Who do you think creates culture, "corrupt" or not? It seems that people do. Where do people get informed to act out on their lives? Oh yeah, history and what has been taught before.

The ONLY way to correct the future is to LEARN from the mistakes of the past. A good way to continue a "corrupt political culture" is to deny the past and to argue "to stop blaming history," which carelessly equates learning with blaming.

Brian, loves the rappers.

Brian,

Love your show, but in your commentary on Haiti you keep referring to your interview with Pras Michel and his call the institution of an authoritarian regime his country. The only thing that your interview with this man revealed is that he is very inarticulate (eg his incessant misuse of the term "progressive") and seems to know very little about the politics of his own country. The interview was a disaster and you should stop referring to this man as if he offered some kind of legitimate, informed perspective on the politics and problems of Haiti. Please continue to take a more serious approach on the show when discussing the many difficulties that that county is currently facing.

Yes, the past is corruption, the future is corruption, endless repetition.

The proplem is in the political culture.

"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." - George Santayana

john from office
if you don't know where you've been you don't know where you're going...

Always blame the US , never themselves. Did the US cause police to sell donated rice, the problem is the political culture. Stop blaming history, deal with today.

john from office
good point but have u thought what the effects of 200 years of US interventions have been?

To Peg -- Great question about Milton Friedman!

If the US suffered a disaster like the earthquake in Haiti, we'd be nearly as overwhelmed. Look at Hurricane Katrina, which was not as devastating.

During the worst of the Reagan-Weinberger adoration of the Bomb, an AMA study showed that one bomb -- one -- on a city like Los Angeles would completely overwhelm the entire medical structure of the United States.

Wonder what Milton Freidman would have to say about the difference between men's and women's behaviors in times of severe need (like Haiti after the earthquake) - Seems like men will follow his philosophy of personal greed (by stealing food) while women operate using more empathy (by sharing food). I'm not convinced that the selfish theory of economics is how the world really operates.

Mr. Pierre Pierre may be thinking about the identity politics that Haitians struggle with here as a result of being black/mixed people who struggle with assimilation issues.

Rene Preval is typical of Haitian Civil Servants post Aristede.

No Charisma

No Drive

Simply Invisible

I haven't seen this man once in front his people or anywhere the last 3 weeks.

The relief-workers on the ground in Haiti are champions. BUT let's not forget that Obama decided to play health insurance company for Haiti and cut-off evacuations of critically injured Haitians to the US.

Those flights have been restored, but ABC News reported last night that people DID DIE who need not have because of the Obama bickering with Florida over who would pay to save a life.

How American.

While I feel for the haitian people, the lack of governence is incredible. Where is the prior relief sent in the 80's and 90's.