Is Thomas Hobbes going to be the next President of Haiti?

New York Times

Well, not the REAL Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679), but a philosophical surrogate perhaps..."Baby Doc" Duvalier, a former dictator in Haiti, arrived unexpectedly in Port au Prince over the weekend (NY TIMES).  He inherited power from his father, "Papa Doc" Duvalier. This family ruled Haiti from the 1950's to 1980's. 

Haiti could be a modern day example of the Hobbesian view of man in the "state of nature" and why the return of Baby Doc may be no mere coincidence.
Kind of a dim perspective, isn't it? The "common power to keep them all in awe" refers to the choice of government people will choose to avoid the above conditions.  In Hobbes view, the social contract people would/should choose voluntarily is rule by a "single sovereign or assembly of men"  who would use unconditional power to maintain law and order. The people would cede all rights, including the right to rebel, to this sovereign power in return for protection against those who would do them harm. 

If you view this Frontline documentary on post-earthquake Haitii, one could see how the power vacuum in Haiti may set the conditions for the rise of a single-power sovereign like Duvalier.  At this point, are the people of Haiti ready for some law and order provided by another dictator? I certainly hope not, but the inertia seems to be pushing that way...

"During the time men live without a common power to keep them all in awe, they are in that conditions called war; and such a war, as if of every man, against every man.


"To this war of every man against every man, this also in consequent; that nothing can be unjust. The notions of right and wrong, justice and injustice have there no place. Where there is no common power, there is no law, where no law, no injustice. Force, and fraud, are in war the cardinal virtues.


"No arts; no letters; no society; and which is worst of all, continual fear, and danger of violent death: and the life of man, solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short."

Satellite photos showing the Capital of Haiti pre and post earthquake and the emergence of massive "tent-cities"...Quite shocking when seen like this!

Here are three satellite photos of Haiti pre and post-earthquake.  Go to the link below to manipulate the pictures for a different view and for different parts of Port au Prince.  It is quite shocking. The first picture is of a golf course. The second picture shows the emergence of tent-cities on the property.  The third shows, well, signs of permanancy of the tent-cities.

NYTIMES: Destruction in Haiti, Then and Now

PBS Frontline Documentary on Haiti and the lack of the rule of law--Really shocking stuff I was not aware of...

I saw this on TV last night...It is about the lack of civil control in Haiti today...As much as I try to keep up with what is going on in the world, I was shocked and dismayed by the extent of the lack of the rule of law and the anarchy that apparently reigns in most of Port au Prince.  It is compelling to watch and worth the time, if it is your cup of tea.  On the bright side, I was heartened by some of the comments from Haitians and their desire to be self-sufficient.  Many believe the relief efforts actually HURT the re-building of the country. They ALL believe the political system is corrupt and is their worst enemy.