HAITI'S MISERY COMPOUNDED BY AWFUL CULTURE: THE ASTUTE BLOGGERS SCOOPS THE WALL STREET JOURNAL BY A MONTH

TODAY'S WSJ/OP-ED/LAWRENCE HARRISON:

Haiti has received billions of dollars in foreign aid over the last 50 years, and yet it remains the least developed country in the Western Hemisphere. Its indicators of progress are closer to Africa's than to those of Latin America. It has defied all development prescriptions.

Why? Because Haiti's culture is powerfully influenced by its religion, voodoo. Voodoo is one of numerous spirit-based religions common to Africa. It is without ethical content.

WHO IS LAWRENCE HARRISON? HERE:

Lawrence Harrison

Director, Cultural Change Institute and Lecturer; TUFTS UNIVERISTY - FLETCHER SCHOOL

Education

AB, Dartmouth College
MPA, Harvard University

Professional Activities

Currently, Associate, Academy for International and Area Studies, Harvard University; has served as a Visiting scholar at Center for International Affairs, Harvard University (1981-83, 1988-1990,1994-96,1998-2000), Instituto Centroamericano de Administración de Empresas (1997-1998), and Center for International Studies, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1996-1997); Vice President for International Development, National Cooperative Business Association (1984-1988); Consultant to USAID for several projects/programs in Latin America and Asia; Director, USAID Missions to Costa Rica, Guatemala (for Central American region), Nicaragua, and Haiti, Deputy Director, Dominican Republic (1969-81).

NOBODY KNBOWS MORE ABOUT THIS THAN HARRISON. HE IS THE EXPERT.

(HE GOT THE BIG FREEPER LINK.)

NEVERTHELESS, WE POSTED THIS SAME THINGS LONG BEFORE HE DID; WE POSTED IT LAST MONTH:

• ON 1/13: HAITI'S BAD CULTURAL AND SOCIAL VALUES MAKE THE HORROR WORSE

• ON 1/14: HAITI IS HELL - WHAT ABOUT IT'S NEIGHBOR, THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC?

• AND ON 1/18: HAITIANS STILL SCREWING UP RELIEF EFFORTS WITH BAD BEHAVIOR

WE TOOK SOME FLAK AND GOT NO LINKAGE FROM ANY OF THE BIGGIES.

BUT WE WERE 10000000% CORRECT - AS USUAL, AND WAY WAY AHEAD OF THE CURVE.

REGULAR READERS KNOW THIS HAPPENS ALL THE TIME. WE SCOOP THE BIGGIES WITH FAST, ON TARGET, SHARP ANALYSIS AND BLUNT ON TARGET COMMENTARY.

NOBODY DOES IT BETTER THAN ME. NO BRAG; JUST FACT.

SPREAD THE WORD.