Pretty self-explanatory.

What are your opinions on the situation in Haiti? What do you think should be done about it? Do you think Americans are doing enough? Etc.

We rich people over here have tons of resources we could supply to them and need to supply to them. People are making an effort to help..that's what matters...but frankly I believe we could do more.

http://www.theonion.com/content/news/massi..._reveals_entire

So my friend calls me and tells me how he just broke up with his girlfriend from Haiti. He is doing just fine, but she's crushed.

So the Debate and Serious Discussion Forum became the Joke Spam Forum?

What is being done to support Haiti, anyway? I know that all the humanitarian groups are doing stuff, but is our government doing anything? I'm most inclined to suggest leaving it to the humanitarian groups.

I answered that question in an original way. Would you rather of me said "I could care less", or as Jonny put it... a link and nothing more?

IMO our government shouldn't be spending money on 3rd world countries, I don't give my permission to spend my taxes on something that doesn't help me or my fellow taxpayers.

I agree with Zen. The money of our Tax paying community should be working to pay our debt. The government should worry about our debts. The humanitarian groups are made to help people. Let them worry about helping. I mean I donated food and such for Haiti, but I don't think our nation should increase it's debt for a third world country.

I, and most people from here I've talked to, completely disagree with you guys.

I can't give specifics, but Canada has been sending soldiers over there (Although we did did take slightly too long to respond, IMO). Over 2000, if I remember correctly.
Even though I'm not informed enough to talk for the rest of Canada, even though I believe they've been very generous as well, Quebec has been putting much effort in helping Haiti. Most of the people here wish to do our best to help them. There's been an avalanche of fund raisers.

Plus, government lost no time in modifying laws to make it easier for Haitian people to move to Quebec.

This all may have to do with the fact that 90% of the Haitians in Canada are in Quebec (Since, well, Haitians tend to speak French). Quebec is one of the first places Haitians immigrate to (I wouldn't be surprised if it was first).

Personally, I believe we're doing the right thing.

Lixyl, is Quebec and the Canadian government themselves donating money, or is it just the people?

Well from the sounds of it Canada got things covered guys...
I'm with you guys with the state of our affairs in the U.S, The Government shouldn't be dumping funds into Haiti. I believe that people should help and something should be done, But leave it to the humanitarian groups and people at a personal level.

I'm pretty sure it was 'For every dollar donated by the people, the government will donate a dollar.'

I can totally picture someone saying this at a UN meeting.


Interesting. I'm hoping someone here will shed some light on whether the US government (and other governments) are actually donating things themselves.

It's definitely an interesting stance you guys in Quebec are taking, but it makes sense given that tie you apparently have to Haiti (or that Haiti has to you).

According to an article, published on January 29st, the contributions are as follow:

Canada - Population around 30 million
Public Donations (Non-Governmental Groups and Public): 82.5 million $
Government Donations:
Federal - 168 million $
Provincial - About 5 million $ per province

United-States - Population around 300 million
Public Donations (Non-Governmental Groups and Public): 470 million $
Government Donations: 316 million $

France -
Public Donations (Non-Governmental Groups and Public): 27 million $
Government Donations: 20 million $

Link to article (It's in French, though, so I doubt you can even read it)
http://www.cyberpresse.ca/le-soleil/dossie...us-genereux.php

I still am not OK with millions of dollars being spent for some other country when we need to lessen our debt.

Wasn't Haiti a french colony?

I don't think the government should spend money on any third world country. I don't think they should spend money on ANY country actually, I realize that we're still considered the big boy on the block with a lot of money, but we're not doing so well on the financial aspect [our debt is how many trillion? Yea, thanks mr president.] and there are too many countries to help, too many third worlds without the necessary food and water, some are more popular then others, but just because an earthquake upsets the balance in one place doesn't mean they deserve help any more then some kid starving in africa, or being worked to death in asia, or smuggled in as a sex slave in our own country. There is too much wrong for our government to further its own injuries trying to solve all the injustices in the world, leave it to the people to spend the money not being taxed by our government to donate it to whatever cause they find worthy.

It's really easy for spoiled Americans to say that their country has no obligation to aid others, especially when the riches of America were built on the backs of the downtrodden. A life does not become more valuable simply because the person was lucky enough to be born into a first world country.

I agree that life does not become more valuable due to circumstances. However, our country (or anyone else's country, for that matter) has no obligation to any other country. Our government's function is to rule us, and that's where the jurisdiction lies. If our government also ruled Haiti then it would be obligated to help the people there, but it does not.

Of course, I am by no means against private donations and volunteerism. (In fact, NGO aid to other countries is typically more effective than governmental aid anyway.) I just think that a person should not be forced to donate to, say, Haiti by a government that is not responsible for Haiti.

I disagree. The American government has a duty to the American people, and the American people have a duty to the people of Haiti, as do all people. I would say we have a responsibility to care for others based on the principles of solidarity and compassion. For the same reason that the privileged of the world have a duty to fight against atrocities committed by tyrannical regimes like those who rule North Korea and Iran, and those who used to rule in Iraq and Afghanistan, the privileged of the world have a duty to fight against the atrocities committed by nature against the people of Haiti.

You bring up an interesting point, and that is that perhaps we should be ruling Haiti. They are very close to our shores, their government might as well be completely nonfunctional, and nothing we can do to them will make their situation worse than it already is. Why don't we just send in a governor-general and run the place for the next half century? When they're fully developed we can then talk about independence.

Wow. My board has really taken off. I figured it would.

It's very interesting to read all of your points and debates on this subject.

If you ask me, I don't think the government really has any obligation to help the people in Haiti, because, in truth, they don't. I do however feel rather strongly about the comparison of our riches to the rest of the world and how we should be using these riches.
The way I see it, with all the money this country has they should help out the rest of the people in this world who don't have as much. After all, we're all part of this world, why shouldn't we help others out just because they're in a different country?
Of course there's also this debt to think about. It seems like the government would learn to use their money more wisely at some some point. Anyways, considering this debt, now would probably not be the best time for the government to get involved. It doesn't mean we're uncaring people, it just means we can't help at the moment.
Of course, if people are willing to spend their money to send those people food and water or even fly over there and help clean up the mess, then that's great. It's their choice. I cheer them on and wish I could go there myself and help out.

Because nothing resonates with American values like ruling a population without extending them voting rights.