>>>>You pay lip service to independence and self-sufficiency outside of government. Yet, when it comes to putting your money where your mouth is, you choose to depend on the government. It's all about the money, isn't it?<<<
I had no choice in the matter. The government takes a portion of my paycheck and I can't do anything about it. They take so much (and then waste so much of it) that it's rare that I let much else of my money go anywhere else other than providing for me and my familiy. The American people via the American government and military has given and is giving PLENTY, especially when you consider the millions over the years dumped in that rathole. Corruption and lawlessness has always reigned and it's prevented good, self-sufficient capitilism from ever taking hold. You know - teach a guy to fish instead of giving him fish and all that. Due to the earthquake, those people need special help right now and they are getting it as best as can be accomplished. The U.S. government is GIVING Haiti a LOT of help and I, through my taxes, already contributed plenty. The American government's generosity and help represents and IS my generosity and help. I gave at tax time and am done till I pay my taxes again in a couple of months.
Now, while the opportunity presents itself, the U.S. needs to get a decent government set-up there, get companies to put a few factories down there to create decent jobs, (you and the unions here would scream though) and get some good law enforcement there to shut down the gangs and corruption. It'll never happen though and Haiti will go back to being the lost, chaotic, pathetic place it's been ever since they got their independence 200 years ago and their hand will always be out again again for my money via the U.S. government and nothing changes for the better because the leaders of Haiti and their lieutenants never allow it because they're more interested in enriching themselves and paying off gangs to do their dirty work.