Im not quite sure how realistit is but to do anything but to try to move on with the show, and flawed as it is, and try to take some corrective measures. But i agree with robert 100 in his assessment of that. I think were really at an impasse here, and i dont see those calling for a Transitional Government or mixed commission, i dont see them getting very far. Theres not a cohesive Institutional Force that really supports them in this, and as one paper wrote the other day, its been much more of an emotional response than realistic response. So okay. Thank you. Were going to be open for your questions, comments. Why dont you start us. Thank you. Were going to take two or three questions, and then stepping away from the specifics of the electoral [inaudible] im sorry. Im john varba, the director of Haiti College fund. Stepping away from the specifics of the electoral process, im wondering what is the effect of this chaotic process on the functioning of the government . Everything from th
Political parties . We will see what becomes of the vow to participate following the first round. Hopefully serious actors will continue to engage. But will haitis populous known as voters engage . No one is trumpeting a Voter Participation of 18 according to the cep as a step towards democracy. That would certainly be an exercise in lipstick. There are variety of reasons of course, why haitians are not engaging in political process. One of them they are frustratedy with the outcome of participation, by coups and nonresponsive officials and other factors and theyve probably become somewhat jaund ised in democratic politics. A number of prominent haitian observers and have been calling for a different solution, calling for a Transitional Government or some kind of mixed commission that would place management of the political process in more diverse objective and inclusive hands. Listening to these folks and engaging them seriously is not such a bad idea. After more than four years of hi
Again, i always think back to franklin and the rising sun and thats exactly what weve seen through the years. This little humble room is really everything that the United States has been and will be. Its going to grow from events that happen over about a 1011 year period in this room and its amazing when you think of this humble place and the men that sat here and the things they did, its really incredible the things that have grown from this space. The Pennsylvania State house is a real name of independence. It was pennsylvanias capitol until 1789. Pennsylvania moves its government west to ultimately the center of the state, to harrisburg. Well, at that point the building, theyre using space in the building and renting it out. Its not the Capitol Building anymore. But the city of philadelphia had started building buildings here on the block and by the earl 1800s, essentially the city is going to buy this building and this whole block is going to serve as our city hall. So through the
Visits, you gather all the old veterans like Thomas Jefferson and tom adams are alive and they get together and celebrate lafayette. Its a wonderful explanation of patriot rancic memory. Its probably one of the first where were looking and embracing history. People are starting to be able to purchase their copies of the declaration of independence and put them above the fireplace. And were celebrating the words and the actual document. So fortunately, this room kind of becomes a Historic Place before they got to the point of totally getting rid of the building and turning it down to build something new. Were really lucky in a lot of ways it was used long enough it became important. By the mid1800s, this whole thing is a museum. One of the most fascinating stories in this room when the liberty bell, spent almost a hundred years in our bell tower cracked, they put it in this room. And one of my favorite days thats not one of the days of the revolutionary wars comes 150 years ago today th
The british suddenly find they have to worry about a french navy. The United States doesnt have much of a navy to threaten the british fleet, but france does. So they have to worry about that. The british have to worry about being invaded. Guys like Benjamin Franklin working with lafayette in france work on the king to try to get some invasion of england going. Youll have to worry if you are Great Britain about islands in the caribbean, youll be fighting in asia, africa, all over the world. So a lot of resources suddenly arent coming here to north america which makes George Washingtons life easier. Well get money from france. Well get supplies from france. Well get french troops, plus that french navy. If you think of our victory at york town, probably the biggest of the war, were probably not going to get that victory without the french navy. Eventually the war slowly, and it is slowly, turns in our favor. 1783, back in paris, john adams and Benjamin Franklin sign a peace treaty. Its