Punished by Rewards

New Orleans and Haiti share an obvious connection; they are both relatively poor regions that have been recently wiped out by a natural disaster. What’s yet to be found out is if they share the same future. Let’s hope not.

The rebuilding of New Orleans has been a mess due to a number of problems. It’s population is half that of pre-flood levels. Jobs evaporated like the water that flooded its streets. Fighting between rich and poor citizens prevented a clear plan from taking hold. Even with the best of intentions, significant resources and goodwill at the outset, rebuilding New Orleans has been a failure. Given all of this, what optimism is there for Haiti? Not much.

But there is hope.

Haiti has some advantages that New Orleans didn’t. Ironically, Haiti’s poverty is now its strength. Where New Orleans may have been a problem left to the United States, Haiti is clearly a global challenge. This should help to shine a bright, global light on the challenges of Haiti and hopefully ensure that a diverse and deep range of funding is directed squarely at the small nation. Further, for all that was lost in the quake, much more can be gained with even the most modest efforts. Modern infrastructure can replace the patchwork of resources that existed before. Schools, hospitals and other critical institutions can be built much stronger – both physically and culturally – than before.

Secondly, a great opportunity exists now to radically redefine the culture of Haiti. In all such events there is a very real chance to clean house; to forget the past and mov in a whole new direction. The financial mess was a similar opportunity for the United States (a wasted one, it now appears) and the quake is just such an opportunity. Strong leadership and reaching out to their neighbors could move Haiti towards prosperity. Previously, such opportunities were unthinkable.

The chance of failure is of course massive. The situation could easily – if it hasn’t already – totally self destruct into uncontrolled street violence. Gang mentality could take over forcing whatever businesses and opportunities may still be in Haiti to flee. Population contraction like that seen in New Orleans would be devastating to the country.To prevent this, international support needs to be swift and aggressive. Respect for the people of Haiti needs to be shown but not much for its governments and system of organization. In fact, international support should be intrusive and insist on preventing old divisions of class and power from affecting the rebuilding of the city and country. A long term focus of all effort must be in building a new society – not rebuilding the old one.

The quake has taken the lives of countless people. It has kicked in the teeth of those that have few teeth left to kick. Here it would seem that when it rains, it pours. It has, however, made Haiti an international priority. Ensuring that this opportunity isn’t wasted, may well prove to be one of life’s cruelest blessings.

There’s been a lot of concern in Canada about the recent prorogation of parliament by the Conservative government and there’s been no lack of attention in the Canadian media. Almost exclusively – with the exception of a few lost souls – has it been negative. The government shouldn’t just shut down the operations of government and run into a fox hole at the slightest sign of trouble.

True.

But there’s also been a bunch of writing that would lead you to believe that the Canadian Constitution is in jeopardy and the sky is falling – that Harper has essentially declared himself the state and shut the doors to democracy. He’s violated a sacred oath of some kind in the halls of Canadian Politics (as if that hasn’t been done enough, before). Heck, even the philosophy professors are getting in on the action. Something serious must be afoot.

This is too much.

Sure, Harper has shut down the government. Sure, it looks cowardly and foolish. No one believes the stated reasons for shutting it down and what’s worse, they’re increasingly believing their worse suspicions and fears; that the Conservatives are nasty beasts and that were likely aware of the torture being done on their detainees.

For this, it appears, Harper will pay dearly. Where once he looked strong and in control -images his opponents could only dream of projecting in the past few years -he now appears weak and cowardly. A shaking, shell shocked man, hiding from his own shadow.

I admit, the Canadian system could go for a lot of improvements. The Senate clearly needs reform. Independent councils need more funding and independence.

But Stephen Harper is not a direct threat to our constitution. He is not stealing our democracy. The Canadian people will someday soon have a vote and when they do, they will do so knowing that when push came to shove, Harper turned tail and ran. That’s not the kind of person they’ll want to vote for. And in that vote, Canadians will affirm their democracy and put to rest all the hand wringing and chicken littles for whom the Canadian Democracy sky is falling.

Relax. The system isn’t great. It’s broken in some parts. But it’s working in its own way and i’ll take our democracy over the dysfunctional mess they call the United States of America any day.