How To Help Haitians: Let Them In!
January 26th 2010 03:13
With the tragedy in Haiti filling the lead spot on every newscast, U.S. citizens have been forced to think about what should be done to assist Haitians, both now and in the long run. Hopefully, people will come to realize that the United States’ stance on immigration policy concerning Haiti has been unfair and counterproductive to the well being of Haitians. According to the State Department, “Nearly 55,000 Haitians have been approved for family visas but are on waiting lists to enter because Congress has set limits on how many may come each year." Yet, according to guest blogger Michael Clemens at AidWatch (Read his whole post):
While Haitians are dying in Haiti and wishing they could come to the United States, the U.S. government tells them that it would be better if they stayed in Haiti. Why? Anyone??? Writing at the Washington Post , Michael Clemens (again) reveals that things may be much brighter on the U.S. side of the fence (w/ my highlighting added):
Finally, Mr. Clemens offers a thought-provoking analogy to put events in perspective:
When the imaginary construct of borders are removed from the discussion and the welfare of every person is considered equally, then any moral rationale for not allowing more Haitians into the United States crumbles apart.
P.S. Things may be about to get much worse in Haiti (Tyler Cowen)
Follow me on Twitter: @AGoldenDoor
The earthquake two weeks ago hit Haiti hard because Haiti is poor. The rich U.S. had similar earthquakes with far less carnage. So, what would do the most to lift Haitians out of poverty?
Start here: What has done the most, to date, to lift Haitians out of poverty? That answer is easy. Leaving Haiti... When Gallup asked people in Haiti last year if they would leave permanently if given the opportunity, 52 percent said yes. The U.S. is actively blocking the most effective poverty reduction strategy for Haitians.
Start here: What has done the most, to date, to lift Haitians out of poverty? That answer is easy. Leaving Haiti... When Gallup asked people in Haiti last year if they would leave permanently if given the opportunity, 52 percent said yes. The U.S. is actively blocking the most effective poverty reduction strategy for Haitians.
While Haitians are dying in Haiti and wishing they could come to the United States, the U.S. government tells them that it would be better if they stayed in Haiti. Why? Anyone??? Writing at the Washington Post , Michael Clemens (again) reveals that things may be much brighter on the U.S. side of the fence (w/ my highlighting added):
In research I conducted with economists Claudio Montenegro and Lant Pritchett, we compared how much Haitians earn in the United States vs. Haiti. A moderately educated adult male, born and schooled in Haiti, typically enjoys a standard of living more than six times greater in the United States than in his homeland. In other words, U.S. policy wipes out more than 80 percent of a Haitian's earning power when it keeps him from coming to the United States. This affects everything from the food he can buy to the construction materials he can afford. The difference has nothing to do with his ability or effort; it results purely from where he is.
Finally, Mr. Clemens offers a thought-provoking analogy to put events in perspective:
After Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans and the Gulf Coast in 2005, one of the principal ways its victims helped themselves was by leaving. Katrina prompted one of the biggest resettlements in American history. Who would have blocked Interstate 10 with armed guards, forcing hundreds of thousands of people to suffer in the disaster zone, no matter how much assistance was coming in from outside? We wouldn't have done that, because it would have made us collectively responsible for their continued suffering. Why then, in the thoughtful debate that has emerged over how best to aid Haiti and help its citizens help themselves, are Americans still quiet about this sinister face of our immigration policy?
When the imaginary construct of borders are removed from the discussion and the welfare of every person is considered equally, then any moral rationale for not allowing more Haitians into the United States crumbles apart.
P.S. Things may be about to get much worse in Haiti (Tyler Cowen)
Follow me on Twitter: @AGoldenDoor
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