Haiti, Bonuses, and the Great Abyss

Because of the accident of timing, this week’s news confronts us with the contorted world of brokenness in which we live. Our world’s abyss has been laid bare.

A devastating earthquake all but demolished Haiti on Tuesday. The estimates of the dead and injured range from tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands to millions. Even the few substantial structures in Haiti were demolished. Perhaps the most accurate description of Haiti’s plight comes from a relief worker there: “There was unimaginable destruction.”

Even in the best of times, living conditions in Haiti are wretched. Contaminated drinking water. Fifty percent unemployment. An average income per capita between $200 and $300.

Closer to home, bailed-out Wall Street banks are planning to pay billions of dollars in bonuses. President Obama has proposed a punitive tax on these banks, which respond that they’ll make loans even harder to get or simply pass the tax along to consumers. Already angry about the previous bailouts, Americans are in a state of fury over the proposed bonuses.

Here’s an idea. Wall Street gives the bonus money to the desperately needed relief efforts in Haiti. Wall Street bankers can show fellow Americans that, despite their reputation, they really do care about humanity. Sure, they’ll make only $200,000 to $300,000 this year instead of millions, but they’ll gladly take a cut in pay for an already poor country on the verge of extinction.

But there’s that great abyss. Haiti is barely observable. It’s a place on TV. When acts of God wreak decimation, there’s not much men and women can do.

The Wall Street banks, like many other employers, will establish “Haitian help funds” to which their employees can contribute. “Be as generous as you can,” they’ll say.

There’s always been an abyss in the world. Today, it’s as unfathomable as the death and destruction in Haiti.