Haiti's biggest problem is corruption, and a population that accepts it. You will find this a common issue in most of the worst places on earth (Somalia, etc.) The Cuban people share a similar environment to Haiti. Cuban people used to be much better off (even with a moderate level of corruption) until Castro took over and ran the country into the ground. Yes, I know the Dominican Republic is no paradise, but it's not as bad as Haiti even though it shares the same island. Haiti's base problem is it's people and government.
Many Caribbean islands have similar resources to Haiti, yet are much better off. Think maybe it has something to do with government, corruption, and what the people are willing to accept and how industrious they are?
Look at the Scandinavian countries. They have limited natural and agricultural resources yet have a much batter standard of living. Austria? Switzerland? Lichtenstein?
Poverty is more a function of government and the will of the people than of natural resources.
Yes...and no. What made the U.S. successful was it's people and it's economic freedom. Russia has as much or more potential (agricultural and natural resources) than the U.S., but it's leadership has always been corrupt and it's population has accepted that. Many other locations on earth have as much potential as the U.S. but not the economic freedom that has made the U.S. strong.
Two. I had a vasectomy after #2.
