Wonderful music Eden. Greetings from Scotland. Colin😀

Great live band...so much fun.

Love the contemporary rhythm and jazz these guys play

"Spirits in the sky" indeed. I'm tuned in.

True musical masterpiece keep on rocking bro southern California Mojave desert !

Wonderful show! Beautiful music! I enjoyed it on KZbin. (Monique, Chris' mother in Maine)

Sounds racist

29:04 A Face In The Crowd - nicely done

Confidence in your piece might be greatly enhanced by spelling Poe's name correctly: It's Edgar Allan Poe.

This epexegesis is boggle.

Outstanding as always.

Excellent podcast and a great interview by UVA’s President, Tim Ryan of Vice President, Kenyon Bonner. Thank you both for sharing your insights and perspectives and experiences with the community.

That man has the sweetest soul. It's worth your time to share a conversation with Red

Nice instrument switch in <4 bars, Greg! 😂 also, loving the guitar sound 👏

We were in Charlottesville this past weekend and caught these guys playing in the plaza in front of The Whiskey Jar. What a fun band! We had a blast. Great horn section - they had people up dancing in the street. I think they're playing Monday nights there. Do your self a favor and check them out.

Such a lovely style

So happy to see y'all killing it!! Love y'all 🤘🏼🐇

Audio cuts out just before 44m, and returns just after 48m.

Gary Gallagher is the greatest Civil War historian. Thank you for uploading this!

Great talk

Is that sped up?.

Hey remember me ...Mary I knew you in orange county. I have had a journey but I have always appreciated listening to you & your sister. Hope things in your life are going well...keep playing ans and singing because it is magical.

was one of the 412,780,950, or 5000 people at the station to see the show. Didn’t know anything about Justin or the band but really enjoyed it. Thanks WTJU for the Offbeat Roadhouse.

Rev Dr. Grady Powell is my uncle, my mother's brother.. I Love him and talk to him everyday. He is 91 now and shares so many stories about my mother and him.. they were 18 months apart and very close. I am my family's historian and I learn so many things about the family from him.

LIITG !

Listening to Stephane is a musical journey for your ears and mind. It can be relaxing at one moment and then your foot can't stop moving. He is definitely one of the greatest jazz guitarist out there! Love listening to his Gypsy Jazz work. He is so versatile. Thanks for sharing👏👏👏

Sad that less talented people can make a living doing music

Why Haiti began and remains poor (pt 1 of 7). During its colonial days, Haiti’s slave plantations supplied over half of the world’s sugar. But after the slaves gained their freedom from the brutal regime and the country declared independence in 1804, sugar disappeared from the economy as small farms produced coffee, subsistence agriculture, and food for local markets. In 1950, when Haiti was at least producing some sugar, its exports were far behind comparable countries: sugar exports in Puerto Rico were 35 times higher, and in the Dominican Republic exports were 14 times higher. A common explanation for Haiti’s resistance to producing sugar is that Haitian culture rejected the industry because of the associated historical traumas. However Haitians went to the DR, Cuba, even Puerto Rico to harvest sugar cane so there was not much of a cultural stigma towards the sugar industry. A major contributor to Haiti’s failure to restore its sugar economy was historical property rights institutions that created significant transaction costs to starting large-scale farms. 3 post-Independence property rights institutions: (1) a large redistribution of the former French plantations; (2) inheritance patterns on peasant land that gave every family member a veto right to selling it; and (3) a constitutional ban on foreigners owning land in Haiti. But the property rights institutions in Haiti are important because they were not established by colonists; instead, they were created by a newly independent nation in reaction to colonists. These are post-colonial institutions. From 1900 to 1960, sugar accounted for 76 percent of Cuba’s export value, 51 percent of the Dominican Republic’s, 46 percent of Puerto Rico’s, and 26 percent of Jamaica’s. Sugar contributed only 5 percent to Haiti’s exports. Less than 10% of Haiti's sugar production was exported whereas for the other Caribbean countries about 90% was exported. Since 1987 (demise of HASCO) sugar in Haiti has been a cash crop raised by peasants rather than by large-scale plantations. Sugar Exported (Million lbs) ...............Haiti.......Dom.Rep.......P.Rico.......Jamaica.......Cuba 1900______1_______150________200_________2_______1,000 1910______1_______250________500_________3_______2,000 1920______2_______300________700________10_______5,000 1930______3_______550______1,000________50_______2,000 1940______4_______700______1,500_______200_______4,500 1950______5_______900______1,600_______400_______7,000 In 2014, on coffee: Country__________________Haiti______Dom.Rep.____Cuba______Jamaica Production (tonnes)______19,500_____13,500______9,000_____1,620 Export (tonnes)___________120______1,020________660_____1,320 Export/Production (%)_______0.6________7.6_________7.3_______81.5 Population (M)_____________10.4_______10.3_______11.3_______2.8 Area (1000 km^2)___________27.8_______48.7______110.9______11.0

Why Haiti began and remains poor (pt 2 of 7). Marxists keep harping that Haiti was France's richest colony!!! Haiti, under the French, did produce 1/2 of the world sugar output. Wow!!! Them slaves were super-producers!!! Kick the French out and Haiti will remain super-producer and the sugar riches go to the former slaves (aka haitians)!!! Right? Well... No. The following shows coffee and sugar exports in 1785 (colonial times), 1800 (war of Independence), 1820 (16 yrs after the 1804 liberation): Exports from Haiti (Million lbs) Year__________________1785____1800_____1820 Sugar (Muscovado)______95______20________5 Sugar (Clayed)___________50_______0________0 Coffee__________________80______40_______25 Sugar exports fell from 145 Million lbs to 5 Million lbs, a 96% drop. What happened to Haiti, the sugar super-producer? When Haiti dropped out of the sugar game, Cuba took over the sugar commerce in a very big way. Haiti's fall from sugar had little long-term impact on the sugar market. France's economic might did not suffer much from the loss of Saint Domingue. But, but, but Napoléon had to sell the Louisiana Territories to the USA because the war in Haiti was so costly!!! Yes and No. Yes the war in Haiti was costly but so were the wars Napoleon was waging in Europe. Sorry, Marxist revisionists: even if France retained Haiti, the Louisiana Territories would still be sold to the USA. Why did Haiti go down the poverty road? 6 main reasons. (A) Sugar mills and supporting infrastructure were destroyed by J.J. Dessalines and his associates. Dessalines was very big on "coupé têt" and "brulé cay". Enough said. (B) The Haitian people were not ready for nation building. USA and Haiti. For the USA, first was Declaration of Independence, second was War. For Haiti, first was War, second was Declaration of Independence. BIG DIFFERENCE. Years before 1776, the founders of the USA debated, argued, counter-argued about the requirements, attributes, qualities needed for nationhood, thus slowly forming a proper mindset and proper temperament of the american people for eventual nationhood. In the case of Haiti, there was first Rebellion, visceral Anger, most Righteous Anger, blood-churning lust for Revenge against the French colonists. War was engaged and won by the Haitian slaves. A war engaged without aforethought, without afterthought akin to a fight initiated by a hot-headed person driven by righteous anger. The war won, what now? Declaration of Independence of 1804 was the only valid alternative because re-inviting French rule defeats the purpose of the war. The key point is: in 1804 the Haitian people was not prepared for effective nation building. (C) Voodoo. Take a couple steps back and look at North America versus South America. South America had a 100 year head start over North America in the colonization game. It did not take long before North America surpassed South America in economic and military power. How come? Answer: the culture of South America is based on Catholicism which emphasizes on obedience to the hierarchy and the culture of North America is based on Protestantism which emphasizes the work ethic and salvation through good works. Anglophone ex-colonies did better than ex-colonies of France, Spain, Portugal. Voodoo played a prominent role in the Haitian Revolution and haitian culture; Voodoo has much more in common with Catholicism than with Protestantism. Catholicism is the religion of the elite. Voodoo is the religion of the masses. (D) Land Reform. More precisely Land Redistribution. Land Redistribution in the early 1800's were politically driven, not economically driven. In 1804, at least 90% of haitians were newly freed slaves and they ALL want a piece of land. It is very understandable. Land Redistribution was inevitable because otherwise there was to be another peasant (former slave) revolt. However the land reform brought about the collapse of the agriculture economy as compared to the colonial-era economy. Under White rule Zimbabwe (formerly Rhodesia) was the breadbasket of Africa. Under Black rule, with Land Reform, Zimbabwe becomes a Food Importer. Land Reform in itself does not improve a country's economy, it needs to be supplemented with something else like an Industrial Reform. Post WW2 Taiwan had Land Reform (before WW2 Taiwan was a colony of Japan) SUPPLEMENTED with Industrial Policy.

Why Haiti began and remains poor (pt 2 of 7). Marxists keep harping that Haiti was France's richest colony!!! Haiti, under the French, did produce 1/2 of the world sugar output. Wow!!! Them slaves were super-producers!!! Kick the French out and Haiti will remain super-producer and the sugar riches go to the former slaves (aka haitians)!!! Right? Well... No. The following shows coffee and sugar exports in 1785 (colonial times), 1800 (war of Independence), 1820 (16 yrs after the 1804 liberation): Exports from Haiti (Million lbs) Year__________________1785____1800_____1820 Sugar (Muscovado)______95______20________5 Sugar (Clayed)___________50_______0________0 Coffee__________________80______40_______25 Sugar exports fell from 145 Million lbs to 5 Million lbs, a 96% drop. What happened to Haiti, the sugar super-producer? When Haiti dropped out of the sugar game, Cuba took over the sugar commerce in a very big way. Haiti's fall from sugar had little long-term impact on the sugar market. France's economic might did not suffer much from the loss of Saint Domingue. But, but, but Napoléon had to sell the Louisiana Territories to the USA because the war in Haiti was so costly!!! Yes and No. Yes the war in Haiti was costly but so were the wars Napoleon was waging in Europe. Sorry, Marxist revisionists: even if France retained Haiti, the Louisiana Territories would still be sold to the USA. Why did Haiti go down the poverty road? 6 main reasons. (A) Sugar mills and supporting infrastructure were destroyed by J.J. Dessalines and his associates. Dessalines was very big on "coupé têt" and "brulé cay". Enough said. (B) The Haitian people were not ready for nation building. USA and Haiti. For the USA, first was Declaration of Independence, second was War. For Haiti, first was War, second was Declaration of Independence. BIG DIFFERENCE. Years before 1776, the founders of the USA debated, argued, counter-argued about the requirements, attributes, qualities needed for nationhood, thus slowly forming a proper mindset and proper temperament of the american people for eventual nationhood. In the case of Haiti, there was first Rebellion, visceral Anger, most Righteous Anger, blood-churning lust for Revenge against the French colonists. War was engaged and won by the Haitian slaves. A war engaged without aforethought, without afterthought akin to a fight initiated by a hot-headed person driven by righteous anger. The war won, what now? Declaration of Independence of 1804 was the only valid alternative because re-inviting French rule defeats the purpose of the war. The key point is: in 1804 the Haitian people was not prepared for effective nation building. (C) Voodoo. Take a couple steps back and look at North America versus South America. South America had a 100 year head start over North America in the colonization game. It did not take long before North America surpassed South America in economic and military power. How come? Answer: the culture of South America is based on Catholicism which emphasizes on obedience to the hierarchy and the culture of North America is based on Protestantism which emphasizes the work ethic and salvation through good works. Anglophone ex-colonies did better than ex-colonies of France, Spain, Portugal. Voodoo played a prominent role in the Haitian Revolution and haitian culture; Voodoo has much more in common with Catholicism than with Protestantism. Catholicism is the religion of the elite. Voodoo is the religion of the masses. (D) Land Reform. More precisely Land Redistribution. Land Redistribution in the early 1800's were politically driven, not economically driven. In 1804, at least 90% of haitians were newly freed slaves and they ALL want a piece of land. It is very understandable. Land Redistribution was inevitable because otherwise there was to be another peasant (former slave) revolt. However the land reform brought about the collapse of the agriculture economy as compared to the colonial-era economy. Under White rule Zimbabwe (formerly Rhodesia) was the breadbasket of Africa. Under Black rule, with Land Reform, Zimbabwe becomes a Food Importer. Land Reform in itself does not improve a country's economy, it needs to be supplemented with something else like an Industrial Reform. Post WW2 Taiwan had Land Reform (before WW2 Taiwan was a colony of Japan) SUPPLEMENTED with Industrial Policy.

Why Haiti began and remains poor (pt 3 of 7). (E) Subsistence Economy. The old and recent historical data show that exports are a small part of Haiti's economy. Settling for a Subsistence Economy, a Survival Economy is OK. There are tribes living the Stone Age style deep in the Amazon forest and in the jungles of the Congo and Papua New Guinea for thousands of years. Subsistence Economy can be done. However the Planet is populated with Predatory Nations. Fortunately for the Stone Age inhabitants of the Amazon, Central Africa and Papua New Guinea, they have the military protection of the sovereign countries in which they live. The Amish lives in a somewhat Subsistence Economy and there is no Amish Nation: the Amish community is part of the USA and is thus protected by the USA. Trying to maintain proper military power with a Subsistence Economy cannot be sustained for long. (F) The low trust character of Haitian society. The Haitian and French revolutions have a few things in common: they are both based on J.E.A.R. = Jealousy, Envy, Anger, Resentment. JEAR is the blood of Socialism and Communism. The concern for "equality" is the launchpad for JEAR. Words "equal(ity)", "democracy" appears _________________________________Equal(ity)____Democracy US Declaration of Independence_____1_____________0 US Constitution____________________0_____________0 French Constitution 1793___________3_____________1 French Constitution 1958__________10_____________4 Haiti Constitution 1805___________3_____________0 Haiti Constitution 1987___________7_____________4 All the freed slaves in Haiti were given a plot of land and then the fun began. The Ancients had it correct: give 3 people equal amount of money at sunrise and they will become unequal before sunset. Dessalines was on his way to deal with some land speculators when he was assassinated. The point is: large-scale farms are much more efficient than small-scale farms and cooperative farms in Haiti were difficult to establish and these rare cooperatives did not last long. Thus time after time, Haiti falls back to a Subsistence Economy. Are there today (2024 AD) large landowners (you know, them evil, nasty, greedy oligarchs!)? Yes. However, in 1950, 80% of the Artibonite Valley (where rice is grown) was still in the hands of the small farmers. The national economic dynamics is still dominated by small-land farmers. The Amish, again. Amish companies are usually no more than 5 employees. Yet said small companies frequently combine together for large tasks. The trust aspect of Amish culture is rare in Haitian society. Mind you, Amish runs a mainly Subsistence Economy, not an Industrial Economy. If Haiti were Amish country, Haiti would be in much better shape. Mind you, the Amish are not warmongers and they would not invade the Dominican Republic. Summary. Saint Domingue was a super producer of sugar in the late 1700's because of large-scale farming. Then came Independence of 1804. Land Reform: everyone gets equal share of the Land. Consequence of Land Reform: small-scale farming which brings about at best a Subsistence Economy, a Survival Economy. Haiti thus lost the status of Sugar Super-Producer and started on the Road to Poverty. Constant political turmoil is characteristic of a low-trust society. The low trust nature of Haitian culture makes difficult the establishment of cooperative farming needed for economic growth.

Why Haiti began and remains poor (pt 3 of 7). (E) Subsistence Economy. The old and recent historical data show that exports are a small part of Haiti's economy. Settling for a Subsistence Economy, a Survival Economy is OK. There are tribes living the Stone Age style deep in the Amazon forest and in the jungles of the Congo and Papua New Guinea for thousands of years. Subsistence Economy can be done. However the Planet is populated with Predatory Nations. Fortunately for the Stone Age inhabitants of the Amazon, Central Africa and Papua New Guinea, they have the military protection of the sovereign countries in which they live. The Amish lives in a somewhat Subsistence Economy and there is no Amish Nation: the Amish community is part of the USA and is thus protected by the USA. Trying to maintain proper military power with a Subsistence Economy cannot be sustained for long. (F) The low trust character of Haitian society. The Haitian and French revolutions have a few things in common: they are both based on J.E.A.R. = Jealousy, Envy, Anger, Resentment. JEAR is the blood of Socialism and Communism. The concern for "equality" is the launchpad for JEAR. Words "equal(ity)", "democracy" appears _________________________________Equal(ity)____Democracy US Declaration of Independence_____1_____________0 US Constitution____________________0_____________0 French Constitution 1793___________3_____________1 French Constitution 1958__________10_____________4 Haiti Constitution 1805___________3_____________0 Haiti Constitution 1987___________7_____________4 All the freed slaves in Haiti were given a plot of land and then the fun began. The Ancients had it correct: give 3 people equal amount of money at sunrise and they will become unequal before sunset. Dessalines was on his way to deal with some land speculators when he was assassinated. The point is: large-scale farms are much more efficient than small-scale farms and cooperative farms in Haiti were difficult to establish and these rare cooperatives did not last long. Thus time after time, Haiti falls back to a Subsistence Economy. Are there today (2024 AD) large landowners (you know, them evil, nasty, greedy oligarchs!)? Yes. However, in 1950, 80% of the Artibonite Valley (where rice is grown) was still in the hands of the small farmers. The national economic dynamics is still dominated by small-land farmers. The Amish, again. Amish companies are usually no more than 5 employees. Yet said small companies frequently combine together for large tasks. The trust aspect of Amish culture is rare in Haitian society. Mind you, Amish runs a mainly Subsistence Economy, not an Industrial Economy. If Haiti were Amish country, Haiti would be in much better shape. Mind you, the Amish are not warmongers and they would not invade the Dominican Republic. Summary. Saint Domingue was a super producer of sugar in the late 1700's because of large-scale farming. Then came Independence of 1804. Land Reform: everyone gets equal share of the Land. Consequence of Land Reform: small-scale farming which brings about at best a Subsistence Economy, a Survival Economy. Haiti thus lost the status of Sugar Super-Producer and started on the Road to Poverty. Constant political turmoil is characteristic of a low-trust society. The low trust nature of Haitian culture makes difficult the establishment of cooperative farming needed for economic growth.

Why Haiti began and remains poor (pt 4 of 7). Response to some Marxist objections. (1) In 1804 there were embargoes against Haiti by France, England, USA. However these embargoes were quite porous since private merchants (English, French, American, Spanish) were still doing commerce with Haiti. In 1807 English abolished TransAtlantic slave trade and in 1808 England ended the Haiti embargo; by 1814 more than 80% of Haitian trade was with England. Besides in the 1800's England and Spain were at war with France so little military naval effort was focused on Haiti. Haiti had no military navy, no merchant marine so Haiti had no capability to pursue merchant trade, no capability to project military naval power on its own. Haiti was at the mercy of others for maritime trade. (2) Many nations, when newly established, were not given a "welcome basket" by the community of Nations. The USA recognized the USSR in 1933 and the USSR was established in 1917. And yet there was USA-USSR trade before 1933. The USA recognized the People's Republic of China in 1979 and the PRC was established in 1949. And yet there was USA-PRC trade before 1979. These trades occur despite ideological differences. These trades occur because the USSR and the PRC had goods/services to offer to the community of Nations. By 1804, Haiti utterly wrecked its economic infrastructure and had little to offer to trade with the community of Nations. (3) Conflict of visions between the populace (ex-slaves) and the Haitian elite (White, Mixed, Black). The ex-slaves wanted nothing more than a piece of land and cultivate it for their basic needs. Essentially the ex-slaves wanted a Subsistence Economy, a Survival Economy. Nation building was not on the mind of the ex-slaves. Nation building was on the minds of the elite who knew fully well that Haiti cannot be totally self-sufficient and thus needed to rebuild the economy to produce goods/services to trade with other Nations. The elite wanted to rebuild the plantation system and the ex-slaves wanted none of that!!! Henri Christophe (Black) was able to impose the plantation system in the North but at the cost of raising anger of the peasant (ex-slave) class. The peasant anger became so great that Henri Christophe committed suicide in 1820. Ironically, Northern Haiti under Christophe (Black) became wealthier (relatively) than Southern Haiti under Pétion (Mulatto) who pushed for Land Redistribution, not Plantation system. (4) Marxists sweep under the rug the occupation of the Dominican Republic. Why? Because it does not fit the narrative of Haiti being a victimized innocent. Haiti occupied the Dominican Republic from 1821 to 1844. Haitian president Boyer confiscated all church property, all lands owned by Whites, and deported all foreign clergy. Oh, but that was the second invasion by Haiti; in 1805, the Haitian Army invaded the Dominican Republic, reached Santo Domingo, and made a fast retreat using the destroy and burn tactics much favored by J.J Dessalines. Why the retreat? There were reports that a French flotilla was coming towards Port-au-Prince. Even after 1844 the Haitians did not give up; there were several minor military excursions into the Dominican Republic. Militarism, combined with Subsistence Economy, deepens Poverty. (5) Reparations to France: the Marxists' favorite bugaboo. Were the reparations the fundamental cause of Haiti's poverty? Answer: NO. Haiti was already entrenched in Poverty by 1826 when France demanded reparations. Mind you, the 1826 reparation demand was the THIRD request; the previous 2 were made to Christophe (refused), to Pétion (refused). The third time was the charm for France. Haiti's 1821 invasion of the Dominican Republic (DR) was a strategic error. Military adventurism and a moribund economy made for a very bad mix. France was not stupid. After 5 yrs of Haiti being stuck in the DR quagmire, France popped up (again!) and made the reparations demand. Haiti cannot fight both the French and the Dominicans. Haiti decided to pay reparations. France asked only for 1 year's worth of colonial output. In 1820, Haiti's output was only 1/40 of colonial output; that it took Haiti more than 100 years to pay the reparations is no surprise. From 1826-1844 Haiti plundered the DR of its wealth to pay as much as it can for the reparations. (6) Often politically driven programs do not bring Economic or Societal Progress. What feels good usually does no good. Embracing victimhood (politically popular as of 2024 AD) brings no kind of prosperity. Become a victim and win a prize!!! Victims of the World, Unite!!!

Why Haiti began and remains poor (pt 4 of 7). Response to some Marxist objections. (1) In 1804 there were embargoes against Haiti by France, England, USA. However these embargoes were quite porous since private merchants (English, French, American, Spanish) were still doing commerce with Haiti. In 1807 English abolished TransAtlantic slave trade and in 1808 England ended the Haiti embargo; by 1814 more than 80% of Haitian trade was with England. Besides in the 1800's England and Spain were at war with France so little military naval effort was focused on Haiti. Haiti had no military navy, no merchant marine so Haiti had no capability to pursue merchant trade, no capability to project military naval power on its own. Haiti was at the mercy of others for maritime trade. (2) Many nations, when newly established, were not given a "welcome basket" by the community of Nations. The USA recognized the USSR in 1933 and the USSR was established in 1917. And yet there was USA-USSR trade before 1933. The USA recognized the People's Republic of China in 1979 and the PRC was established in 1949. And yet there was USA-PRC trade before 1979. These trades occur despite ideological differences. These trades occur because the USSR and the PRC had goods/services to offer to the community of Nations. By 1804, Haiti utterly wrecked its economic infrastructure and had little to offer to trade with the community of Nations. (3) Conflict of visions between the populace (ex-slaves) and the Haitian elite (White, Mixed, Black). The ex-slaves wanted nothing more than a piece of land and cultivate it for their basic needs. Essentially the ex-slaves wanted a Subsistence Economy, a Survival Economy. Nation building was not on the mind of the ex-slaves. Nation building was on the minds of the elite who knew fully well that Haiti cannot be totally self-sufficient and thus needed to rebuild the economy to produce goods/services to trade with other Nations. The elite wanted to rebuild the plantation system and the ex-slaves wanted none of that!!! Henri Christophe (Black) was able to impose the plantation system in the North but at the cost of raising anger of the peasant (ex-slave) class. The peasant anger became so great that Henri Christophe committed suicide in 1820. Ironically, Northern Haiti under Christophe (Black) became wealthier (relatively) than Southern Haiti under Pétion (Mulatto) who pushed for Land Redistribution, not Plantation system. (4) Marxists sweep under the rug the occupation of the Dominican Republic. Why? Because it does not fit the narrative of Haiti being a victimized innocent. Haiti occupied the Dominican Republic from 1821 to 1844. Haitian president Boyer confiscated all church property, all lands owned by Whites, and deported all foreign clergy. Oh, but that was the second invasion by Haiti; in 1805, the Haitian Army invaded the Dominican Republic, reached Santo Domingo, and made a fast retreat using the destroy and burn tactics much favored by J.J Dessalines. Why the retreat? There were reports that a French flotilla was coming towards Port-au-Prince. Even after 1844 the Haitians did not give up; there were several minor military excursions into the Dominican Republic. Militarism, combined with Subsistence Economy, deepens Poverty. (5) Reparations to France: the Marxists' favorite bugaboo. Were the reparations the fundamental cause of Haiti's poverty? Answer: NO. Haiti was already entrenched in Poverty by 1826 when France demanded reparations. Mind you, the 1826 reparation demand was the THIRD request; the previous 2 were made to Christophe (refused), to Pétion (refused). The third time was the charm for France. Haiti's 1821 invasion of the Dominican Republic (DR) was a strategic error. Military adventurism and a moribund economy made for a very bad mix. France was not stupid. After 5 yrs of Haiti being stuck in the DR quagmire, France popped up (again!) and made the reparations demand. Haiti cannot fight both the French and the Dominicans. Haiti decided to pay reparations. France asked only for 1 year's worth of colonial output. In 1820, Haiti's output was only 1/40 of colonial output; that it took Haiti more than 100 years to pay the reparations is no surprise. From 1826-1844 Haiti plundered the DR of its wealth to pay as much as it can for the reparations. (6) Often politically driven programs do not bring Economic or Societal Progress. What feels good usually does no good. Embracing victimhood (politically popular as of 2024 AD) brings no kind of prosperity. Become a victim and win a prize!!! Victims of the World, Unite!!!

Why Haiti began and remains poor (pt 5 of 7). Haitian remittances (2018 - 2022) (year) ($Billion per year) (population M) ($ per capita per year) 2018_____2.42_____11.0______220 2019_____2.51_____11.2______224 2020_____3.27_____11.3______289 2021_____3.66_____11.4______321 2022_____3.10_____11.6______267 The Haitian remittances are quite substantial in absolute dollars (billions of dollars, INCREDIBLE!!!), quite modest on a per capita basis ($250/year/person). A good thing (the haitian diaspora love their families still living in Haiti). A bad thing (what?!?!): the remittances make Haiti more dependent and less independent. I thought Independence was an ultimate good. Something strange is happening in Mexico: as of 2024 AD, there is a shortage of farm workers in Mexico. Why? Answer: the farm workers are going to the USA and sending remittances back to Mexico. Are there unemployed people in Mexico? Yes. Could said unemployed people fill in the farmer shortages in Mexico? Yes. Why is there still a shortage of farm workers in Mexico? Answer: they do not need to work because they are getting remittances from their relatives in the USA. The effects of remittances in Mexico are also happening in Haiti. The recipients of the remittances become either pure consumers or invest in non-export enterprises (low barrier entry) such as restaurants, beauty salons, home improvements, taxi services, etc.. Export enterprises such as auto manufacturing, energy production, etc. require large investments upfront and large risk exposure, something not amenable by remittances. Remittances suppress the productive power of a nation. Remittances have a narcotic effect on the recipients, just like the Welfare State has a debilitating effect on the welfare recipient (intergenerational dependency). Haiti's source of foreign exchange (%). (A) = Remittances, (B) = Exports, (C) = Official Development Assistance, (D) = Tourism, (E) = Foreign Business Investment Source___(A)_____(B)______(C)_____(D)______(E) 2000_____37______37______14______10_______2 2005_____50______27______15_______5_______3 2010_____30______15______44_______8_______3 2015_____38______30______20______10_______2 2020_____55______18______15_______8_______4 It is not a good sign that for Haiti the remittances are becoming the majority (55% in 2020) of foreign exchange revenue. Tourism and Foreign Business Investment have flatlined in the past 20 years. In 2022 Haiti's exports were 1.3B (compared to remittances of 3.1B). Exports are (clothing = 965M) (vetiver oil = 34M) (scrap metal = 25M) (electric equipment = 10M)(alcohol = 7M) (fruits = 11M) (fish = 7M). Meanwhile in 2022 Haiti imported more than $1B of goods/services from the Dominican Republic. Yes, Haiti is getting out of the agriculture business and diving deeper into the sweatshop business. Meanwhile, USA, Canada, Australia are the main food exporters of the world and they are developed nations. Meanwhile, Denmark (pop = 6M) (area = 43,100 km^2) 2022 Pork Exports = $3B; #5 Globally Ranked in Pork Exports (#1 = Spain $6B; #2 = USA $5B; ). Denmark is a developed nation. Increased dependency on remittances assures Haiti's poverty.

Why Haiti began and remains poor (pt 5 of 7). Haitian remittances (2018 - 2022) (year) ($Billion per year) (population M) ($ per capita per year) 2018_____2.42_____11.0______220 2019_____2.51_____11.2______224 2020_____3.27_____11.3______289 2021_____3.66_____11.4______321 2022_____3.10_____11.6______267 The Haitian remittances are quite substantial in absolute dollars (billions of dollars, INCREDIBLE!!!), quite modest on a per capita basis ($250/year/person). A good thing (the haitian diaspora love their families still living in Haiti). A bad thing (what?!?!): the remittances make Haiti more dependent and less independent. I thought Independence was an ultimate good. Something strange is happening in Mexico: as of 2024 AD, there is a shortage of farm workers in Mexico. Why? Answer: the farm workers are going to the USA and sending remittances back to Mexico. Are there unemployed people in Mexico? Yes. Could said unemployed people fill in the farmer shortages in Mexico? Yes. Why is there still a shortage of farm workers in Mexico? Answer: they do not need to work because they are getting remittances from their relatives in the USA. The effects of remittances in Mexico are also happening in Haiti. The recipients of the remittances become either pure consumers or invest in non-export enterprises (low barrier entry) such as restaurants, beauty salons, home improvements, taxi services, etc.. Export enterprises such as auto manufacturing, energy production, etc. require large investments upfront and large risk exposure, something not amenable by remittances. Remittances suppress the productive power of a nation. Remittances have a narcotic effect on the recipients, just like the Welfare State has a debilitating effect on the welfare recipient (intergenerational dependency). Haiti's source of foreign exchange (%). (A) = Remittances, (B) = Exports, (C) = Official Development Assistance, (D) = Tourism, (E) = Foreign Business Investment Source___(A)_____(B)______(C)_____(D)______(E) 2000_____37______37______14______10_______2 2005_____50______27______15_______5_______3 2010_____30______15______44_______8_______3 2015_____38______30______20______10_______2 2020_____55______18______15_______8_______4 It is not a good sign that for Haiti the remittances are becoming the majority (55% in 2020) of foreign exchange revenue. Tourism and Foreign Business Investment have flatlined in the past 20 years. In 2022 Haiti's exports were 1.3B (compared to remittances of 3.1B). Exports are (clothing = 965M) (vetiver oil = 34M) (scrap metal = 25M) (electric equipment = 10M)(alcohol = 7M) (fruits = 11M) (fish = 7M). Meanwhile in 2022 Haiti imported more than $1B of goods/services from the Dominican Republic. Yes, Haiti is getting out of the agriculture business and diving deeper into the sweatshop business. Meanwhile, USA, Canada, Australia are the main food exporters of the world and they are developed nations. Meanwhile, Denmark (pop = 6M) (area = 43,100 km^2) 2022 Pork Exports = $3B; #5 Globally Ranked in Pork Exports (#1 = Spain $6B; #2 = USA $5B; ). Denmark is a developed nation. Increased dependency on remittances assures Haiti's poverty.

Why Haiti began and remains poor (pt 6 of 7). Haiti and rice. >>>>> The Clintons destroyed the Haitian rice farmers!!! <<<<< Blaming Haiti's rice imports on forced decreased rice tariffs from 50% to 3% (in the Dominican Republic the rice tariff is 20%) appear to be a bit misplaced. Haiti Imports, by year (A) = total($B); (B) = Petrol($M); (C) = Fabrics ($M); (D) = Palm Oil ($M); (E) = Wheat ($M); (F) = Rice ($M); (G) = Cars ($M); (H) = Poultry Meat ($M); (I) = Sugar($M); Year_______(A)______(B)______(C)_______(D)_____(E)_____(F)_______(G)_____(H)______(I) 2018_____4.18_____317______391_____118_____106_____254_____121_____100_____87 2019_____3.84_____292______384_____111_____143_____237______77_____103_____85 2020_____3.75_____240______294_____147_____108_____297_____129_____101____103 2021_____4.12_____295______413_____168_____112_____248_____170_____156____109 2022_____5.93_____525______275_____126_____160_____256_____126_____112_____91 A lot of focus on rice. The US is the major source of rice to Haiti. However one overlooks Haiti's deficits in Palm Oil, Poultry Meat, Sugar: are the Clintons making money off these commodities? Haitian rice production has remained essentially steady since the 1970s, at around 70,000 tons/yr. There were peak production of 90,000 tons in 1985, of 80,000 tons in 1996, of 77,000 tons in 2011. Year 2011 is interesting because the cholera outbreak in Haiti happened in the Artibonite Valley (rice growing region) on Oct 2020. Haiti 1960 rice production was 40,000 tons increasing gradually to 68,000 tons in 1970. Yes, rice production grew under mean, cruel, tyrannical Duvalier. I am not a fan of Duvalier but give the devil his due. Meanwhile, rice imports started to grow in 1985 at 700 tons (same time as Haiti's peak rice production), to 80,000 tons in 1990, to 150,000 tons in 1995, growing gradually to 300,000 tons in 2015. The forced (by Clinton Administration in 1996) tariff decrease to 3% evidently had NO effect on Haiti rice production. Besides, there is no way to boost Haiti's rice production 4-fold (= 300,000/70,000). At no point in history had Haiti produced 300,000 tons of rice annually. One has to look at the range of food crops in Haiti and food consumption in Haiti. Along with corn, beans, tubers and plantains, rice has an increasing share in the basic domestic diet due to the relatively low cost. Haitians used to consume rice once-a-week in the 1980’s. The higher food demand induced by the fast population growth and lower import tariffs implemented in the late 1980s to address this need made rice imports one of the least expensive carbohydrate sources. As a result, rice has become a basic item for daily use today. The low prices of imported rice have helped change consumption patterns of some consumers, enticing them to insert rice as a less expensive alternative source of carbohydrate. Blending imported rice with other starchy foods such as bread and imported pasta, and other staple foods like, plantains, sweet potato, cassava and dasheen has become part of the Haitian diet. A banana side story. I recalled seeing near Jérémie a cement post with a United Fruit Company (UFC) metal plate. I tried to find UFC's banana production in Haiti but I cannot obtain the relevant info since UFC went defunct in 1970. UFC presence in Haiti spanned from 1930 to 1948. In 1949 the Haitian government nationalized the banana business (took over UFC's operations). A few years later (1952?) the nationalized business went kaput. Has Haiti been exporting bananas lately? Probably, but I cannot find the numbers. All I can find is Haiti's 2022 fruit exports = $11M. In 2022 the fruit exports of the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, and Cuba are respectively $411M (of which $267M = bananas), $60M, $0.5M (of which $30K = bananas). In 2023 the kg/person banana production of Haiti, Cuba, Jamaica, and the Dominican Republic is respectively 22.7, 23.2, 23.3, 117.8.

Why Haiti began and remains poor (pt 6 of 7). Haiti and rice. >>>>> The Clintons destroyed the Haitian rice farmers!!! <<<<< Blaming Haiti's rice imports on forced decreased rice tariffs from 50% to 3% (in the Dominican Republic the rice tariff is 20%) appear to be a bit misplaced. Haiti Imports, by year (A) = total($B); (B) = Petrol($M); (C) = Fabrics ($M); (D) = Palm Oil ($M); (E) = Wheat ($M); (F) = Rice ($M); (G) = Cars ($M); (H) = Poultry Meat ($M); (I) = Sugar($M); Year_______(A)______(B)______(C)_______(D)_____(E)_____(F)_______(G)_____(H)______(I) 2018_____4.18_____317______391_____118_____106_____254_____121_____100_____87 2019_____3.84_____292______384_____111_____143_____237______77_____103_____85 2020_____3.75_____240______294_____147_____108_____297_____129_____101____103 2021_____4.12_____295______413_____168_____112_____248_____170_____156____109 2022_____5.93_____525______275_____126_____160_____256_____126_____112_____91 A lot of focus on rice. The US is the major source of rice to Haiti. However one overlooks Haiti's deficits in Palm Oil, Poultry Meat, Sugar: are the Clintons making money off these commodities? Haitian rice production has remained essentially steady since the 1970s, at around 70,000 tons/yr. There were peak production of 90,000 tons in 1985, of 80,000 tons in 1996, of 77,000 tons in 2011. Year 2011 is interesting because the cholera outbreak in Haiti happened in the Artibonite Valley (rice growing region) on Oct 2020. Haiti 1960 rice production was 40,000 tons increasing gradually to 68,000 tons in 1970. Yes, rice production grew under mean, cruel, tyrannical Duvalier. I am not a fan of Duvalier but give the devil his due. Meanwhile, rice imports started to grow in 1985 at 700 tons (same time as Haiti's peak rice production), to 80,000 tons in 1990, to 150,000 tons in 1995, growing gradually to 300,000 tons in 2015. The forced (by Clinton Administration in 1996) tariff decrease to 3% evidently had NO effect on Haiti rice production. Besides, there is no way to boost Haiti's rice production 4-fold (= 300,000/70,000). At no point in history had Haiti produced 300,000 tons of rice annually. One has to look at the range of food crops in Haiti and food consumption in Haiti. Along with corn, beans, tubers and plantains, rice has an increasing share in the basic domestic diet due to the relatively low cost. Haitians used to consume rice once-a-week in the 1980’s. The higher food demand induced by the fast population growth and lower import tariffs implemented in the late 1980s to address this need made rice imports one of the least expensive carbohydrate sources. As a result, rice has become a basic item for daily use today. The low prices of imported rice have helped change consumption patterns of some consumers, enticing them to insert rice as a less expensive alternative source of carbohydrate. Blending imported rice with other starchy foods such as bread and imported pasta, and other staple foods like, plantains, sweet potato, cassava and dasheen has become part of the Haitian diet. A banana side story. I recalled seeing near Jérémie a cement post with a United Fruit Company (UFC) metal plate. I tried to find UFC's banana production in Haiti but I cannot obtain the relevant info since UFC went defunct in 1970. UFC presence in Haiti spanned from 1930 to 1948. In 1949 the Haitian government nationalized the banana business (took over UFC's operations). A few years later (1952?) the nationalized business went kaput. Has Haiti been exporting bananas lately? Probably, but I cannot find the numbers. All I can find is Haiti's 2022 fruit exports = $11M. In 2022 the fruit exports of the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, and Cuba are respectively $411M (of which $267M = bananas), $60M, $0.5M (of which $30K = bananas). In 2023 the kg/person banana production of Haiti, Cuba, Jamaica, and the Dominican Republic is respectively 22.7, 23.2, 23.3, 117.8.

Why Haiti began and remains poor (pt 7 of 7). Haiti and the <<<Natural Resources!!!>>>. Leprechauns looking for their pot of gold. Pundits, clueless about the fundamental cause of Haitian Poverty, go: "But, but, but Haiti has plenty of NATURAL RESOURCES!!! The greedy, evil, wicked, toxic, nasty, horrible, terrible Capitalists are suppressing, depressing, repressing, oppressing Haiti (because it is a Black Nation) to get to them NATURAL RESOURCES!!!" Yes, the Dominican Republic has exported $1.5B in gold in 2022. With Haiti on the same island, Haiti should be as rich as the DR!!! Right? Well... No. In 2022 total exports of the DR and Haiti are respectively $14B and $1.3B. Take out the $1.5B of gold from the picture and the DR 2022 exports are 14B -1.5B = 12.5B. Now transfer that $1.5B to Haiti's side and you get 1.3B +1.5B = 2.8B which is still 4.4 times (12.5/2.8) smaller than the DR numbers. Gold is not what makes the DR richer than Haiti. Yes, Haiti should develop whatever mineral resources it has but hoping that <<<NATURAL RESOURCES!!!>>> will deliver Haiti from Poverty is wishful thinking and unwittingly perpetuating the Poverty Mindset of the Haitian People. Venezuela has LOTS OF OIL!!! and yet its citizens lost on average 20 lbs in weight, fleeing the country which fell into Poverty in past few years. So oil alone (NATURAL RESOURCES!!!) does not make you rich. What is Venezuela lacking today that, say, Saudi Arabia has? Juan Pablo Pérez Alfonso (Venezuelan politician), a founder of OPEC, complained in 1975: “I call petroleum the devil's excrement. It brings trouble...Look at this locura-waste, corruption, consumption, our public services falling apart. And debt, debt we shall have for years.” Amongst the European colonial powers, Spain and Portugal are poorer than England and France today. While Spain and Portugal were focusing on extracting Gold and Silver from the Americas, France and England were developing Agricultural Economies in the Americas. During colonial times Spain and Portugal did little to develop their own domestic economy, depending mainly on the Gold and Silver revenues from the Americas. OIL!!! OIL!!! OIL!!! Haiti has OIL!!! Yep. With Oil found in the gulf of Mexico and Venezuela there will be Oil in parts in between. One speculates off-shore oil near Cuba. One speculates oil in central Haiti. It is natural that British Guyana (a neighbor of Venezuela) is developing off-shore oil. Oil companies are very aggressive and if oil extraction in Haiti is commercially feasible it would have been done a long time ago. Haitian politicians are just as corrupt as African politicians in Angola, Nigeria, Congo, and Gabon. Are Haitian politicians corrupt AND incompetent AND feckless? Iridium!!! IRIDIUM!!! IRIDIUM!!! Haiti has IRIDIUM!!! A lot of speculation. Cuba has 2 iridium mines running. Cuba is not getting rich. Supposedly there are some iridium deposits in Haiti's South East (near the Haiti-DR border). So the DR is likely to have iridium. The DR has a much more developed industrial infrastructure than Haiti; I place my bets on the DR in the iridium play. Yes, Haiti should pursue the iridium play if commercially feasible. Haiti is out of the bauxite business since 1982. Jamaica 2022 bauxite export = $246M. Dominican Republic 2022 bauxite export = $4M. Haiti is out of the copper (not scrap metal) business since 1972. Dominican Republic 2022 copper (not scrap metal) export = $40M. With funding from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the Haitian government planned to perform its first comprehensive geological survey in the late 1980s. I do not know the current status of the survey. Primary forest cover in Haiti (% total area) = 5% (1990), 4% (2010) Primary forest cover in the DR (% total area) = 39% (1990), 39% (2010) Those who mythologize Haiti's <<<NATURAL RESOURCES!!!>>> are unwittingly perpetuating the spirit of Poverty which is endemic in Haiti.

Why Haiti began and remains poor (pt 7 of 7). Haiti and the <<<Natural Resources!!!>>>. Leprechauns looking for their pot of gold. Pundits, clueless about the fundamental cause of Haitian Poverty, go: "But, but, but Haiti has plenty of NATURAL RESOURCES!!! The greedy, evil, wicked, toxic, nasty, horrible, terrible Capitalists are suppressing, depressing, repressing, oppressing Haiti (because it is a Black Nation) to get to them NATURAL RESOURCES!!!" Yes, the Dominican Republic has exported $1.5B in gold in 2022. With Haiti on the same island, Haiti should be as rich as the DR!!! Right? Well... No. In 2022 total exports of the DR and Haiti are respectively $14B and $1.3B. Take out the $1.5B of gold from the picture and the DR 2022 exports are 14B -1.5B = 12.5B. Now transfer that $1.5B to Haiti's side and you get 1.3B +1.5B = 2.8B which is still 4.4 times (12.5/2.8) smaller than the DR numbers. Gold is not what makes the DR richer than Haiti. Yes, Haiti should develop whatever mineral resources it has but hoping that <<<NATURAL RESOURCES!!!>>> will deliver Haiti from Poverty is wishful thinking and unwittingly perpetuating the Poverty Mindset of the Haitian People. Venezuela has LOTS OF OIL!!! and yet its citizens lost on average 20 lbs in weight, fleeing the country which fell into Poverty in past few years. So oil alone (NATURAL RESOURCES!!!) does not make you rich. What is Venezuela lacking today that, say, Saudi Arabia has? Juan Pablo Pérez Alfonso (Venezuelan politician), a founder of OPEC, complained in 1975: “I call petroleum the devil's excrement. It brings trouble...Look at this locura-waste, corruption, consumption, our public services falling apart. And debt, debt we shall have for years.” Amongst the European colonial powers, Spain and Portugal are poorer than England and France today. While Spain and Portugal were focusing on extracting Gold and Silver from the Americas, France and England were developing Agricultural Economies in the Americas. During colonial times Spain and Portugal did little to develop their own domestic economy, depending mainly on the Gold and Silver revenues from the Americas. OIL!!! OIL!!! OIL!!! Haiti has OIL!!! Yep. With Oil found in the gulf of Mexico and Venezuela there will be Oil in parts in between. One speculates off-shore oil near Cuba. One speculates oil in central Haiti. It is natural that British Guyana (a neighbor of Venezuela) is developing off-shore oil. Oil companies are very aggressive and if oil extraction in Haiti is commercially feasible it would have been done a long time ago. Haitian politicians are just as corrupt as African politicians in Angola, Nigeria, Congo, and Gabon. Are Haitian politicians corrupt AND incompetent AND feckless? Iridium!!! IRIDIUM!!! IRIDIUM!!! Haiti has IRIDIUM!!! A lot of speculation. Cuba has 2 iridium mines running. Cuba is not getting rich. Supposedly there are some iridium deposits in Haiti's South East (near the Haiti-DR border). So the DR is likely to have iridium. The DR has a much more developed industrial infrastructure than Haiti; I place my bets on the DR in the iridium play. Yes, Haiti should pursue the iridium play if commercially feasible. Haiti is out of the bauxite business since 1982. Jamaica 2022 bauxite export = $246M. Dominican Republic 2022 bauxite export = $4M. Haiti is out of the copper (not scrap metal) business since 1972. Dominican Republic 2022 copper (not scrap metal) export = $40M. With funding from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the Haitian government planned to perform its first comprehensive geological survey in the late 1980s. I do not know the current status of the survey. Primary forest cover in Haiti (% total area) = 5% (1990), 4% (2010) Primary forest cover in the DR (% total area) = 39% (1990), 39% (2010) Those who mythologize Haiti's <<<NATURAL RESOURCES!!!>>> are unwittingly perpetuating the spirit of Poverty which is endemic in Haiti.

talk with nothing else to reinforce the opinion

Canada's best bluegrass band!👍👍

Stephane is amazing!

any chance Sian Richards was in the Matchbook Poets from the 90s?

The NPR upper middle class over educated voice is a thing even if it’s not NPR. Almost a parody

He just admitted that the six foot rule that shut down schools and small businesses were based on zero science. In fact, he said he's seen no proof since that they were at all effective. So all those horrific deaths, bankruptcies, etc were caused by a lying NIH.

Thanks! Very interesting talk.

Great stuff - two real pros

What great guitar work!

One of my favorite singers ! Love listening to Alex and his band sdp