Vol. 39: The War At Home

In the wake of the disaster in Haiti, many americans, and im sure people world wide wonder why so much emphasis is being brought to help Haiti while Americans still all across the country are homeless, sick/dying, unemployed and uneducated.

As I said in a previous entry, over 10% of americans are unemployed.

anywhere between 700,000 and 2 million americans will sleep on the streets on any given night, the latter making up less than 1% of the total population according to a poll conducted in July 2008. this statistic does not include all citizens living below the poverty threshold (which is roughly 12% as of 2004). the average annual income of an American is $50,233.

it is thought that more than 1 million Americas are living with HIV. the Measles and Polio were completely eradicated decades ago. under five mortality ranks 151st in the world (about 34,000 annually). there are 5,815 registered hospitals, and 2,923 not for profit community hospitals (i.e. clinics). these hospitals and clinics are staffed 2.4 million registered nurses, 531,000 nurse practitioners alone.

by comparison...

Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere(not a good sign already). i dont think my words can do the country justice, so here is an overview of the haitian economy according to the CIA Factbook....

Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere with 80% of the population (7.824million people) living under the poverty line and 54% in abject poverty(having no basic means of survival i.e. clothing, shelter, heating, etc). Two-thirds of all Haitians depend on the agricultural sector, mainly small-scale subsistence farming, and remain vulnerable to damage from frequent natural disasters, exacerbated by the country's widespread deforestation. While the economy has recovered in recent years, registering positive growth since 2005, four tropical storms in 2008 severely damaged the transportation infrastructure and agricultural sector. US economic engagement under the Haitian Hemispheric Opportunity through Partnership Encouragement (HOPE) Act, passed in December 2006, has boosted apparel exports and investment by providing tariff-free access to the US. HOPE II, passed in October 2008, has further improved the export environment for the apparel sector by extending preferences to 2018; the apparel sector accounts for two-thirds of Haitian exports and nearly one-tenth of GDP. Remittances are the primary source of foreign exchange, equaling nearly a quarter of GDP and more than twice the earnings from exports. Haiti suffers from high inflation, a lack of investment because of insecurity and limited infrastructure, and a severe trade deficit. In 2005, Haiti paid its arrears to the World Bank, paving the way for reengagement with the Bank. Haiti is expected to receive debt forgiveness for about $525 million of its debt through the Highly-Indebted Poor Country (HIPC) initiative by mid-2009. The government relies on formal international economic assistance for fiscal sustainability.

in a country with over 9 million citizens, there are just 25 hospitals, mostly in the western region; in and near port-au-prince. 2.2 percent of the population lives with HIV/AIDS. the polio vaccine was first distributed in 2004. Haiti is 47th in the world in under-5 mortality with a like expectance of 61 years. is everyone beginning to see why they need our help?

Homelessness and poverty are certainly plaguing our society.But there are resources out there to support and aid them. countless shelters, soup kitchens, and other opportunities (such as selling Streetwise) are at the disposal of the impoverished. Haiti doesn't have that. they don't have cell phones, and laptops, and video games, and fast food restaurants, and other luxuries that we bitch about when we go without it.

in no way at all am i trying to guilt anyone or single anyone out for questioning the government's decision to act--in fact, i encourage it. doubt is life for debates. im merely trying to enlighten doubters on just how bad the diaspora in Haiti is. so, before anyone begins to compare poverty with Haiti, ask yourself, "do i give a dollar to every homeless person i see?"

till next time.