Well after two months of Festa Junina & Festa Julina, I decided to take a couple of weeks off. Last night the kids were with Rodrigo’s parents and we went out with a few friends for a beer or two. Whilst out, a friend of ours wanted us to go to the City Hall to see if the Mayor was going to get impeached. He was involved in the Business as usual politics in Brasil and let’s face it … this type of politics is all over the world. For instance, the mayor gave like 22 members of his family on the payroll, stole the money that was supposed to be for medicine for sick children who as a result died, overpriced everything and pocketed the difference. If a box of chocolates were R$10 he would pay R$100 of the tax payer’s money. He was arrested for a few days and so the dog and pony show began. He spent a few nights in jail and now resides in another town as he continues to govern our city. So, last night they had a trial it lasted for more than 14 hours and the outcome was an obvious one to the town. He will NOT get impeached because those who would impeach him were as dirty as he was. So, the cycle continues and guess what? He will probably get elected again.
Now the big story here is how. How would it be possible for a man who steals from taxpayers and I don’t mean taking a little, I mean taking Millions. How is it humanly possible for him to be re-elected? Well this is a comparison that I would like to draw.
So, we show up last night and there are two sides. The reporters and people hoping for change by doing the right thing which is voting and supporting their cause. They are quiet but they are there. The sad part is Brazilians know that there is nothing that they can do to stop the corruption. The Corruption is so deep that there are movies about it and the only thing that happens from that point is a decision; depression or forget about it. With little repercussions of corruption and crime, people are left to have a talk over a beer and accept the life that they have been given. As free as it feels to be here in Brasil, the truth is you still get limited freedom of speech against the government.
Then there were the supporters of the mayor sitting in the grandstand where carnival is held. They are sitting there with signs all drawn up in the exact same hand writing. They were wearing T-shirts that had a huge red Heart on the front with the mayor’s name showing their support. Who were they and what was their cause, why do they support him? It didn’t take long, but I studied them carefully and first noticed the anger in their drunken eyes… what? Yes, I said it. I then looked down and noticed the beer can in their hands. Then I looked up again and saw the drunken rage as they were touting the crowd that was chanting “Get the Mayor Out”. Wait a minute…. What is going on? Well noting but a little money being exchanged into the hands of people who did not know what they were fighting for and they didn’t care. These were the people whose medicine was stolen. These were the people who do not get government assistance, except for that day. They were picked up and given all the beer they could drink, carted to the grand stand outside the city hall and told what they needed to do for it. Now ask me… how you reason with those people? It was their children who were denied medicine but they were bought for a day, a party and R$30 each. They fight against their interests and miss the big picture. However they are also a part of a very uneducated public but they vote; seems to be a good formula for politicians.
Later in the night when the vote was announced some people were outraged and chanting as they voted not to impeach the Mayor. My friend was hit in the legs by the police for chanting against the mayor and then they put their shields up and stood in line. Just then some of the city council walked outside and looked at the crowd and laughed in their faces. All I can imagine is that maybe they were laughing because they saw a city of 300,000 represented by less than 100 or maybe they were laughing because they got away with it and were relieved of being held accountable once again. As the police shields were up, my friend said…”I’m doing this for you, for your children, for your family, for your pay” and the police man stood their looked into his eyes and nodded his head as he agreed with my friend but he was paid for too.
This is similar to what is happening in America today? As people become desperate the big picture fades. Here it is so deep that going against it is deadly or just a waste of time. A police man told me, if you don’t take the Money, the next in line will. Nothing happens to the criminal and he loses the R$20,000 to the next guy.
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