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Octafish

(55,745 posts)
8. In 1991, I met Jean Bertrand Aristide, then the president in exile of Haiti...
Mon Jan 26, 2015, 10:48 AM
Jan 2015

It was a short time after the generals, with the tacit approval of Poppy Bush, overthrew the first democratically elected leader in 70 years of the poorest nation in the hemisphere. Aristide brought to my attention the concept of the "1 percent owning 99 percent" and I wrote about it at the time as a reporter and then 13 years or so later on DU:



Aristide told me the Generals ran Dope, Inc. on Haiti. Personally.

Posted by Octafish in General Discussion (Through 2005)
Sat Mar 20th 2004, 06:49 PM

Sorry if the following is an old read. The thing held true then and holds true still…

I met Jean Bertrand-Aristide after he was deposed by the generals in the early 90s. He came to metro Detroit and spoke before the Cranbrook Peace Foundation.

The newspaper I then worked for didn’t see any reason for sending me to cover Aristide’s speech. The editors weren’t BFEE, but the events on a Caribbean island just weren’t “local” enough for their budget. So, I went on my own time.

The Cranbrook people were happy to see me. They wanted, of course, as much coverage as possible. So, they invited me and the other interested reporter types to have at him for an hour before his address.

I’m ashamed to report, at an important event in two nation’s larger media market, only a couple of CBC radio reporters out of Windsor and one local Detroit TV crew bothered to show. I was the lone print guy. Anyway…

Aristide answered every question asked in English or French. He also told us about life in Haiti, where there were four doctors to care for 4 million people. Another interesting stat: One percent of the population own 99-percent of the property.

I asked Aristide what the United States could do to help him restore democracy to Haiti? Aristide said all Poppy Doc Bush had to do was pick up the phone, call the generals and say, “Get out,” and they would quit their coup and the first democratically elected leader of Haiti in 75 years would be returned to power. Bush didn't and Aristide wasn't until Clinton sent the US Marines, many years and many Haitian lives later.

The reason for Bush Senior's inaction? Aristide said he didn’t know the answer, but he suspected Bush’s politics favored the landowners over the masses. (“Sounds familiar,” I then thought and still think today.)

Aristide said that the generals were deep into the wholesale cocaine importation business. Now who would be their partner in all that? Besides the wealthy landowners, for whom the Generals worked, I mean.

Original OP from 2004: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=1257891&mesg_id=1259743



The BFEE (AKA the War Party, War Inc., Wall Street Über Alles, the Mafia Banksters) and the people they front for as the Secret Government are doing to the United States of America what the landowners of Haiti -- and those in Columbia and the other nations of the world where the small minority control the majority of wealth, land and resources. These undemocratic tools only work to enhance their own privileged positions and holdings. The rest of humanity could be cattle or piss-ants, for all they care.

You know I am a broken record when it comes to Nov. 22, 1963: The problems our nation and world face today -- from war without end to inequality and welfare for the wealthy to pollution and overpopulation to those who think "There's nothing we can do..." stem from that moment when the forces of totalitarianism took control of the US government from democracy.

Recommendations

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Yep..and we are supposed to cheer them on. Gets pretty old. n/t djean111 Jan 2015 #1
In 1991, I met Jean Bertrand Aristide, then the president in exile of Haiti... Octafish Jan 2015 #8
Thanks. Should be an OP on its own. nt djean111 Jan 2015 #9
I'm always very impressed by his apparent ability JonLP24 Jan 2015 #16
Amen. Jackpine Radical Jan 2015 #34
Ditto. zeemike Jan 2015 #37
Absolutely. n/t Ghost Dog Jan 2015 #51
I've always been impressed by Octafish. DeSwiss Jan 2015 #52
I agree! JDPriestly Jan 2015 #60
+1 nt riderinthestorm Jan 2015 #71
K & R Thespian2 Jan 2015 #19
Bush Family Evil Empire blm Jan 2015 #21
Great post! Thanks.. mountain grammy Jan 2015 #32
"1 percent owning 99 percent" DeSwiss Jan 2015 #53
K&R stage left Jan 2015 #2
When Money is Speech Octafish Jan 2015 #14
"Free Speech" in capitalism is a lot like money -- some have a lot more KingCharlemagne Jan 2015 #48
what? Locrian Jan 2015 #3
That's why we Lottery. It gives one Hope. Like a carrot on a stick. So be a good Donkey... Octafish Jan 2015 #15
sorry have to run Locrian Jan 2015 #22
Corporate McPravda Octafish Jan 2015 #29
K&R libodem Jan 2015 #4
The Davos oligarchs are right to fear the world they’ve made Octafish Jan 2015 #42
Thank you for the info libodem Jan 2015 #59
"This is not news to anyone paying attention." Yeah, but most are focused on deflated balls and ... Scuba Jan 2015 #5
I actually don't downplay the advantage it would have in 40-50 degree weather JonLP24 Jan 2015 #12
k&r CanSocDem Jan 2015 #6
NoCal's got the Bohemian Grove Octafish Jan 2015 #43
K/R marmar Jan 2015 #7
Corruption Is Now Officially Legal in the U.S., ''But Must Be Done Right'' Octafish Jan 2015 #44
It is so obvious JonLP24 Jan 2015 #10
If the current Government were interested in Justice, they'd hire William K. Black. Octafish Jan 2015 #45
Either we revolt, or live with it, because it ain't gonna ever change without Zorra Jan 2015 #11
I agree JonLP24 Jan 2015 #17
Secret Government and Secret Laws are un-American. Octafish Jan 2015 #67
Corruption in America? How can it be corruption if it is legal? Fuck off, Europe, the media in Fred Sanders Jan 2015 #13
Ben Bagdikian detailed the ''Media Monopoly'' in the 1980s... Octafish Jan 2015 #68
"not news to anyone paying attention" - exactly. closeupready Jan 2015 #18
Kicked Enthusiast Jan 2015 #20
K&R The more money Wall St has, the less democracy we experience. raouldukelives Jan 2015 #23
"Most people prefer money over democracy" = indeed ND-Dem Jan 2015 #62
K&R JEB Jan 2015 #24
HUGE K & R !!! - THANK YOU !!! WillyT Jan 2015 #25
A long habit of not thinking a thing wrong gives it a superficial appearance of being right. Paine Tierra_y_Libertad Jan 2015 #26
SO....that's what it is called laserhaas Jan 2015 #27
"the wealthy ultimately determine legislative outcomes in the US" We're owned! L0oniX Jan 2015 #28
K&R nt Duval Jan 2015 #30
And in the "duh" department, a link from the article: mountain grammy Jan 2015 #31
DSG turbinetree Jan 2015 #33
Oh, we don't call it corruption. We call it Free Speech Demeter Jan 2015 #35
Davos, where a bunch of billionaire, James Bond villains meet at a secretive mountain retreat....... LongTomH Jan 2015 #36
Thank you, LongTomH! That should be a few OPs. Octafish Jan 2015 #46
Of course it is a plutocracy, that is what the owners of America wanted and so that is what Rex Jan 2015 #38
Corruption Madmiddle Jan 2015 #39
that just silly talk... handmade34 Jan 2015 #63
Mutiny would be an effective remedy. Dont call me Shirley Jan 2015 #40
DU's own beacon of wisdom Mr. Octafish 90-percent Jan 2015 #41
Corruption breeds cynicism KT2000 Jan 2015 #47
Hang 'em high. hifiguy Jan 2015 #49
Corruption is biggest problem in world in 3rd world countries. We've legalized it ErikJ Jan 2015 #50
Yes. Americans laugh about 'banana republics', yet that is just how we operate, too. closeupready Jan 2015 #65
K&R DeSwiss Jan 2015 #54
K&R. nt tblue37 Jan 2015 #55
That picture says it all about Capitalism in the US Ramses Jan 2015 #56
I believe "legalized corruption" is the best way to put it... MrMickeysMom Jan 2015 #57
That's exactly why they made money into "free speech" Beartracks Jan 2015 #58
DC is a racket. blkmusclmachine Jan 2015 #61
citi called it a plutonomy in 2005 and on and on it goes... Agony Jan 2015 #64
thanks, Octafish. righteous as always. nt navarth Jan 2015 #66
Was there any question? NaturalHigh Jan 2015 #69
Better late than never... CanSocDem Jan 2015 #70
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