What would you do if you lived there three years ago, and didn't have any responsibilities to anyone but yourself?
I'd have left.
Then ask yourself, why are you still living where you live.
I'm comfortable.
Not sure if you were edging towards something more profound.
Government isn't always to blame, but it is in this case.
No, it isn't. Partially yes, entirely, no.
Example: With so many unemployed, that creates a large source of idle time that could be directed towards volunteer efforts to maintain basic human needs. One of which is proper disposal of human waste, and refuse in general. If I, as an unemployed Haitian, noted a lack of such, I would work to organize a few of my fellow unemployed neighbors and dig a massive latrine, with good fortune I could complete this project with 20 men, and potentially even create something more wondrous than my initial goals, creating a waste-channel that reaches the ocean.
In return for my team's accomplishment, we would request that we be given a token of appreciation, just once, by any and all who would make use of this leap forward in our local progress. It may be bread, may be a new shovel, but whatever I gained from that venture I would attempt to apply to a future project to benefit myself and my neighbors, and would wish that my example would be a beacon of inspiration for others to follow of their own will, thereby bypassing the government who has failed us, and giving a solid boost to morale locally.
What portion of the economic destruction are Haitian individuals meant to be responsible for? What bad choices are they making? You think its just a coincidence that theres massive unemployment and massive economic interference at the same time?
Pre, Post or 200 years ago?
Have you provided any evidence that the market reforms in China and India where actually the result of individuals deciding they want over dumb luck?
I do not recall having produced any such evidence. However, given that the histories of those two countries, and many others, have frequently been in flux and appear to remain prone to that condition, I cannot say what the ingredients were that caused either successes or failures within those borders. I can say with positive enthusiasm that whenever you do mention China and India that my appetite becomes aroused, and such is the case at this exact moment, or, more accurately, it became noticed unto me at the time I typed "ingredients" above. It was the clashing of those two names of countries met up against that word that created an almost euphoric rise in my guttural region to the point where my sense of smell deceived me and one would swear that they heard a distinct sniffing noise emit from my being, if they were in close proximity at the time of this writing.
When individual people are lucky enough to have a government that allows economic freedom, they'll make themselves rich, if the government cripples their ability to make money then they won't be able to.
Sir.. are you a wealthy man?