Playing Haiti

I am so annoyed at watching the big shots fly into Haiti for a few hours to get themselves in front of a camera and use the devastation of Haiti as a "backdrop" for their photo op.

All the big shot "anchors" (multi-million per year salaried people standing knee deep in suffering and talking about the need for others to "give"). Hillary Clinton flown in with an entourage of 50 to supposedly "hold consultations" with the government of Haiti. All the big shot heads of aid agencies who fly in to "get a feel" for the problem. All the soldiers sent in to tromp around (and consume big supplies of water and food).

Where's the aid? Where's the water, the food, the medicines, the medical staff? Oh... that's an after thought. That doesn't make for good media. Instead stories of "rescue" while tens of thousands go without food and water gets centre stage in the media. It is absolutely nutty.

There is no thoughtful reporting. The world is cruel and indifferent to us. An earthquake is an example. The best humans can do is triage. But the fantasy media in the US nevers admits to this. Instead, the myth of "if only it helps one person, then this multi-million dollar expenditure was worth it" mentality goes on. People are dying because of $10, not $10 million. So while high tech rescue teams are flown in, people are without water or food, minor injuries lead to gangrene and amputation. Oh... but don't worry, we'll get that heart warming shot of the friend of a friend who was rescued after huge effort from under the rubble. Even the Haitians are tiring of the unseemly sight of big efforts put in to saving the handful of rich interlopers while the natives are left to rot and die.

Instead of the Hollywood headlines and fake heart-wrenching reporting, there needs to be something sensible. The reason why the American Civil War "only" resulted in 2% casualties (650,000 dead and injuried) instead of 3% or 4% was that triage was implemented. This appears cruel, but it is a rational process whereby you divide the victims into those who can be saved from those who can't. And you focus your efforts on those who can best benefit from the assistance. Yes, this is a cold calculation. But it is the rational approach that gives the best benefit. Anything else is sloppy sentimentality and wasted effort.

I'm outraged with every story of some victim in critical condition who is "rescued" by a team of 50 or 100 "rescuers" and then rushed to the airport and put on a plane to be sent to the US to spend weeks in a critical care hospital in the US at a cost of tens of millions of dollars. All this while the walking wounded and homeless look on silently seeking water and a bit of food. Where is the sense of proportion? Where is the sensibleness of a system that throws away scare resources on hopeless cases while the many who could flourish on a little aid are left to fend for themselves?

Oh... and one last thought. Again we are seeing "charities" go into overdrive with urgent appeals for assistance. While I'm all for assisting. I'm appalled that so few are aware of the scandals and theft that go under the umbrella of "charitable giving". The Red Cross was notorious during Katrina and Sept 11. The United Way which has a cozy relationship with many instutitions to facilitate charity wasted large sums of first class lifestyles for those who supposedly dedicated their lives to "assisting those in need" (see here and here). Be careful with your charity. Give where you get the "biggest bang for the buck". Give where the money will go to help sensibly and not into "rescue drama" stories that wastefully lavish funds on the few while the many are left unaided.

A final thought... I get bugged by the "outpouring" of aid to Haiti when I think of how little in the way of assistance and emergency rescue was offered to the victims of Katrina. Americans like to think that tragedy only happens elsewhere. But the huge mobs showing up for Remote Area Medical Volunteer Corps which has taken to showing up in inner city areas to meet the desperate medical needs of the poor within the US. It is nice to see Americans offer aid to Haiti, but it is a bit bizarre to see a failure to response to the need for charity at home. Watch this:



I offer this as a foreign observer sitting in Canada.