Brazzil

Again, people have to read about FHC. What a jack@&$. He should remain at Brown Univ. preaching neoliberism to students that are willing to pay US$ to listen to such propaganda that sold Brasil to the northern companies. Most if not all large patchs of land are owned by politicians/military officers in office or retired. It's no wonder they are slow on doing anything when elected and became lame ducks or crooks for many years and play the musical chairs in the political arena. They are even able to shoot people on the backs.Personally, I don't trust any politicians. They are like lawyers, pay them enough and they will munipulate the law of the land. Power to the people!

Way to long...PHD or not.

The f**king republican bastards and the IMF and the world bank only wants to plunder the resources of latin america and colonize the world, with the help of traitorous stooges like lula, who said to the masses that he was a true leftist, when in reality, like lucio guiterrez of ecuador, after he was elected, he did a U-turn and become more neo-liberal and follower of neo-liberal economic policies and IMF inspired doctrine than even cardoso!

what a f**king shame for brazil!

IMF must be held greatly responsible for the state of affairs in all Latin America. As a fund created to solve problems of cash flow of member countries, it became the great financial uphold of the governments in the region and greatly estimulated fiscal irresponsiblity. Our governments always spend more than their income and IMF was always there to help. No wonder the debt is so huge. Therefore, governments in Latin America should do the contrary to what they are doing. They should adopt minimal-state and truly neoliberal policies, with sanctity of contracts and immediately halt the payments to whoever borrowed money to them. That would bring back normalcy and would make reduction of taxes greatly possible, at the price of breaking some banks and individuals who borrowed money to them... all I ask is: is that really possible without bringing up a revolution? If not, how could this be done without the political dangers implied into this? Just to get a picture, only in Brazil, there would be some of the biggest corporations thrown out of government, breaking of major banks, losses of money to many people in the middle-class, and massive dismissal of governmental employees, as well as the confiscation of their retirement funds. Just too much to do in only one step, risking institutional breakout. I think they should start by not paying the IMF and international banks. That would be pretty popular too, along with some tax reduction, and would bring popular support for some more radical steps. The danger in this is the government debt, for this would bring an even more dangerous scenario should those governments need more borrowed money.

At least you point out the risks in doing so. There is no magic bullet to fix Brazils ( or the rest of the third world's ) woes. Too bad Brazil's debt can't be forgiven like most of Africa's was.

Don't borrow what you can't pay - economics 101. I'd love Visa to forgive my debt, but fat chance.

That's why the government should stop spending. It's ok that you don't pay your debts if you are not going to take more money borrowed. But if you need to take it again, you are in deep trouble. That's the challenge Brazil must face. For the good of us all, the government should stop spending.

The government should stop stealing. That's where all this cash is ending up. Swiss Bank Accounts. There's a lot of social programmes in need of funding, no need to cut there- it's those who are dipping their hands in the public purse that a guilty.

I'm just happier that a pig in s**t that all these corrupt bastards, from ALL levels, are starting to fall. It's a good message to transmit in this country - the days of impunity are no longer. You want to be corrupt, than there is a GOOD chance you'll be facing the music. Now if we can just clear the streets of thugs and rats, this country may actually stand a chance of becoming something civil.

Don't borrow what you can't pay (for) ???
In almost all cases, the large amounts of money barrowed from the IMF and World Band was not done with the permission of the people. It was done by non-elected officials, like the military rulers of Brazil, or other dictators. Forcing a population to pay off a debt that they did not incur is criminal, not 'economics'.
You chose to spend money on your Visa card, now you pay it off. Should you be expected to pay off your Visa card if someone else made purchases on it in your name?
The IMF and WorldBank are used to keep developing countries developing and under control. By forcing privitaizations of basic resources by international companies, great control, and profits, can be forced from these countries. Look at South Africa, Bolivia, Argentina, ect.
Imperialism comes in many forms. The people need to take back what is theirs.

Ha, ha, I guess that the regular folks in Latin America would be better off if their countries were allowed to go bankrupt, just like any badly managed company... Boston Fleet would surely know how to manage them better than Lula or Kirchner -- oops, wait! I forgot that in fact the petistas admitted that when they threw their "quadros" in the thrash bin and chose a Boston Fleet guy to be in charge of their Central Bank!!! Not to talk about all the other American trained economists that they brought into their government... Man, those "economistas petistas" should burn their diplomas and go get jobs as burger flippers!

Amazing, this author lives and enjoys all the freedoms of a democratic society and supports a group that simply want to destroy democracy and make everyone in Brazil to live under socialism. My suggestion to all MST members and supporters is to get a one-way ticket to North-Korea where they will experience in their own flesh the hell they want to inflict to others.