Brazzil

Changing the penal code to punish harshly corrupted politicians should be the natural way to go in a normal country. However, who would be the ones to push for those changes? Further, why is the Judiciary in Brazil so frail? Our politicians should fear the federal judges.

This situation, unfortunately, will end and pizza and beer. Lula decided to adopt a self-protective behavior and partially forfeiting his obligations as the major executive of the country, traveling around mimicking Juscelino. In addition, Lula already started his political campaign for re-election.

Meanwhile, a great fraction of the people, incapable of understanding what is going on, even with widespread media exposure, will probably continue supporting a politically bankrupted party. Lula is the hero for those deprived of a better life.

Fortunately and miraculously, the economy is doing well; but for how long if the situation continues to deteriorate politically? How long would international investors continue to trust Brazil?

Only God can tell.

The core politicians of Brazil lying? How is this possible? Is the world taking notice of this? It isn't possible to read this article with any measure of intelligence and be surprised. You can buy a Civil Police officer (any rank) a tourist cop who know's only 4 words of English "do you have money". For sale at a bargain price are the prosecutors "promotors" available for a very good price, Federal Criminal Judges such as the infamous Claudia Valeria, a woman who make R$12,000.00 per month, but of her real estate holdings, has a mortgage on her Bara condo of R$24,000.00 per month. You do the math. This "woman" also made the region of Nova Friburgo a tax free haven for all of the oil companies barrel output, this a poor town in the middle of the mountians, with zero capacity for oil or its distribution. Then there were the senior federal accountants who sent milions to the Swiss bankers, only to have the Brazilian Government "forget" to retrieve it, and alas, it is now gone forever, as are the accountants. There isn't even a need to discuss the BILLIONS found in the Cayman Islands. Shall we continue with this or is the point made? You, the Brazilian people elect these people. You give them the right and the luxury to steal from you. Stop whining and do something about it! You are as good as your friends; Libya and Cuba at the top of your "A" list.

Democracy is slow, but better than the alternatives. Investigate and prosecute. Move forward.

As for lying, it would seem that Jefferson should suffer the penalty of perjury (though I think Brazil is better off for his apparent lies setting off investigations that have unearthed and made public various acts of malfeasance by nearly every political party). The so-called mensalao has not been proven:

"Between late June and early July, Congress set up three investigative committees after Jefferson, in a June 6 interview with Folha de S. Paulo, alleged Valerio assisted the Workers' Party in funneling illegal donations from state and private companies to political campaigns.

"Jefferson said the bribes, which he alleged were funded mainly with loans by Rural and BMG, were paid to lawmakers in return for votes in the legislature.

"After almost 90 days of investigations, none of the three committees have proven any of Jefferson's allegations. The allegations led to the resignations of four senior party members, two cabinet ministers, including Lula's chief of staff, and two dozen state company board members."

http://quote.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000086&sid=adq0JrH.6x7A&refer=news_index Perhaps the failure to find evidence of the allegations is not a fault of the investigations, but rather becuase Jefferson lied to take the heat off of himself and to showboat before the cameras as some sort of hero after being caught red-handed in a corrupt scheme.

Brazil's politicians are no more corrupt than government officials in any other part of the world. I am an American government employee and the corruption in the American government makes Brazil's politicians look like school boys.

And to make matters worse America is trying to push her brand of "democracy" on the rest of the world.Right now her victim is Iraq. The regime of Saddam Hussein was far superior than any American "democracy". At least under Saddam Iraq was almost a First World nation.

You ain't seen corruption until you experienced American corruption.

Put the military back in charge. Death by hanging/firing squad. Ok, maybe not so drastic, but the fact is, there will always be corruption in Brazil. You can't fix character. Most of these thieves are trained to be crooks most of their lives.

Paying off some Congressmen to vote for the benefit of the PT party in power was only a detail. The Real Plan put in effect by the minds of José Dirceu and Luiz Gushiken was to make sure that Lula would have his way in Congress to easily be reelected and after 8 years of Lula, Brazil would have 8 more years of Zè Dirceu and the PT Party would attain its objective: perpetuation in power!
All the billions funelled from Gov't state-owned (estatais) to PT party coffers were to be converted into major TV commercials made by top marketeer Duda Mendonça, just like the ones that sold the image of Lula as the "Saviour" - remember that Brazil has a huge percentage of illiterate people that only gets news thru TV - a perfect set up for masters of propaganda like Zé Dirceu and Gushiken. Then along came Roberto Jefferson ...

Isn't just PT, all other are durty up to the neck. what going to be of our BRASIL, every brasilian have to do something about.The voter's don't did so good last election we got to try something new; I sugest we give the same penalty Saddam Hussein got in Iraq!