Politics 2000

The Hope for Haiti telethon was all over U.S. television Friday night. Many celebrities lent their talents in an effort to raise money for earthquake victims.

I’m sure the event will be a success. Millions of dollars will undoubtedly be raised for the cause. That’s great. Haiti surely needs all the help it can get.

The problem is that history shows that, now the telethon has happened, it’s almost time for the focus to shift. Remember Neda, the Iranian citizen killed during protests last year? I said six months ago you wouldn’t hear that name much more.

How about Africa? Starting with the Band-Aid and the U.S.A. for Africa charity songs, there have been 25 years of concerted effort to help the struggling continent. Billions of dollars have been spent on the effort. Africa is no better shape now than in 1983.

Let’s get closer to home. It’s been four years since Hurricane Katrina. New Orleans has not been rebuilt. There was a big initial push to help people in need. From there, the rest of us expect those affected by tragedy to use the momentum and build a better place for themselves.

Money isn’t the answer. If money could solve problems, checks would be written tomorrow. Even if the cash already spent isn’t counted.

I talk a lot about philosophy. For Haiti to recover from being the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere, the philosophy must change. Haiti was in terrible shape two weeks ago. It’s just few people knew and fewer cared.

The status quo has been allowed to continue during two centuries of incompetent and corrupt leadership. Dumping money on the Haitian government–which has proven to be completely incapable of helping its citizens during a crisis–is foolhardy.

So then what? Topple the government and install another one? Start another war? Spend money and troops on “nation building”? There’s no stomach for any of that, even though that’s frankly what’s required to affect lasting change in Haiti.

Today’s telethon is a drop in a bucket. Perhaps better than nothing but it will mask the plain fact. Beside a handful of relief organizations, we are going to start concentrating on ourselves, our families and our neighbors again soon. Haiti will be left with real problems that the rest of the world cannot solve until the Haitian people demand a government better than what they’ve had since expelling the French.

Scott Brown upended Martha Coakley, 52 to 47 percent, to claim the U.S. Senate seat long held by Ted Kennedy. Brown won by about 100,000 votes in Tuesday’s Massachusetts special election to complete Kennedy’s term.

The victory means there will be 41 Republicans in the Senate, enough to sustain filibusters and stop Democratic action if they remain together. The biggest immediate question is when the state lawmaker will be seated in Washington.

Specifically, will Brown be able to affect what happens in regard to the health-care reform bill? The Democrats seem to have two options.

The House, which still is solidly in Democratic control, could vote to pass the version approved by the Senate Christmas Eve. In this event, Brown wouldn’t be able to change anything and the bill would go to President Obama’s desk.

Secondly, Brown’s certification could be delayed either by Massachusetts officials or by Senate clerks. The stall might enable a last-minute Congressional compromise that includes interim Sen. Paul Kirk, a longtime Kennedy family friend and staunch health-care reformer. Kirk, as agreed when he was appointed to replace the late Kennedy, did not run in the special election.

Coakley, the state attorney general, is being blamed for squandering a golden opportunity. It’s hard to imagine Democrats being elected to the U.S. Senate from Utah or Alabama, for example. Likewise, Massachusetts is as solidly Democratic as exists in America.

Coakley started with a big lead, thanks in part to the backing of the Kennedy family. However, her campaign was outmaneuvered by Brown’s campaign. Brown successfully struck an anti-incumbent tone that figures to work well through the nation this year.

Nationally, Democrats are concerned and Republicans are enthused for the same reason. If Ted Kennedy’s seat can go red, any seat could go red in November.

Condolences to those people affected by the 7.0 earthquake Tuesday in Haiti. The news is likely to worsen as more information is disseminated.

Haiti’s ambassador to the United States said Tuesday is likely the worst day in the island nation’s history. Let’s hope better days are soon to follow.

The House of Representatives returned from winter recess tonight. No business beyond an opening quorum call and special speeches was conducted.

Each Congress is comprised of two sessions. The 111th Congress spans from 2009-2011. The first Session of the 111th Congress was last year; the second Session started Tuesday.

The first votes are expected Wednesday. The Senate will reconvene soon. The House’s first major business involves the health care bill.

Rather than negotiate through a conference committee, the House is expected to work on the bill passed last month by the Senate. Pundits are referring to the system as “ping pong.”