Perspective (Thanks Brian)

I get capitalism. Free market economy. Liberalized constructs yielding prosperity. Opportunity. Hard work. Dreams come true.

But how do we live with this story...

Haiti. The poorest nation in the western hemisphere. Poverty beyond imagination. Children bought, sold, bartered. Children starving to death. Eating dirt. Dieing on the streets.
The government unable to provide resources for an entire generation. Children. No school. No jobs. No medical. Nothing.

Meanwhile...Linnea Capshaw in a published letter to the Washington Post notes that "U.S. taxpayers have given $180 billion to bail out American International Group (AIG), but AIG will give $1.2 billion in bonuses company-wide this year. The money spent by AIG to pay bonuses would nearly wipe out Haiti's debt." (Haiti's debt is about 1.5 billion).
Check out the letter.

Privileged people make decisions for the world. Decide whatʻs fair. You and I help.

Last week I sat down in a meeting to discuss our cities budgetary restrictions in addressing poverty and homelessness. I sat across from a city councilmen and next to a homeless man.

Maybe next time a government committee strategizes a way out of this economic recession they should invite someone from Haiti to be part.

(Thanks to Brian Mclaren for the thought)