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Newsgroups: bit.listserv.politics
Date:         Thu, 21 Jan 1993 21:12:16 CST
From:         Titivillus <T9AA@SDSUMUS.SDSTATE.EDU>
Subject:      Policie d'Ayiti (was Re:rantings of the Right Wing)
Comments: To: POLITICS@ucf1vm.cc.ucf.edu

> >>         The situation in Haiti has "changed" due to the President Elect's
>  naiv
> >> statements.  He might as well have gone to Brownsville and said "we're not
> >> going to turn back any more Mexicans".

> >There is a difference. The Mexicans have a history of 'economic
> >migration.' That means, since Mexico has few jobs, they go north.
> >Haiti does not have that tradition. There was no massive flow of
> >Haitians out of Haiti until the current mob of militarist Tonton
> >Macoutes came to power.

>         More Mexicans come because all they have to do is cross a river (in
> most places).
>         Crossing between Haiti and Florida is a bit more difficult.  Plus, the
> Dominican Republic has absorbed about 1 million Haitians over the decades.
>         In any event, it's Clinton's words that have increased the boat
> bulding.

And why did the boatbuilding start about a year and a half ago? Before
then, going the "Boat People" route was fairly rare. There there was
a flood.

The situation is different than Brownsville, hoss.

> >>         And the resulting stampede is merely "a change in the situation"?

> >Bull.

> >>         Anyone with foresight could see what his statements would cause.  N
> >> he has been forced to backpeddle.  Not because the "situation has changed"
>  but
> >> because he changed the situation.

> >He changed the situation, but the situation was grossly unfair.

>         Yes, it is.  That doesn't mean we shouldn't examine the ramifications
> of our actions.  A burning building is certainly a dangerous place.  Do we rus
> in?  Depends on the situation and the likelyhood of success.

>         Haiti is smoldering.  Do we fan the flames?  Throw water on it?  Chop
> wood?  If we don't think through our plan to "help", we may just be igniting
> the flames.

>         The one solution that appears (to me :) to be optimal is to raise the
> standard of living in Haiti so that people don't want to leave.  Of course
> restoring democracy is a necessary step.

Crucial step. Vital step. If you take out the current regime and
reinsert the only democratically elected ruler in the island's
history, Aristide, then the boats would stop.

Of course, it would still be the worst economy in the western hemisphere
but you have to start somewhere.

>         This is the solution that Salinas has for Mexico.  Mexico will become
> place where you can earn a decent living so people will no longer go north.  I
> he succeds, we'll have a nice model for the rest of the developing world.

I hold there is a difference between the immigration problem
from Mexico and from Haiti. There was no large emigration from
Haiti until the coup. Now there is, and the main difference is
is the military government. History shows us that these kinds
of governments do not solve any problems besides the small
balance in the despots' Swiss bank accounts. Yes, Haiti has
serious problems above and beyond the government, but unless
this government is removed, not one bit of positive change is
possible.

> Brett'

Dave
t9aa@sdsumus.sdstate.edu
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