Will they "shock" again?

**Blueneck** · 17th January 2010 06:28 AM

Naomi Klein on Democracy Now:

But as I write about in The Shock Doctrine, crises are often used now as the pretext for pushing through policies that you cannot push through under times of stability. Countries in periods of extreme crisis are desperate for any kind of aid, any kind of money, and are not in a position to negotiate fairly the terms of that exchange.

And I just want to pause for a second and read you something, which is pretty extraordinary. I just put this up on my website. The headline is “Haiti: Stop Them Before They Shock Again.” This went up a few hours ago, three hours ago, I believe, on the Heritage Foundation website.

“Amidst the Suffering, Crisis in Haiti Offers Opportunities to the U.S. In addition to providing immediate humanitarian assistance, the U.S. response to the tragic earthquake in Haiti earthquake offers opportunities to re-shape Haiti’s long-dysfunctional government and economy as well as to improve the image of the United States in the region.” And then goes on.

The rest here:

http://www.democracynow.org/2010/1/14/n ... capitalism

Also on Democracy Now, Randall Robinson on the Clinton/Shrub efforts:

Of course, President Bush was responsible for destroying Haitian democracy in 2004, when he and American forces abducted President Aristide and his wife, taking them off to Africa, and they are now in South Africa. President Clinton has largely sponsored a program of economic development that supports the idea of sweatshops. Haitians in Haiti today make 38 cents an hour. They don’t make a high enough wage to pay for their lunch and transportation to and from work. But this is the kind of economic program that President Clinton has supported. I think that is sad, that these two should be joined in this kind of effort. It sends, I think, the wrong kind of signal. But that is not what we should focus on now. We should focus on saving lives.

http://i1.democracynow.org/2010/1/15/bu ... ng_haitian

Oddly enough, as General Honore keeps harping on "pay the Haitians to run the relief and rebuilding", Daily Kos for some damn reason is slamming him as running as a Republican in a race for Sen. Vitter's seat in LA, something he has been denying since last summer.

Apparently he is being accused of criticizing Obama's handling of this situation, but all he's done is slam the UN being in charge - I don't blame him, I think they are screwing shit up and deserve the criticism.

I don't get that, he's been the only sane voice on television that I've been hearing for the last couple of days.

**Blueneck** · 17th January 2010 09:20 AM

This shit stinks to high heaven, IMO.

Don't donate to the Red Cross, donate to us and we'll decide who to distribute the money to

All they do is give money to other charities. Except the Bush end which takes 1%.

How long do they hang on to it before they distribute the funds, and what do they do with it in the meantime?

**Blah** · 18th January 2010 01:24 AM

Of course, President Bush was responsible for destroying Haitiandemocracy in 2004, when he and American forces abducted PresidentAristide and his wife, taking them off to Africa, and they are now inSouth Africa.

Aristide was on his way to becoming a corrupt Hugo Chavez type and potential dictator, not that

interfering is justified. Just that "destroying Haitian democracy" is a bit hysterical.

**Blueneck** · 18th January 2010 06:00 AM

[quote name='bla bla' date='18 January 2010 - 03:24 AM' timestamp='1263803077' post='100919']

Aristide was on his way to becoming a corrupt Hugo Chavez type and potential dictator, not that

interfering is justified. Just that "destroying Haitian democracy" is a bit hysterical.

[/quote]

The Haitians elected the guy. "On his way" to becoming a dictator was a step up for them.