21509: Fuller - Some criticism

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Anne Fuller <affuller3@yahoo.com>

With the departure of Jean-Bertrand Aristide, who dominated Haitian
politics and the Haitian psyche for more than a decade (becoming more
controlling, mysterious and opaque as he went along), Haitians seem to feel
relief as much as anything, and perhaps a glimmer of hope; time for a new
start.

But if the people as a whole yearn for something different, there’s little
sign that the “political class,” as it’s called, is interested.  Too many,
especially in what was the Opposition, act as if Aristide was Haiti’s only
political problem.  (Others lay all the blame on Washington, but that’s
another issue.)  How about some self criticism?

It has been 18 years since Jean Claude Duvalier fell, and Haiti is in some
ways -- by no means all – worse off than it was in 1986.  There is less
employment and more poverty, more soil erosion, more crime and probably
more corruption.  It isn’t because people are lazy or dishonest or
stupid.  Most observers will admit that sheer political instability is
responsible for a good deal: one inexperienced government succeeding a
marginally more experienced one and throwing the baby out with the bath
water.  And Aristide deserves much blame.  But if the reflection only goes
this far, Haitian society will soon find itself again clamoring to throw
the bastards out.

Haiti’s capable new provisional government and groups in civil society
ought to take the lead in encouraging self examination, especially of
Haiti’s recent political history and political culture.  Some “lessons
learned” exercises wouldn’t be a bad idea.

What are the weaknesses of political parties?  Why is compromise so
difficult and suspicion so easy?  How is it that governments of the left
have been no more successful than governments of the right?  What are our
politics beyond a struggle for power?  How is government organized?  What
gets done and what is a waste of money?  Doesn’t habitual secrecy,
especially about money, favor corruption?  Is it a good thing that politics
are such a men’s club?  Was Aristide the only one to pay people to go out
into the street or vote a certain way?  How can we move toward political
parties that stay active on issues of policy even while out of power?  Is
there, in fact, broad societal acceptance of nepotism?  Is it okay when it
works in your favor?

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if this interim and unelected administration did
things really differently, and spoke honestly and directly to the people,
in a way that challenged the political figures who will follow to do at
least as well.

Anne Fuller