Can Wyclef Jean save Haiti?

Los Angeles Times / latimes.com ^ | August 6, 2010 | By Joe Mozingo, Los Angeles Times

[thecodont]

From the article:

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The Haitian Constitution requires candidates be citizens of only Haiti and residents of the country for the last five years. Jean's primary residence is in New Jersey. A nine-member electoral council will decide whether he has spent enough time in Haiti to qualify. In the last election, in 2006, the council rejected the candidacy of Texas businessman Dumarsais Simeus because he is a U.S. citizen.

Aristide's Lavalas party, barred from the election, has jumped on the residency issue and is painting Jean as a puppet of U.S. interests and the business elite.

But on the streets, Jean's story has inspired many youths stuck in poverty.

Jean left his hometown east of Port-au-Prince for Brooklyn when he was 9. He found fame and won a Grammy with the Fugees, and went on to a successful solo career. ---------

Well, at least he was born there.

Did you get the reference to "swatting at a fly"?

[jimmyo57]

No one can save Haiti!

[dfwgator]

He can’t do any worse.

[BenLurkin]

The number one thing Haiti needs right now is vasectomies — millions of them.

[Dayman]

“Can Wyclef Jean save Haiti?”

Only if he’s gone til November.

[davisfh]

"No one can save Haiti!"

You're right. There is nothing to save.

[goseminoles]

And rubbers...

[martin_fierro]

Short answer: No.

Long answer: No way.

[cripplecreek]

Kwamee Killpatrick was unavailable but his mother is free.

[cripplecreek]

It also needs aid to be slowly withdrawn enough to create mild food shortages to help make farming profitable again.

[Joe 6-pack]

"Well, at least he was born there."

I'll bet he even has the documentation to prove it.

[Ev Reeman]

I don’t think he can even save himself let alone Haiti.

[PallMal]

Jean is a far lefty, so the answer is simple:

No.

[Carley]

Sean Penn is not amused.

[UCFRoadWarrior]

The Haitians will be “Killing Him (Wyclef Jean) Softly With His Songs”

Haiti’s claim to fame is that it is a bigger Latrine-hole than Mexico is

[flowerplough]

No.

[Ev Reeman]

Neither is Oliver Stone, Michael Moore, Hugo Chavez, Danny Glover and Harry Belafonte.

[Carley]

Well, if bubba can cash in why not this dude.

[BfloGuy]

The Haitians need effective property rights, a stable environment and capital. I doubt this guy can accomplish any of them.

[Jagermonster]

In answer to the title of this article, simply "No." Why? Because of the attitude of the voters. From the article:

"Bon bagay," said Saintil Wilson, 22. "Good thing. We need somebody who is younger and stronger and has more power to run Haiti."

It is a serious error in judgment to expect a strong man to run a nation effectively. This has been the basic error that has led Haiti to its current economic state. Observe the economy of any nation run by a strong man, and you will find abject poverty in abundance, right alongside egregious abuses of government power. So, no, Wyclef Jean cannot save Haiti, because its people are still asking for that which destroys them.