Brazzil

The following "propaganda" is both highly amusing and disagreeable:

This "Great Global Middle Class" has been illuminated perhaps more brightly in Latin America than anywhere else, due to its longstanding and hard-fought struggle with income inequality and socially repressive regimes. Brazil, pointed to as a showcase for both its economic boom and the vast inequality that still persists in parts of the country, has become the new face of this emerging middle class

It is seems nearly shameful the persistence of the Labor Administration in underestimating the intelligence of critics/observers within and outside Brazil by its continued self-delusional and self-promotional claims of a glorious advance of the idyllic middle class. As already mentioned during a previous editorial which originally made this unbelievable claim, the sheer adjustment of figures (now lower) designed to indicate the “magic number” when groups reach the Middle Class will never represent the actual success one should realistically strive to attain… Clearly such unsophisticated methodology seems to be designed for a multi-purpose bragging by populist, uneducated president in order to achieve two important goals: one domestic and the other international.

Domestically, the (puppy-like named) President is likely to follow the example of his horrific, insufferable Venezuelan associate by toying with a possible constitutional amendment designed to allow Brazilian Presidents a third run for the presidency (a rather fashionable current trend in the region). Internationally the egocentric low-class “ruler” may intend to be portrayed as a champion of the valiant battle against poverty; thus utilizing this fallacy as yet another argument for increased recognition within the United Nations (always striving for that permanent seat) as well as among the G7 members (possibly to attain a dream of appearing more “patrician” – as if “Pernambuco” could be ever be seen as the Loire or Rhine Valleys)

What I see for the future is a descent into anarchy, as the financial crisis deepens.

We have seen France, Greece, and the other places we hear about. Then there are places like Paragominas with thousands on a rampage that most never hear about. All those poor people watching the idle rich with their novella lifestyles on TV are going to be really upset. In most of the world there is neither the morality of the people nor the will and strength of the authorities to prevent riots, looting, revenge and chaos.

But that's just my opinion, and I'm often wrong. Maybe "Democratic Socialism" will save the day. Maybe it won't, maybe it's just a euphanism for failed policies of the past previously known by other terms, like the Artist Formerly Known as Prince.

"The rise of "new leftist" leaders, such as the strong-willed, if not somewhat eccentric, Hugo Chávez of Venezuela and the embattled indigenous spokesman Evo Morales of Bolivia, not only can be found preaching their ideas of social democracy, but also putting it into action in the form of constitutional amendments incorporating key social programs.

Since the 1998 election of Hugo Chávez as president, there has been a dramatic rise in the discussion of the suitability of democratic socialism as one of the region's political systems of choice. In launching the Bolivarian Revolution, with its goal of redistributing wealth and improving living standards for his nation as well as the region, Hugo Chávez has become an irrepressible presence in the region and the world, for better or worse.

In 2005, Bolivians, in electing Evo Morales as their nation's first indigenous president, chose a leader who also professed that he too was a "democratic socialist" and a close ally of Venezuela. Morales ran for office on an agenda focused on the nationalization of oil and natural gas industries.

Shortly after taking office, he issued a decree nationalizing Bolivia's hydrocarbon resources. In Nicaragua, the Sandinistas made an electoral comeback in 2006, when for a second time their leader, Daniel Ortega, was elected president of Nicaragua. "

excuse me, but, where is the information that chavez supports farc, brutily cracks down on the oposition, closes tv and radio stations ?

where is the information that crime is up in caracas, and, there are empty food shelfs in supermarkets ala cuba

where is the information that chaves , morales and correa blame the cia at every turn, kick out usa ambassodors, and, correa let a luxury camp for farc officials exist in equadors borders with visits from international students romanticising scum and drug dealers ?

are they really helping the people ? has anyone here seen that documentary about old beautiful bolivian indian women getting in a long line to get socialist cards , and , were then sent out into the street to be ordered to remove gigantic boulders with out gloves that even my back would give out rapidly ?is this good for the people ? i woudnt wish that on any ones mother...

i have nothing against social democracy.i really want capitilism with a concience. does anyone , after what has happened to the world economy, endorce the greed is good policies that lead us to the econimic mess we are in now ?

but, there is a differance from social democratic leaders and leaders who are getting playbook signals from fidel, who spout the stale soviet union anti american propaganda pages with fidels snot all over it. who use anti imperialism rhetoric to get elected.blame the cia at every turn...

the american government didnt just stop leftist leaders. they were trying to meet the soviet union at every turn in the globe at that time of the cold war. when the soviet union colapsed , they just didnt care what happened. of course they tried to influence business, hell, even china is trying to influence business in south america, even iran , for gosh sakes, but, many times we saw south america say a strong no to alcra , and, exert its own will to its destiny.

there are things in this report that are flawed

Ohhh yesssss....and paying over 50 % interests rates, the World Highest !
Be proud !

And for income of these "apparent middle class" since most stats are made in US$, guess what the average will be by year end for the 2008 stats. DOWN AROUND 30 % OR SO FROM 2007 !

Better yet :
The official average income as per IBGE is 1200 Brl...per month. Or US$ 500.- these days.
But this average is taken ONLY in the 6 metropolitans most wealthy regions, excluding all the others regions.
Still better :
These Brl 1200.- monthly average is only for registered workers. It also happens that ONLY 40 % of the workers are registered, the other 60 % are NOT registered and earning on average a lot less than the registered workers. And that these 60 % NON registered workers generate around 40 % of the national GDP as per official estimates !

Conclusion : yesss there is wealth in Brazil, owned by a small minority. But even the teachers and policemen are POORLY paid pitting them barely at the middle income level. And they are also the ones WHO CANT AFFORD PAYING CASH for a cheap DVD, TV set, home appliances, home furniture etc etc. Meaning their only recourse is paying these 50 % interests rate on whatever they purchase.
Even the police corruption INCOME is not enough for a decent and acceptable life with dignity !
Therefore what do they do ? More corruption and red tape income !

And if in Brazil you no longer have corrupted elections, you still have VOTE BUYING PRACTICES ! Short memory ? It is of course all done
with CASH coming from Caïxas 3,4 or 4 !! And from where these Caîxas purses are filled with cash remains a COUNTRY SECRET...OF COURSE !
Hmmmmmm.

And knowing that Brazil is nearly the World Worst on income inequality, one can only come out and say that the majority are earning MUCH less than the average Brl 1200.- income, good only for 6 metropolitan regions and only for the 40 % registered workers.

FACTS :
the majority of Brazilians WORKERS, registered ot not, earns less than 900.- Brl NATIONWIDE per month...usually for a family of 3, 4 or 5 !
Or US$ 360.- for 3,4 or 5 family members...using actual exchange rate !
And if the wife also works, then one may add US$ 100.- to 200.- for the whole family !
And the living costs in Brazil are NOT CHEAP AT ALL...EVEN BEFORE BUYING GOODS ON MONTHLY INSTALLEMENTS MAKING THEM VERY EXPENSIVE DUE TO INTERESTS RATES CHARGED !

The I-Pods and I-Phone prices in Brazil are the World Most Expensive...if paid CASH ! Just think about the real price if paid in installements !!!!!!
Whoooaaaaa ! Whoooffffff ! A whole month of GROSS salary for the majority low income workers if paid cash and far more if paid in installments !

Hip...hip Lula, hip...hip Lulaa, hip...hip Lulaaa !

Dear Augustus,Ric, ASP & Ch.C,

The entire thing is in a f**king mess as my neighbor "ASP" would say in his impeccably colorful English.

But that's just my opinion, and I'm often wrong. Maybe "Democratic Socialism" will save the day.

Ric, you are not wrong all that often and please stop being too modest. And do you really think that f**king "Democratic Socialism" will save the day ? BTW, what the f**k is this "Democratic Socialism"? A kind of new disease?

are now able to buy high-ticket consumer goods such as televisions, DVD players, motor vehicles, and personal computers.

That was about 3 months ago. It is no longer valid, Mon Ami.

Domestically, the (puppy-like named) President is likely to follow the example of his horrific, insufferable Venezuelan associate by toying with a possible constitutional amendment designed to allow Brazilian Presidents a third run for the presidency (a rather fashionable current trend in the region). Internationally the egocentric low-class “ruler” may intend to be portrayed as a champion of the valiant battle against poverty; thus utilizing this fallacy as yet another argument for increased recognition within the United Nations (always striving for that permanent seat) as well as among the G7 members (possibly to attain a dream of appearing more “patrician” – as if “Pernambuco” could be ever be seen as the Loire or Rhine Valleys)

Spoken like a true Opposition Leader, Milord. I think it may ultimately fall on your large shoulders to negotiate for a permanent seat for us in U.N. as you are located closer to its HQ.

Ya all will forgive me for using too many f**king colorful words to describe my f**king inner feelings. Too much influence by our dear f**king neighbor.

You are dead right and I applaude your comments !

If you pay closer attention, even to what you wrote, one "detail" comes out : the new leftists leaders ALL COME FROM SOUTH AND CENTER AMERICA ONLY !!!!
None from Africa, Asia or the Middle East !

The only main difference I have with you is with the "new" leftists...because looking at South and Center America history, these "new" are in fact Noooo different in their thinkings, theories, policies, visions, cheatings, lying and hidings than the "older" leftists, except that these days they have been elected by their population !

POPULISM has a great success time and again but only in South And Center America....ONLY !
And when do they succeed the most ? during times of high basic commodities prices...since money is there to finance their POPULISM theories.
And when do they succeed the least ? At the wake up call...when basic commodities prices are low. Numbers become numbers...they can no longer lie about...TOO MUCH !

The sad reality is also that Nooooo South & Center America bull markets periods were due to the country government leaders, BUT ALWAYS...due to EXTERNAL DEMANDS ONLY !

Have things changed ? All latinos pretend yessss...this time is different... it is sustainable. Their problems is that they said the same, time and again, during all their previous bull markets !
Just to be proven wrong by the reality that followed !

Just think about it !

Stupid question to all : HAVE THINGS CHANGED THIS TIME FUNDAMENTALLY ?
I bet that all the latinos will say YESSS !!!!

Let me tell you a stupid thing : wars are always different from another war, but they remain wars ! Right ?
So do I think for South and Center America, things are different for every economic cycles but the results will always be ENDING IN FAILURES FOR YOUR REGIONS....IN VIEW OF YOUR MENTALITY OF NOT RECOGNIZING THE FUNDAMENTAL WEAKNESS OF YOUR ECONOMIC POLICIES...AND CORRECTING THEM WITH DEEP CHANGES !

Until then nothing has fundamentally changed and NOTHING CAN BE THEN SUSTAINABLE....FOR THE BETTER !!!

Again, just think about it.
If you count on the China-India scam demand theory...for your own success, you get it all wrong !
After all China has grown at about 10 % for the last 20 years !
After all India has grown at about 7-8 % for nearly 20 years !

Had these high growths rates avoided South America failures.....in the past ? Noooo !
Why should it...suddenly...this time ??????

Just think about it.....once more !

Hey...hey !

i note what you are saying

i just see those leaders like chavez, morales, correa , ortega etc making these scary sweeping mandates that i dont see in brazil, thankfully. but, your facts cut through a lot of things

joao!!! yeah,i understand you , visinho...and,i feel a little shame influencing such an educated gentleman like yourself...blame it on 8 years in new york ( even though the estimed augustus isnt aflicted with using foul language, but, he can floweringly dispatch someone with his educated words very quickly and viciosly if he wants to)

but, you have to admint, sometime those words just make you feel better, they can capture the essence of what you feel, and, want to express in the gut ( i sure saw a lot of bad words bandied on this forum before i came in ahhhhhhhh)

ASP After reading your comments about Chavez and his sordid bunch of low-life gansters, I could not decide whether you support or oppose him...

The rise of "new leftist" leaders, such as the strong-willed, if not somewhat eccentric, Hugo Chávez of Venezuela and the embattled indigenous spokesman Evo Morales of Bolivia, not only can be found preaching their ideas of social democracy, but also putting it into action in the form of constitutional amendments incorporating key social programs.

I consider all of them tyrannical, hypocrite thieves and liers...
(if you were to ask me, of course- LOL)

If one would like to see REAL "Democratic Socilism" (which represents a MOSTLY egalitarian society within the context of a partiamentary democracy, I would point you towards the Scandinavian Countries: Sweden, Norway, Danmark, and Finland

As for your use of BAD Languange vis-a-vis living in New York City - I've been living in Manhattance for WELL OVER 8 years (LOL) and I do not know anyone who REGULARLY/constantly use bad language in public... WHERE DID YOU LIVE AND HAND OUT??? MY GOODNESS! The South Bronx? The Lower East Side? East Harlem? LOL
I NEVER GO THERE!!!
Anyway, at least I full endorse your preferred location in Brazil - which is a highly civilized region of the country (even though JOAO lives there - LOL)

(even though JOAO lives there - LOL)

Thanks. I am one of the few that is organizing our last defense against the invading Cariocas/New Yorkers. Looking forward to asp joining us to thwart your efforts. May be, ASP could help me to cause a massive landslide while you are here and passing by SC-401.

...i lived in new york from 1978 until 86..its was wild and wholly then. not like now...i lived in hells kitchen most of the time...and, 42nd street was a serious hub of crime and action i traversed 4 to 6 times a day

learning how to tell people to get off your toes was just regular day to day interaction back then...its really toned down now, you can take your family there and everything

You arrived in NYC slightly before me, but I can tell we co-existed here at the end of your stay. I know EXACTLY what you are talking about!
Upon my arrival - the very first day! - I was coerced by a fellow visitor to go to a spot which he considered "the center of the world": the corner of 42ns Street & 5th Avenue!!!! Imagine what a spoiled privileged boy - such as I was back then - may have thought at that moment, particularly when my companion insisted to walk on 42nd Street from 5th all the way to 8th Avenue! To mention that I was PETRIFIED is a major understatement, as we had to bypass the crowded strip of drug dealers (which then OPENLY offered their various merchandize with impunity), pimps, prostitutes and the occasional gangs passing by loudly threatening anyone they saw fit… The impressions from this first evening walk through what appeared to be a modern version of “hell”, will stay will me forever…

Indeed Hells Kitchen (and interestingly the name continues being used) was NOT a misnomer… If there were such thing as “Hell” (which you must know I never believed – even back then), 42nd Street could have been, until the mid 1990’s, the first branch of such diabolic establishment on Earth. As you know, the entire place could not possibly be more different today, in view of the significant gentrification it has undergone, for even DISNEY is now located in that very same strip, where groups of families and tourists walk about unperturbed…

Would you be planning any trip up here in the near future?

Are you implying that I would NOT be welcome to your lovely state? LOL
I'm deeply offended...

Interestingly, I'm contemplating the REMOTE possibility of a visit to the mother land at some point during the Southern Hemisphere winter (the only time I can go there). Naturally, if I were to have the energy for such a major ordeal, I would be visiting Rio & perhaps my beloved Pauliceia... As such, you do not have to worry for it would be exceedingly unlikely that I would venture below the Sao Paulo-Parana state border

Are you implying that I would NOT be welcome to your lovely state? LOL
I'm deeply offended...

You get offended too easily, Milord. I meant it as a joke.! As for your visit to your Motherland during the winter time, I concur fully with your reasons. In general, in the fall it does not rain that heavily in our state and you don't have to worry about mudslides caused by nature. I would never ever imagine causing a man made one during the visit of an aristocrat such as your good Imperial Self.

i was in new york a year ago on business, not sure when ill get back...i love passing through...new york marks you for life..

yeah, the deuce (42nd street ) is differant today. i often think they ought to have a disney display , up there now on one block , of the "old " 42 nd street, with actors playing dope peddlers, prostitutes (lets hear it for the old minnisota strip up eigth ave), gang members, all the lost derilects that got kicked out of the neighborhoods they came from because they were the pits of the pits and too violent ( i did read that).just to give people an idea of how it used to be in the "old days",the atmosphere, the smell ( i actualy saw a guy take down his pants and take a crap at 42nd and eigth ave) it could be a fantastic attraction

The syncretism of Communism and Democracy
Planned long ago.

HEIL NEW WORLD ORDER!!!

You often use the word “DESCENT.” We all know that you often engage in such activity… Let me explain:

My hunch is that every time you get together with your boyfriend (s), you always descent upon them with your mouth opened. As such, I’m inclined to classify you as a DECENT DICKIE DESCENTER….

Costinha

You tell him, Costinha! lol
Perhaps now, that you are back, Ricky will finally behave himself!
Ricky has been out of control, particularly before the election (attacking Obama). Somehow you seem better "poised" to put him in "check"

Igarapé-Mirim, a few days ago.

Woodburn, Oregon. Woodburn has one of the few remaining west coast drag strips. Across the street is a golf course. A few years ago I had to participate in a golf event while the races were going on. It was really hard not to chuck the clubs and go across the street.

So some jerk puts a bomb in a bank and kills two people. That's anarchy.

Coming soon to an area near you!

Mr. Adventurer (LOL)
Regarding my earlier question about your possible visit to the area in the border of Mato Grosso & Para...
You must have noted at the top of the BRAZZ.MAGG section there is a map of visitors which displays the world containing RED DOTS representing the visitors... the Provider is FEEDJIT (Live traffic map). While I'm sure that that map does not provide exact locations, it must refer to some KIND OF RELAY STATION which happens to be the closest to users accessing the site.
Well, with THAT said, there is a SPOT right at a place called "Matupa" and one of the locations is between MATUPA and Guaranta do Norte
on BR-163 (EXACTLY where that federal road meats MT-419).
Since MY BLOG happens to have the SAME visitor
and
Since I cannot expect many residents of the Amazon jungle to be accessing BOTH BRAZZ & My glog... IT HAS TO BE YOU
Please check it out and let me know