Why Don't We Read More About Haiti

Everyday life in Haiti.

Haiti is undergoing a political crisis. The President this week has nominated a third person for Prime Minister, an office that has been vacant since April.

Haiti is identified as a failed state by Foreign Policy magazine. It is occupied by a U.N. Peace Building force headed by Brazilians, which appears to be controversial. While it has been occupied by foreign troops for most of the time since 1995, it is not clear that the government will be able to maintain order without outside force in the near future.

The poorest nation in the hemisphere, most of its people are suffering still more from the high international prices of food and fuel. Indeed demonstrations in April triggered by economic problems resulted in the departure of the last Prime Minister.

Charges fly that a corrupt government not only fails to promote economic growth but is so inefficient that food aid rots in the ports. Nearly nine million people over-stretch the carrying capacity of Haiti's already environmentally degraded lands. Tourism has not recovered to previous levels, and few want to invest in manufacturing in Haiti.

The United States bears a considerable responsibility for the current situation of Haiti. Haiti is very close to our border, completely dependent on the U.S. economy, and has sent many Haitians to live here. The U.S. invaded Haiti early in the 20th century to assure an American bank could collect debts from a failed Haitian enterprise, and occupied the country setting up a military that became dictatorial. The United States certainly has some responsibility for the Duvalier regime and led the U.N. force that deposed Aristide in the 1990's and established an alternative regime.

This is a situation which requires our attention, if only to put pressure on our Congress to act responsibly. Therefore it is a situation which requires coverage by the media in the United States. How long is it since you read a story about Haiti, or saw it discussed in television news?