti. Not charity. We owe Haiti as a matter of justice. Reparations. And not the $100 million promised by President Obama either – that is Powerball money. The US owes Haiti Billions – with a big B.
The US has worked for centuries to break Haiti. The US has used Haiti like a plantation. The US helped bleed the country economically since it freed itself, repeatedly invaded the country militarily, supported dictators who abused the people, used the country as a dumping ground for our own economic advantage, ruined their roads and agriculture, and toppled popularly elected officials. The US has even used Haiti like the old plantation owner and slipped over there repeatedly for sexual recreation.
Here is the briefest history of some of the major US efforts to break Haiti.
In 1804, when Haiti achieved its freedom from France in the world’s first successful slave revolution, the United States refused to recognize the country. The US continued to refuse recognition to Haiti for 60 more years. Why? Because the US continued to enslave millions of its own citizens and feared recognizing Haiti would encourage slave revolution in the US.
After the 1804 revolution, Haiti was the subject of a crippling economic embargo by France and the US. US sanctions lasted until 1863. France ultimately used its military power to force Haiti to pay reparations for the slaves who were freed. The reparations were 150 million francs. (France sold the entire Louisiana territory to the US for 80 million francs!)
Haiti was forced to borrow money from banks in France and the US to pay reparations to France. A major loan from the US to pay off the French was finally paid off in 1947. The current value of the money Haiti was forced to pay to French and US banks? Over $20 Billion — with a big B. Read more
Putting the “Mock” in Democracy
By Corey Sax (re-printed with permission of the author from www.requiemfordissent.com)
Where we have once been a nation of persevering individualists, we have become a country of adult infants. Where we were once the economic engine that powered the world, we are now sinking the world into ruin. Where we once held intelligence, ability and reason as ideals towards which to strive, we now praise and honor unintelligence, inability and primal emotional responses. The status of our fallen republic and the celebration of our worst traits were evident at the Minnesota State Budget town hall meeting in Minneapolis last Tuesday.
While, I’m not a fan of Tim Pawlenty, I do support his budget cut proposal. We are facing an economic collapse that is as bad as or worse than the Great Depression. Pawlenty’s call for fiscal responsibility on behalf of Minnesota’s legislature is a demonstration of real leadership and for that he should be commended.
I also give Pawlenty credit for standing for what is right, despite the fact that many in this state (especially in the city) are clamoring for more and more handouts that our government can’t afford. It’s never easy being the guy who has to shut down the party, and kick drunken folks home. Hopefully after all is said and done Minnesota with thank the governor for taking a stand and speaking frankly about our economic problems. We certainly cannot afford to keep the government credit card going.
At our town hall meeting, I spoke to this point as a businessman and a citizen. I work for a company (and have contributed to its success over the past 10 years) that has played by the rules, operated ethically and has been financially responsible. We employ hundreds of people and pay a very significant chunk of taxes. I believe that the only way that Minnesota can get out from under this financial collapse is to allow businesses to succeed and to grow. Businesses that grow, hire employees and attract investors like flowers attract birds and bees. It is capital that produces wealth and prosperity, not consumption and deficit spending. Sadly, I was one of 3 out of 500 who argued this point. The other 497 who spoke or sat in the audience lined up at the trough to petition the government not for redress of their grievances, but for the fruits of someone else’s labors, as if they were a legless man sitting on a street corner with a Dixie cup hungry for change. Of those 497, many were those who headed or were employed by various state government funded support services; such as dental care for those who can’t afford it -or choose not to get insurance, those who work for art and “culture” programs, those who operate Park and Recreation facilities and many others that I can’t even begin to remember. It was not these particular pleadings that angered me, but it was when CEOs of the large hospitals: North Memorial, HCMC, and Fairview Medical Center, got down on their hands and knees and asked their legislatures to tax smaller businesses, so that they can get their “bailouts”. Such moves are anti-American at best and morally reprehensible at worst.
I didn’t cause this economic collapse, nor did my employer. The Government and its irresponsible fiscal policies caused this pain and suffering, and they intend to deepen the people’s wounds by punishing responsible producers and saddling them with unsustainable tax increases. This will not grow jobs, it will not feed the hungry and it will not help us out of the current economic climate. Instead such moves will prolong the people’s misery and make the situation worse.
Furthermore I just learned that Mayor RT Rybak, whose is running a reelection campaign for mayor, that he doesn’t even plan on completing, has proposed to shut down the Mpls Department of Civil Rights Investigative Unit. One of the core responsibilities of government is to protect the Civil Rights of her Citizens. It is sickening that RT proposes that we spend $5.2 Million on a “green” roof for the target center, and $9.2 Million for a ONE MILE stretch of bike path, while eliminating organs of government dedicated to maximizing freedom and individual liberty. It also appears that RT Rybak is a little thin skinned when it comes to criticism. Rybak actually blocked me from his Facebook page for openly criticizing him for bashing Governor Tim Pawlenty and pointing out problems with his budget. I think it show the true character of the mayor, to reject opposing positions from his constituents.
It time for us to stop being Good Democrats. It is time for us to stop being Good Republicans. It is time for us to be good Americans.
If we are to reclaim our country, we must first reclaim our neighborhoods and our cities. It is time to stand up for that which is right. It is time to work together to lift those up that need our help, instead of punishing those of ability and those who work hard to create opportunities for our communities. Elected officials at the state and city level have opted to plunder and loot one group of people to give favors to those who’ve helped elected them. This is not only UNAMERICAN, but it is also morally wrong.
Let us see past the partisan lies and work together to rebuild our country. Let us allow the people to have their Life, Liberty, Freedom and Happiness. Let us allow the people to keep their wealth, and to prosper, rather than allowing government to raid whatever remains of our grandchildren’s piggy banks.
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