Brazzil

Capitalism itself necessitates near FREE labor. This nothing new to society.
The best way an individual marked by the system to be on the bottom rung can do is lead a "pricipled life". That way you and generations after you have a chance at being less adversely affected. It is really that simple.
Staying a slave mentally and otherwise is pretty much a choice.

And Cristovam Buarque can't stop s**tting through the mouth. This guy should just shut up. Self-flagelating moron, instead of bitching so much why don't you propose actual solutions for your perceived "problems"?

Be more proactive. Jesus Christ, this guy is writing these articles for years and years and years and never change.

I must say this for Cristovam Buarque; he is consistent, irrefutable, and tirelessly a champion for 'all' Brazilians. He understands that the rights accorded the 'least' Brazilians is to the benefit of 'all' Brazilians.
Oh yeah!
a) Why don't these people raise themselves up from their 'slave mentality? / Why doesn't the government afford them an education with which to do so?
b) Why don't these people overcome their poverty? / And why doesn't the government institute real 'land reform' instead of the phony statistics that only show the theft of land 'decreasing'.
c) Where is there justice against slavery? Why is a program, instituted by the sitting president, with the mission to provide basic nutrition, Fomme Zero, also tied into the web of corruption called "Brazilian society".

We all fall short of ideal in advancing equality for the 'victims' of the naked aggression by the colonialists and their imperialist agenda. Yes, 'still victims' because what was taken can never be repaid and the descendants of the victims only 'inherit the wind' for the sacrifice of their ancestors. It's still too easy to ask why these people do not 'help themselves' while you enjoy the fruits of their sacrifice. An amazing mental condition not much higher than animal and insect behavior.

Dr.Cata:

I had stopped commenting under the articles written by our esteemed and respectable Senator a long time ago. However, I am heartened to note that you consider him "consistent,irrefutable, and tirelessly a champion for 'all' Brazilians. I would really appreciate if you could enlighten us further why you think so.

This is a challenging assignment for you, Dr.Cata and hope you dont disappoint your fans.

And Cristovam Buarque can't stop s**tting through the mouth. This guy should just shut up. Self-flagelating moron, instead of bitching so much why don't you propose actual solutions for your perceived "problems"?

Be more proactive. Jesus Christ, this guy is writing these articles for years and years and years and never change.

Nothing but ad hominem attacks from a typical Brazilian ostrich. Must be a bitch constantly spitting out sand.

Capitalism itself necessitates near FREE labor. This nothing new to society.

BUT..BUT...BUT..., it has a new name: OUTSOURCING.

Excellent article. @dnb, it is obvious you have never been poor. To rise from poverty without education by living a principled life is never that simple. Poverty is all enveloping and all encompassing. The writer of this article attacks the problem where it lies and he should be commended for doing so.

@dnb, it is obvious you have never been poor.

Do you think that the writer of this article who "attacks the problem" has been poor?

There is not a family in Brazil which can afford private schooling for their children, that allows their children to be educated in the public school system.

The public school system in Brazil is not preparing the students for higher education. Personally I do not know anyone who studied in the public school system of Brazil, and advanced to the university system. I can't say it doesn't happen, but it certainly isn't common.

And that only speaks to those who can afford to allow their children to finish the primary and secondary education system. Many of the poorest families must have their children working at the earliest possible age.

There are families in Brazli living in garbage dumps and other places, who do not qualify for the government aid programs because they don't have a permanent address, and because their children do not attend enough days of school.

The author is correct. This is a system which has been maintained solely for the purpose of industry to keep these people enslaved and to provide cheap labor. There's no other excuse for it.

The author is correct. This is a system which has been maintained solely for the purpose of industry to keep these people enslaved and to provide cheap labor.

You still miss my point and that of "A Brazilian". The author had and still has plenty of opportunities to correct the "defective" system. I don't think that you know the background of this gentleman and if you did , you and Lloyd would not be applauding him.

Personally I do not know anyone who studied in the public school system of Brazil, and advanced to the university system. I can't say it doesn't happen, but it certainly isn't common.

It might be rare in the state the author comes from, but not uncommon in the Southern part of the country. As a matter of fact, I know several people who came from public schools, got admitted into the Federal universities and went to do their doctoral degrees overseas, because of their merit. Some of them personally know the author and their opinion is that he is too much of a theoretician who is incapable of putting any project into practice. I have heard a few others saying that he is Micro-manager and lacks broader vision and that was the reason why he didn't last for more than 6 months as Education minister!

Regardless of their criticisms, their consensus is that he is an extremely likable and honest person. He wasn't a bad governor of DF either. I hope he gets re elected in the coming elections as a senator or stands for the post of governor of DF and wins.

João da Silva,
-- This is a challenging assignment for you, Dr.Cata and hope you dont disappoint your fans. --

I am not an expert on Senator Buarque, although his web site is listed in my Favs. I myself am quite astonished that he is a politician at all. Must be very disappointing that most of his colleagues feel the way you do and have simply chosen to ignore his advice and warnings. Yet, I have always seen him as a 'progressive' person who believes we can overcome 'some' of the damage and disparities created during the last 6 centuries of Western Imperialism, both militarily and economically.
The real reason for my surprise at him being a politician is because he appears such a 'principled' person who finds himself surrounded by men who would change direction with the wind. Although I do not agree with all his remedies, it appears he is now correct that "Brazil" cannot take that next step in 'its' evolutionary progress without being inclusive with 'all' Brazilians. Your society cannot stand with half the people wanting to throw the other half off the boat when, in fact, they could not survive without the labors of the others. Let the maids of Sao Paulo go on strike for three days would severely interrupt the lives of everyone on the fashionable streets, even though we know that cannot happen because of the 'culture of servitude'(a term I know displeases you) that is perpetuated by the lack of education.
Senator Buarque is trying to tell you that the higher the illiteracy rate the greater opportunity for people with 'other agendas' to fill the void of ignorance with doctrines and beliefs foreign to Brazil. See, you have no idea as to how easy radicalism could be acceptable to people who have been abandoned to the streets. Every beggar child on the streets of Rio is an eligible target for radical recruitment. Every child denied education is an empty vessel awaiting someone to fill it with any knowledge.
I tell you sir, there is money coming from every corner of the planet. How long would it take to recruit a dedicated, committed force from the 'throw-away' people on the streets of Brazil. Don't let ignorance and illiteracy be the reason they succeed and Brazil fails.

BTW, I am not finished with our friend ASP, lest he report I am coming with half-truths.

What is so troubling about this article to so many who have attacked this man?

My only complaint would be that it does not give more specific examples of the lives of impoverished Brazilians. Also, if a politician wrote this, it would be helpful to hear a political vision of specific actions to be taken.

As a visiting gringo to this site, I am pleased to finally read an article here that is not a jingoistic diatribe about Brazil as a paradise on Earth. The vast inequality of wealth found in Brazil is clearly one of its greatest problems, whose repair would have repercussions and pay dividends back to society at large by reducing crime and other divisions in the society. There is no way Brazil could ever advance unless it heals this wound in its heart. In fact, it is human nature for people to resent one brother being placed above another. Likewise, people will always resent when others are born with more wealth and power than themselves, unrelated to merit or effort. Our innate natural sense of justice yearns for fairness and equal treatment. The vast inequality of wealth works against this principle, leaving societies divided against each other. While I often hear a lot of boasting on this site about Brazilians being a peaceful people who don't care for war. I lived there for years, and never saw them as any different from other people in the world; in fact, I would say they are at war with each other: the tension of rich and poor in Brazil is at fever pitch. The crime rate is one expression of the poor lashing out. The rich live in guarded compounds and most live behind bars, with guards and porteros everywhere. This reality has come to feel natural for Brazilians. They have grown so accustomed to the divisions of rich and poor, they don't even question it or notice it, or imagine another possible world.

I hear many rants here about Brazil, like China as the next super-power. Well, as China is showing, a country can attain super-power status with great inequality of wealth and extensive political repression of freedom of speech and assembly. If this is the super power status so many boast about ( achieved alongside vast inequality of wealth and oppression) than I say this is nothing special. No, more of a horror. It is interesting to see that the expansion in economic capacity and wealth in China has not brought about a more democratic or just society as such growth has in the Western world, which only makes me fear for the poor of "super powers" of tomorrow.
I see no great scandal or controversy in the message of this article. I am only glad to final read a simple truthful assessment of poverty in Brazil as I was beginning to give up on the integrity of this blog, which typically resembles nothing less than a 24-hour non stop infomercial claim that all aspects of Brazilian life are extraordinary. My thanks and acknowledgments to the author.

Surprised you did not see the fight coming with PT and the generals. What is that about "old soldiers never die..."

What has been going on underneath is very nasty business. Hopefully Jobim can hold it together, but if I was Lula its time to back off or step up with 'show trials' which the generals are adamantly against. For Lula this amounts to a preemptive strike to warn there will be no return to 1964.
From the generals point of view, even if they are allowed to introduce evidence of 'leftist' crimes and conspiracies, there is no good outcome to airing dirty laundry. There are, in fact, international considerations that must be considered if the truth were revealed in many cases.

I think Lula will deal, but he wants to make sure there is a stick so they do not interfere with Dilma and PT, but if I were him I would keep a very sharp eye on these scoundrels because they still have allegiances, both foreign and domestic, that 'will' try to moderate PT's leftist agenda.

You still miss my point and that of "A Brazilian". The author had and still has plenty of opportunities to correct the "defective" system. I don't think that you know the background of this gentleman and if you did , you and Lloyd would not be applauding him.

I must defer to you in having historical knowledge of this man's job performance. My comments refer only to the content of the article, and it's obvious truths. I don't know why this politician would verbally attack such a problem, yet lack the motivation to do something about it if he has the means. That's just the way of some politician's I suppose.

It might be rare in the state the author comes from, but not uncommon in the Southern part of the country. As a matter of fact, I know several people who came from public schools, got admitted into the Federal universities and went to do their doctoral degrees overseas, because of their merit. Some of them personally know the author and their opinion is that he is too much of a theoretician who is incapable of putting any project into practice.

I do not live in the southern part of the country, but I would hope the policies of the federal school system would extend to other areas as well. Obviously such is not the case, as the NE, where I am, does represent the poorest area of Brazil, meaning there is obviously less opportunity for the poor to advance into mainstream society. Honestly, I have asked many people here, and have not found any reference to someone who has been able to advance from the public school system into the federal university. The public school system here does not prepare the students for the vestibular, and I know several such students who have tried.

My understanding of the way politics works is when one wants his/her legislative agenda to pass to the higher authority, they form alliances with other politicians, and trade votes, or make promises to support the future passage of other legislation important to the alliances. This seems to be the way it also works in Brazil, and I do not understand how, if Mr. Buarque seriously believes in the necessity of education reform, he is not able to make some advances in this manner. Unless of course, he is the ONLY member of the senate who is concerned with this situation.

But, regardless of any action taken by Senator Buarque or not, the content of the article still holds true. These people are held in slavery status out of design, for the purpose of cheap labor. They are actually taught in the public school system that their fate of poverty is sealed, and their is no rhyme or reason for them to dream of a greater existence. This is the fault of the state, and of those who have the power to bring about change. I hope and pray in my lifetime, that happens. I wouldn't bet the farm on it though.

but that is irrelevant to this article...

i dont know buarque well enough to comment on his general out put or theories

but i agree about brazil has to confront its past, that freed slaves in the late 1880's , but , didnt really integrate them into society.part of the importance of that is, there were so many slaves brought to brazil

to lula's credit, in many areas of poverty, there have been small steps taken on many levals. the only thing that seems to be going backwards is , violence seems to be escalating each year, and the drug trade is the perfect sub economy to absorb many people left out of the regular economy. but, the majority of poor people are not in the drug trade.

by the way cata, if we are going back 6 centuries to scrutinise western society, why not go back a few more and scrutinise arab slave trade in sub sahara africa. now there is a topic no one really has studied and spoken on...or how about going into north west china and mongolia to find out 1/3 rd of all the people have a dna gene related to genghis khan...boy , that is some active rape , destruction as i have ever heard of...why no scrutinising of that

good points about china, hunch

Surprised you did not see the fight coming with PT and the generals.

You might be surprised, but I wasn't. Because, the fight of the Generals was not with their C-in-C, but with some dissidents like Paulo Vanucchi who is of no consequence in PT.

Hopefully Jobim can hold it together, but if I was Lula its time to back off or step up with 'show trials' which the generals are adamantly against.

I am not sure if you know that Jobim does not belong to PT, BUT...BUT...BUT.. to the "Party of Privatization". He might threaten the Generals by telling them that he would privatize our defense also unless they behave themselves. Everybody knows that he seeks constant guidance from Rudy,Sarko, Tony and your buddies in Tel Aviv as how to accomplish this noble strategy. However, he is bound to fail.

From the generals point of view, even if they are allowed to introduce evidence of 'leftist' crimes and conspiracies, there is no good outcome to airing dirty laundry.

IMHO, the position of the Generals was very clear. They wanted the amnesty to be lifted for some of the noble members of the current government also, so that they could be tried for the crimes they committed (and are still doing) against law abiding citizens. I think it fair.

I think Lula will deal, but he wants to make sure there is a stick so they do not interfere with Dilma and PT, but if I were him I would keep a very sharp eye on these scoundrels because they still have allegiances, both foreign and domestic, that 'will' try to moderate PT's leftist agenda.

You are not Lula and he knows how to deal with the generals better than you do. So stop worrying.

BTW, I take umbrage to you calling our Generals "Scoundrels". You certainly can not judge them by the same standards as that of the unscrupulous Generals you had the misfortune of serving under during your warrior days. I understand your resentment towards your ex C.O.s, but ours Generals have nothing to do with your trauma.

This seems to be the way it also works in Brazil, and I do not understand how, if Mr. Buarque seriously believes in the necessity of education reform, he is not able to make some advances in this manner.

This is my question too. In spite of his being a "leftist" and supposedly an ardent "opponent" of the hated military regime, he didn't come out with any concrete proposal for the reform, while he was the minister of education. He didn't do anything to stop the "Privatization" of education. On the contrary, I know a number of dedicated people who are doing something to strengthen the basic education. You might be surprised to know that a couple of such people are supposedly "leftists" who are using the program "Bolsa Familia" effectively.

People may have many complaints about Lula, but he has given free hand to such professionals in the Educational field. Such technocrats need full support from the Governors and the Mayors. (Just like our SUS health care). Some of these politicians are quick to take advantage of the "know-how" of these techies. Others are not. Unfortunately, in the NE where you live, the politicians like to keep their subjects ignorant. Even the Military Government could not manage to change the "Caudilho" mentality there and it is unlikely that Lula and Buarque would be able to accomplish it either. You may know that both of them were born in the same state and moved away when they were young!

You see why we are bedeviled by the 'leaders' we have?

João da Silva,
It might be rare in the state the author comes from, but not uncommon in the Southern part of the country.

We have discussed in this forum several times the disparities of race, economy, education, etc between the 'north' and 'south' Brazil. You make this statement(above) in the manner of 'all things being equal', which you are well aware that they are not equal between north and south. I simply attribute your attitude to try to further discussion, but your intellectual animosity to the author is disturbing because it is not based on his character but on his constant exposure of a subject you are not prepared to confront.

ASP,
Brazilians are not responsible for the atrocities throughout world history. They are responsible for the inequities and inequalities which they have inherited through Brazilian history. Denial is not a defense for continuing the practices of injustice, slavery, and economic servitude. This same technology which exposes the murderous culture of the imperialists also exposes the underbelly of Brazilian society.

Gentlemen, keep doing what your doing, because I begin to see that this subject is not to your liking. Perhaps when the 'madrassa' begin feeding and teaching these people your eminences in the Church will press upon you for a solution. Of course, by that time the solution will involve additional suffering by Brazilians on every side of the issue.

Let me make clear, this is a situation "Brazil" inherited as a result of its colonial past, which still has lingering effects throughout the society. Brazil was fortunate that they were not forced to pay for the freed slaves as was the case with Haiti. People who wonder why Haiti remained so poor needed to look no further than their 'independence' deal with the French.

i just dont have any comment on buarque one way or the other, i dont know him well enough.

i dont have to agree with every theory you throw down the pike about history to be concerned about discrimination with afro brazilians in brazil society.

i also have a huge sence to listen and learn from brazilians about how they feel about it , at the same time knowing i feel for the afro brazilians situation of being on the bottom of the society basicly because of direct reasons related to slavery and how american hemisphere countries dealt or didnt deal with it.

but i always want to listen to brazilian opinions and dont want to go leading in with my total opinion about the matter and put my foot in my mouth or superimpose usa standards on brazioian way of thinking. there is so much about race relations i like much more in brazil than the states

but your intellectual animosity to the author is disturbing because it is not based on his character but on his constant exposure of a subject you are not prepared to confront.

My "intellectual animosity" towards the author? LMAO. I have made it clear since our long and happy association that I am no intellectual, but a mere blue collar worker. Even if you insist, I refuse to be elevated to the level of intellectual standing as that of the author. My humble response to you is "No, thanks".

I simply attribute your attitude to try to further discussion,

You may have a point there.

from what I see in the area where I currently reside, it isn't only the Brazilians of African descent who are being kept out of the mainstream of Brazilian society. In fact, I don't see that many afro-brazilians in this area. Most of these people are of native Brazilian ancestry.

But my point is this. Regardless of whether or not Senator Buarque only gives lip service to the problem, the practice of keeping the less fortunate members of a society on the bottom rungs is one of the biggest problems Brazil has as a society.

It stifles the creativity of a large part of the citizenry, or directs this creativity against the society in general. Many of these kids would dream of becoming an inventor, a composer, an engineer, or who knows what, if they had an opportunity to direct their ambitions in a positive direction. The opportunities they do see are those of prostitution, drug dealing, robbery, petty theft, etc. Counter productive for the super-power type of society Brazil is trying to build. Of course, not all poor kids will gravitate towards these professions, but in the absence of any real opportunity, the ones with the most ambition will find something lucrative such as these fields to pursue.

I don't buy the excuse of "It's cultural." Of course it's cultural. It's a culture of slavery which has no place in today's world. These poor people pay taxes just like the rest of the society pay. They support the federal university system, yet, for the most part, they are denied access to it. It's a culture of slavery which is unacceptable. If Brazil truly desires to move up to the status of a first world country, they need to leave the old culture behind, and allow some of the best minds in Brazil to contribute. I know many of them are eager to do this.

These poor people pay taxes just like the rest of the society pay.

Do these poor people know that they pay heavy taxes and don't get anything in return? I bet they don't and neither do you.

Have your ever read the books recommended by our erudite friend Dr.Cata? I bet you haven't.

I refuse to be elevated to the level of intellectual standing as that of the author.

You are certainly a 'artful dodger', my friend. It is the 'subject' which apparently gives you discomfort, since you are not opposed to the author. From what I see, most Brazilians are not 'consciously' aware of the 'problem' and are very defensive in defining it in the "Brazilian" context.
Therefore, even though the Sanator is a respectable and principled man, you know what his subject is, and choose to avoid it. It is definitely not the same situation anywhere else nor will the solutions be the same as the US or South Africa for that matter, but to ignore the issue is handing the enemies of Brazil a tool in which to destabilize the society. Of course, since you 'choose' to ignore it, you will certainly be surprised when it bites you in the arse.

Everybody knows that he seeks constant guidance from Rudy,Sarko, Tony and your buddies in Tel Aviv as how to accomplish this noble strategy. However, he is bound to fail.

You mean to tell me Jobim is part of the Empires continuing fornication with the Brazilian military? Not like you to make such a clear statement, but it certainly helps to connect the dots. I can say that for the US military; they don't kill their own people at the instructions of foreign powers. Scoundrels was being polite...a real 'truth commission' may find some murderers and traitors. Is that a quote from somewhere, "patriotism being the last refuge of a scoundrel"?
There were more than Brazilians killed, missing, and tortured during their little US-sponsored dictatorship, as evidenced by warrants on different continents, but I'm sure Brazil knows best what to do with them since you have such a shiny clean justice system.
As an American, I can clearly say I want no parts of the US programs to destabilize Brazil and create the pretext for another military dictatorship. Unlikely, but not unthinkable considering stakes involved. After all, Obama has called for US to double exports in 10 years, Brazil should be prepare to receive its share...one way or the other.

Do these poor people know that they pay heavy taxes and don't get anything in return? I bet they don't and neither do you

Just look at the price of a cheap electric fan to try to stay cool. Or a liter of gasoline. You truly believe they don't know they're paying high taxes?

No, I haven't read Mr. Cata's books. I have read many of his posts here on the site, and that gives me a good enough idea of where he comes from, and what his viewpoint is. Thank you.

I do see things from the angle these poor people do, because I live with them. I know how they view their government, and their education system. They tell me these things every day. That's where my comments come from. Yes, I live in the same house with people who are not able to afford a car, a motorcycle, or a computer.

You are certainly a 'artful dodger', my friend. It is the 'subject' which apparently gives you discomfort, since you are not opposed to the author.

It doesn't give me any discomfort at all. It is just that when somebody in power recognizes the existence of a problem and alternatives solutions are available and still he doesn't do anything to solve it, it becomes boring to hear his rants. I hope the good senator reads your comments and will be happy to have found a new fan. Maybe, he will hire you as his speech writer.

Is that a quote from somewhere, "patriotism being the last refuge of a scoundrel"?

I thought the quote was "Politics is is the last refuge of a scoundrel", but anyway I always observed that you change the quotes freely to suit your own agenda.IMHO, the "truth commission" members may end up accusing each other as "murderers and traitors" and demand that all of them get fat compensation from the Tax Payers.

As an American, I can clearly say I want no parts of the US programs to destabilize Brazil and create the pretext for another military dictatorship.

A repentant old warrior, eh? Where was your conscience, when you were on Ho Chi Minh trail trampling on the rights of the innocent women, children and elderly folks? At least two of your ex-Presidents had the guts to lie, cheat and hoodwink your government and avoided going over there. Oh, I forgot. A ex Vice-President of yours even got a "Nobel Peace Award" for having gone there to learn how to "protect" the environment by using "agent orange".

After all, Obama has called for US to double exports in 10 years, Brazil should be prepare to receive its share...one way or the other.

Does Obama know you guys have nothing to export, but plenty to "re-export"? Why should we buy PRC made goods from the U.S. when we can directly import them from the Middle Kingdom?

Than I ever could.

Redistribution (or distribution), differently from allocation, is not
basic to the existence of organized society, since can be observed the existence of many societies without an adequate redistribution of income. Brazil, one important regional economy in South America and consistently ranked around the 10th economy in the world, is an interesting example of that, being among the worst income distributions in the world. Although, redistribution is a legitimate function of the government, because any organized society that survives without this function could not be considered optimal by the most of its citizens. A more even income distribution might increase total private saving because an increase in the consumption of the lower income classes could increase their productivity and incentives and, consequently, it would be seen as investment rather than consumption since it would lead to an acceleration in the rate of growth (Tanzi, 1991, p.10).

My contention all along. If the Brazil government would include the poor people into their society of consumption and production, they could achieve their goal of becoming a first world super power much easier, and without so much fear of a large part of their citizenry. A nation more united, in other words.

Public policies vary among countries, reflecting the importance of
political interests and values acting over the State. Those interests – mainly the short-term ones - have to be considered because they influence the acquisition of more power, what commonly is associated by each group as diminishing tax burden away from themselves. It means that, the distribution of taxes is, mainly, the corollary of achieving interests by specific groups or deriving from selfish ends 3. This kind of situation can be observed in Brazil mainly concerning income tax and consumption taxes, which are extremely regressive. It happens because legislative branch suffers lobby from the elite to maintain a more regressive system, although a more progressive system in this kind of income should bring more benefits to the country.(Steinmo, 1993, p.6).

If you like João, I can give you the exact breakdown of all state and federal taxes stipulated in the Brazil constitution, and explain to you how a large percentage of these taxes are being squeezed from the sweat of the slave labor in Brazil. Also, how much of the legitimate tax burden of the rich is avoided, the same way it is by the rich in other countries.

João da Silva,
-- It is just that when somebody in power recognizes the existence of a problem and alternatives solutions are available and still he doesn't do anything to solve it, it becomes boring to hear his rants. --

So it is that we are in agreement that it is a problem. It's just that in all this time I don't see the alternatives, truthfully from the Senator or others. Possibly they were published prior to my attention this site. So it is I am trying to 'dig your mouth', but at the same time we agreed that you and most of his colleagues ignore the man.
So forgive this humble researcher for ignorance of "Brazil's" solutions and alternatives to deal with this issue inherited from "Brazil's" colonial legacy. My intent is only toward enlightenment which has always been your specialty.

*** You see, my friend, enlightenment is 'finding the dots', the truth is when they are connected ***

I do see things from the angle these poor people do, because I live with them. I know how they view their government, and their education system. They tell me these things every day. That's where my comments come from. Yes, I live in the same house with people who are not able to afford a car, a motorcycle, or a computer.

Yet they vote for politicians who promise a lot and deliver nothing after getting elected. I wouldn't be surprised if the household has a color TV, but without a cable hook up. Over the years, the Middle-class which had more compassion for such people is being wiped out and they seem to be unaware or ignore it altogether. They have all the rights, but do not know how to exercise them or demand things from the people they elected. The TV networks they can watch over their color TV sets "free" are not interested in teaching them what real citizenry is.

As for my friend Cata´s "viewpoint", it is quite flexible. He assumes several Avatars and one he likes the most is that of a Chameleon .

As far as US actions in Vietnam, and others, I have no problem to air the laundry, even as there is no cleaning agent that can remove the blood of innocents from the sheets of the imperialists.
Yes, I have been there to bear witness to the truth. Some lessons are painful and the scars are indelibly etched in the minds and hearts of men, such as the case with Detective Serpico, and many others who have been wounded physically and mentally by war. What's that line from the movie, "You can't handle the truth!" Well, I can handle the truth, and in fact use it to expose the unnecessary slaughter throughout the world by the same forces that sent me to that illegal war.

to complex problems are always complex. That would seem self evident. BUT BUT BUT . . . the way to solve complex problems is to formulate a plan, and implement it in stages. To have an overall, specific plan for the outcome, and break it down into workable steps, then implement it.

I don't think coming up with a plan and implementing it would be so difficult for Brazil. But to think the elite of Brazil will allow the populace to desegregate along educational and economic lines is to believe in the tooth fairy. Perhaps the honorable Senator Buarque knows this, but still enjoys pointing out the truth, even though he knows the solutions will never be implemented. For some, there is great comfort and joy in the misery of others.

If you like João, I can give you the exact breakdown of all state and federal taxes stipulated in the Brazil constitution, and explain to you how a large percentage of these taxes are being squeezed from the sweat of the slave labor in Brazil. Also, how much of the legitimate tax burden of the rich is avoided, the same way it is by the rich in other countries.

Capt´n, I am aware of the tax burden on the Brasilians both poor and the middle class and the loopholes for the rich to evade or altogether avoid them. I also know that every Brasilian works for almost 4 months per year to pay the taxes. The poor who do not declare their Income Tax Returns are unaware that they do pay indirect taxes when they buy any product. The taxes are called IPI and ICMS, which when compounded come to around 32% on the retail price.If you buy an imported product, add the import duty also (CIF plus import duty plus IPI plus ICMS). Depending on the % of the Import duty, some product can come out to be taxed 100%.

Regarding the taxes and interest rates stipulated in the Federal "Constitution", you can tear off the constitution of 1989. Old Ulisses Guimarães must be shedding tears in his watery grave in the South Atlantic (I wonder if you know who he was or the author of this article who was his faculty colleague still remembers him).

If the Brazil government would include the poor people into their society of consumption and production,

My contention Capt´n is that the poor people have been integrated into the society for "consumption" of the goods made in PRC by being offered "cheap" credits. Production? Talk to people who lost their jobs in the industries down south. They lost their jobs, credits and dignity. Nothing different from your country, except that you can send such people to the battle fields of Iraq & Afghanistan and we cant and we don't want to. Oh, may be they can go to Haiti to help the "reconstruction" of that devastated country.

As far as US actions in Vietnam, and others, I have no problem to air the laundry, even as there is no cleaning agent that can remove the blood of innocents from the sheets of the imperialists.

At least you and Forrest (where is he?) are honest, unlike that woman Jane Fonda. For that I salute you both.

I want to quote some information about slavery from my book “Jose Bonifacio de Andrada e Silva – The Greatest Man in Brazilian History” – Published in May 2000.

"Emancipation came to Brazil in a number of stages. Direct Portuguese rule ended in 1822. In 1826, Brazil gave Britain the right to search ships suspected of carrying slaves, and in 1830 Brazil declared the slave trade to be piracy.

Little changed, however, until 1851, when in a well-coordinated political and naval campaign, Britain made a conclusive move that drastically cut imports of slaves. In 1871, Brazil passed a partial abolition act; complete emancipation followed in 1888, when the remaining 700,000 black slaves were freed."

Three people played a major role to end slavery in Brazil José Bonifácio de Andrada e Silva (The Patriarch of Independence), his brother Martim Francisco, and later his grandson José Bonifácio de Andrada e Silva (The Younger).


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Ricardo: The abolition of slavery happened in 1888 in Brazil, when the remaining 700,000 black slaves were freed, and the total population of Brazil at that time was around 15 million people.

That is a world that has been long gone, and it is unrealistic to blame what is going on in Brazil in 2010 in a country with a population around 200 million people on that little world of long ago.

Cristovam Buarque’s article said: “The work of slavery still exists under the form of social exclusion: poor people, especially poor black people, without land, without work, without housing, with neither running water nor indoor plumbing, many even without food. Above all, without access to quality education.”

That reads more like the wishful thinking of a demagogue than a realistic argument that takes in consideration the realities of the world in 2010 – a world were we have 6.5 billion people with a system of globalization and cut-throat competition, a world where human labor is being replaced by technology (in 2008 alone the major industrial countries eliminated 27 million jobs in manufacturing – and that elimination of jobs by new technology it has scratched only the tip of the iceberg).

Cristovam Buarque believes that access to quality education is going to solve the problems of poor people in Brazil.

The global employment reality in 2010 is for example: in the last few years over 50 percent of unemployed people in the United States had at least a college degree.

In 2010 the world is saturated with very well educated people (with college and even higher education degrees) who can’t find a decent job anywhere – and that is a trend that is affecting North America, Euroland, and Asian countries. Today the world has an oversupply of well-educated people who can’t find a job.

Here is a more realistic article about the root and source of problems in Brazil:
Brazzil Magazine - July 2000 - “Overpopulated” - Written by Ricardo C. Amaral

http://www.brazzil.com/compone.../6963.html


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In 2010 the world is saturated with very well educated people (with college and even higher education degrees) who can’t find a decent job anywhere – and that is a trend that is affecting North America, Euroland, and Asian countries. Today the world has an oversupply of well-educated people who can’t find a job.

So you think the world is ready for another War?

Hi Joao,

About a month ago one of the major US business magazines or newspaper - The Economist, Fortune, Business Week, Bloomberg, Forbes, or The Financial Times (UK) - had an article on that subject: the millions of very well-educated people in North America, Euroland, and Asian countries who can't find a job.

These are people with at least a college degree, and all kinds of advanced degrees - and the international global market is not creating enough jobs to absorb all these well-educated people.

The global economy is in a jobs self-destruction mode.

When a job is replaced by technology that job is gone forever. Today over 70 percent of the jobs in the United States can be replaced by technology.

A large number of jobs that are being created right now are temporary jobs created by temporary government spending to keep the entire global economy from total collapse - from the United States, Europe, and Asian countries (such as China and Japan) - government spending is keeping their economies going.

It is wishful thinking to expect the business world to create the millions of new jobs necessary to absorb this massive amount of unemployed people - well-educated or not - since the world market is flooded with an oversupply basically of anything you want.

The global economy has only one major shortage: good paying jobs for well-educated people....

Yes, World War III is a possibility - more than most people realize - Why do you think the United States is moving into seven new military bases in Colombia, a country that is not even involved in any war? (other than the local civil war that has been going on in Colombia for the last 40 years).

A country such as the United States - basically bankrupt and with the annual government deficits in the trillions of US dollars - a country in such precarious international financial position that depends on foreign borrowings to the tune of trillions of dollars to keep its economy afloat – Why such a country with so much internal financial need related to its fast ageing population would occupy militarily another country such as Colombia if they did not expect a major conflict in the near future?

The problems that is going on right now regarding Greece represents just the canary in the coalmine – the main event will be the coming collapse of the US dollar and the US economy.

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“The work of slavery still exists under the form of social exclusion: poor people, especially poor black people, without land, without work, without housing, with neither running water nor indoor plumbing, many even without food. Above all, without access to quality education.”

That reads more like the wishful thinking of a demagogue than a realistic argument that takes in consideration the realities of the world in 2010 – a world were we have 6.5 billion people with a system of globalization and cut-throat competition

"Population Control" as the answer for a crowded planet with finite resources. It is clear that the Chinese commisars have already tried this long before your publication, with some unintended consequences just coming to fruition recently. Of course you know, as an atheist and follower of Bertram Russel, your solution will never pass the scrutiny or action of organized religion of the major faiths on the planet. Therefore, no matter how intelligent and logical your daydreams, they are just that, 'daydreams'.

Of course, if you manage to amass the following of Adolph Hitler, Stalin, or Mao, I'm sure you would carry forward in the same traditions. What you clearly fail to confront is the real question of population control; 'DO WE CONTROL US OR THEM?'.

'Not an 'F', sir, but I would recommend the nearest urologist for an irreversible vasectomy. The Chinese and other atheists would be proud.

BTW, being such an authority with numbers, perhaps a little display of why the Earth could not support mankind indefinitely, as it was designed by the Creator, instead of why greed should be allowed to flourish at the expense of the planet, humanity, and common sense. I believe some of your same arguments have been made with respect to China and India, but then even Hitler never envisioned having to deal with those populations.

I'm thinking you might want to reconsider that one, but then again I seem to remember your not a fan of Mercosur either. Well, again thanks for stepping up.

Hi Ricardo,

Yes, World War III is a possibility - more than most people realize - Why do you think the United States is moving into seven new military bases in Colombia, a country that is not even involved in any war? (other than the local civil war that has been going on in Colombia for the last 40 years).

Anyone who has the slightest notion of history of the 20th century would agree with you. From what I read, we seem to be in a very similar situation as during the last "Great Depression". I am really surprised as well as disappointed that an eminent scholar like our friend Lloyd Cata seems to ignore the historical facts that lead to WW 2.

Regardless, it is good to hear from you again.

but then again I seem to remember your not a fan of Mercosur either.

May I remind you sir, that I am not a fan of this MercoSUL either. Nor was our late but not lamented ACM, who called it "MERDASUL".

A country such as the United States - basically bankrupt and with the annual government deficits in the trillions of US dollars - a country in such precarious international financial position that depends on foreign borrowings to the tune of trillions of dollars to keep its economy afloat – Why such a country with so much internal financial need related to its fast ageing population would occupy militarily another country such as Colombia if they did not expect a major conflict in the near future?

The problems that is going on right now regarding Greece represents just the canary in the coalmine – the main event will be the coming collapse of the US dollar and the US economy.

Very good straightforward analysis. My father only went to the third grade, but he could see this coming many years ago. As an economist, you know that what happened to the US economy had 'nothing' to do with the population. In fact, using the population as collateral for the next 50 years of debt is the only thing to prevent collapse. You see that is essentially the argument for 'larger' populations to continue the 'slave-ocracy' and 'economic servitude' that have evolved from the colonial past.
The inhumane, immoral, and illegal practices of the Empire are becoming all too clear to too many people, so yes they must go to war to consolidate whatever gains they can before being dragged off the stage as 'supreme world leader'.

Perhaps you can assist our friend João in his love affair with the dollar. Understanding, as you surely do, that the dollar is the 'last bubble' the US has in that bubble machine.(I do remember about the Germans and their wheelbarrows full of marks to buy bread). Funny how the masses flock to the dollar as the 'safest' investment. ROTFLMAO!!!
...and you haven't missed the significance of the 7 dirty sisters(bases) in Columbia as forward staging areas for the recolonialization of Latin America. Please consider that those 'unnecessary' 100 million people in Brazil may be what is needed to turn back the Empires advance.

you haven't missed the significance of the 7 dirty sisters(bases) in Columbia as forward staging areas for the recolonialization of Latin America.

I didn't know that the Americans rebuilt Columbia from its debris and sent it back to space. Quite an accomplishment.

@dnb, it is obvious you have never been poor. To rise from poverty without education by living a principled life is never that simple. Poverty is all enveloping and all encompassing. The writer of this article attacks the problem where it lies and he should be commended for doing so.

There's a lot of debate on something that will NEVER be resolved because the system itself thrives and depends on many being and staying poor. It's really that simple. If your going to wait for the government or fault the government , you will be waiting forever and blaming in vain. So the fingers point back at the individual.

First principle is ,, if you know you can barely take care of yourself DON'T bring a child into the situation! Women. Keep your legs closed until a "working" man "marries" you.
I know,, easier said than done. But one has to take responsiblity for future generations. That ONE child that is raised in a two parent household where "reading" is encouraged and hard work ethics are instilled HAS a shot. Especially in a capitalistic economic structure. One can't go anywhere but UP when you keep your "overhead" low and your quest for knowledge , ( principally on how the system works) high.
This is how you fight or beat a system designed to keep you down. Work with PRINCIPLES. First of all MORAL PRINCIPLES, (you think the "powers that be" don't know this?) Then just apply the basics like avoid wasteful consuming vices. And ONLY associate with those that can take you higher.
This type of KNOWLEDGE is FREE. It just has to be APPLIED for the poor to benefit from it. Even if it has to happen two to three generations later.

And no, I personally have never been poor . BUT I have seen and know quite a few who are visibly marked by the system(by color) stay poor but climbed out of the situation by principle.
Screw the government!
The government is not for the people. Never has been , Never will be. It's OWNED by the DEVIL and its agents who are the ruling elite. It is stupid to wait on them. Or even imagine that they could or would do something to change the situation.
In fact, the population of the U.S at large is being "dumbed down" deliberately.And economic slaves that is the middle class now has been quickly created by DEBT.
Now if BRAZIL is a PLANTATION in theory , can it be expected that the bottom rung at large will ever be assisted?
NOT!!!
In fact the very job of the ruling elite of Brazil the "OVERSEERS" in theory is to make SURE that doesn't happen. So people need to stop dreaming about "change" in regards to this situation. It's silly!
It's "principles". Spiritual principles that fight or alleviate poverty. Why can this be said? Because the governments have DEMONIC backing and support. There are "energies" at play which are largely psychological.
AS A MAN THINKETH SO IS HE"
I know I sound "out there" . And I may have lost your attention. But the truth of the matter is. The system is "spiritually" rigged DOWNWARD. So it takes that exact type of energy to navigate through it UPWARD with the minimum amount of stress. The individual CHOOSES. You THINK POOR. You STAY POOR. And you pass that on. Waiting on the "government" is futile . Because "they" created the system in the first place.

As a Gringo that has had a long interest in Brazil, and lived here many years, I see Education as the countries single biggest problem. Instead of wasting money on the large scale recruitment of lazy and unproductive public sector workers, the government should have invested in better quality basic education for the masses, but an educated population my not be so easily fooled by lies and propaganda, a comment directed at all political parties!

Of course the public sector workers are the beneficiaries of a corrupt education system that breeds corruption, inequality and all the related social evils that exist in Brazil today - society creates the conditions that lead the criminal to commit the crime!

And, why has Brazil been the BRIC nation with the slowest growth? Because of the education problem. And, how is Brazil ever going to switch from being a nation of commodity traders to an exporter of value added products - better education!

There are lots of comments, and there seems to be quite a lot of consensus, but many speak and take no action. Most I speak to can´t be bethered to vote even though it is ´compulsory´, and those that do do so only because they have to. I guess it is because those commenting are probably the beneficiaries of this system, whether they complain or not, and carry some sense of guilt?

The government is not for the people. Never has been , Never will be. It's OWNED by the DEVIL and its agents who are the ruling elite.

If the 'elite' are part of the problem, and they are, then it follows that they must be part of the solution. If a complete solution is to be found it need not come at the price of their destruction. For truly they are a necessity to the society. It is their behavior and complete lack of 'responsibility' for that behavior, which is destructive to the society. They have almost complete control of the levers of power, specifically the justice system. Organizations such as the Land Owners Association must go to the table with MST, because that is the only way to 'land reform' if that is the goal and not the posturing of politicians who have come and gone without even a way forward. Right now is chaos as everyone looks to see which way the new 'constitutional' rules will apply.
The sad thing is the weakness of the courts, who are caught between the elites, the politicians, and the Law. It is time they began to respond to the People. The people must hold judges and the Law enforcement apparatus accountable to the Law. Everyone stands before the bar of justice and the judges must be empowered by the people. Injustice to one man, elite or beggar, is injustice upon the people, but no one is above the Law. As my friend Mr. João da Silva has reminded us of how many US presidents and their lieutenants have had to stand in front of a judge.
The 'elite' of Brazil have no wish to see the destruction of their homeland. They are unfortunately exposed by this very discussion, so the time is soon upon them when they will have to declare for ONE BRAZIL. If they do not invest in their people, if they are not willing to do the hard thing and help to save the society, then it will be on their heads, and soon enough you will be like the Americans, armed to the teeth, with more criminals than jails, worlds major importer of illegal contraband of all kinds. You can actually see it sliding this way in Brazil. These people are the functionaries of government and industry in Brazil and when they pass the envelops of corruption among themselves they are as criminal as the drug dealer. He steals their past and present, the corruption steals their future.

Reply to Paul Barnett - Part 1 of 2

Paul Barnett: As a Gringo that has had a long interest in Brazil, and lived here many years, I see Education as the countries single biggest problem. Instead of wasting money on the large scale recruitment of lazy and unproductive public sector workers, the government should have invested in better quality basic education for the masses, but an educated population my not be so easily fooled by lies and propaganda, a comment directed at all political parties!


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Ricardo: The United States still have a better educated population than we have in Brazil and that did not stop Americans from giving a second-term to politicians that were wrecking the U.S. Economy – Bush/Cheney the worst U.S. government administration since 1776.

They destroyed the foundations of the U.S. economy and also “Pillaged the Future of the New American Generations” – people such as Dick Cheney, Hank Paulson, and many others of the Bush administration belong in jail. If these guys were part of a past Chinese government with a similar record of a massive mess that these guys left behind, then right now they would be facing execution by a Chinese government firing squad.

I am reading right now a book: “It Takes a Pillage” Behind the Bailouts, Bonuses, and Backroom Deals from Washington to Wall Street. By Nomi Prins.

This book (296 Pgs) was published in October 2009. Nomi Prins is a former managing director at Goldman Sachs and her book exposes the corruption in Washington and Wall Street. Her articles are published on Fortune magazine, the Nation, Mother Jones, and other publications. And her latest book has become an important source of information about the corruption in Washington and its connection to Wall Street.

You’ll find out how the revolving door between Wall Street and Washington enabled and encouraged the disastrous behavior of large investment banks. You’ll meet the Pillage People: the men who funneled trillions of dollars directly to the banks and the executives whose companies drained the American economy.

You’ll learn which of the Federal Pillage Triumvirate pirated the biggest part of a $ 10.7 trillion bounty-Hank Paulson, Ben Bernanke, or Timothy Geithner. You’ll decide which private-sector pillager took the biggest share of spoils…

…Worse, the Second Great Bank Depression led to the very expensive and largely nontransparent % 13 trillion bailout of the financial industry, while leaving the banking and investment structures intact.

Wait? More than $ 13 trillion in the bailout? If you thought this bailout was only about a $ 700 billion thing called Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP), which is what the banks, the Treasury Department, and the Federal Reserve want you to believe, you really need this book…

…By summer of 2009, the price tag for the federal government’s bailout of the banks (including all federal loans, capital injections, and government loan guarantees) stood at approximately $ 13.3 trillion, roughly dividing into $ 7.6 trillion from the Fed, $ 2.5 trillion from the Treasury (not including additional interest payments), $ 1.5 trillion from the FDIC (including a $ 1.4 trillion Temporary Liquidity Guarantee Program (TLGP) initiated in October 2008 to help banks continue to provide lending to consumers), a $ 1.4 trillion joint and a $ 300 billion housing bill. This number is so huge, it is almost meaningless. But by comparison, $ 13.3 trillion is more money than the combined costs of every major U.S. war (including the American Revolution, the War of 1812, the Civil War, the Spanish-American War, World War I, World War II, Korea War, Vietnam War, Iraq Wars, and Afghanistan War), whose total price tag, adjusted for inflation, is $ 7.2 trillion. Plus, according to Oliver Garret, the CEO of Casey Research, who studied this war-versus-bank-bailout comparison, “World War II was financed by savings, the American people’s savings, when Americans bought war bonds…today, families are in debt and the government is in debt. Lots and lots of debt.

Meanwhile, $ 50 trillion in global wealth was erased between September 2007 and March 2009, including $ 7 trillion in the U.S. stock market and $ 6 trillion in the housing market. In addition, the total amount of retirement and household wealth trashed was $ 7.5 trillion in pension plans and household portfolios, $ 2.0 trillion in lost income in 401 (k)s and individual retirement accounts (IRAs), $ 1.9 trillion in traditional defined-benefit plans, and $ 3.6 trillion in non-pension assets…


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The above information is quoted from the “Introduction” to Nomi Prins latest book.

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Paul Barnett: Of course the public sector workers are the beneficiaries of a corrupt education system that breeds corruption, inequality and all the related social evils that exist in Brazil today - society creates the conditions that lead the criminal to commit the crime!


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Ricardo: Just for the record regarding job creation - since the alternative to public sector jobs is the private sector jobs creation. In 2009 about 95 percent of job creation in China was directly related to massive Chinese government intervention, and places such as Japan and the United States are not far behind.


*****


Paul Barnett: And, why has Brazil been the BRIC nation with the slowest growth? Because of the education problem. And, how is Brazil ever going to switch from being a nation of commodity traders to an exporter of value added products - better education!


*****


Ricardo: If you think you have the answer then you don’t need to look any further than Japan.

So far 2 lost decades?

And better education system and an exporter of value added products it was supposed to be the solution….


*****


Paul Barnett: There are lots of comments, and there seems to be quite a lot of consensus, but many speak and take no action. Most I speak to can´t be bothered to vote even though it is ´compulsory´, and those that do do so only because they have to. I guess it is because those commenting are probably the beneficiaries of this system, whether they complain or not, and carry some sense of guilt?


*****


Ricardo: I don’t carry any sense of guilt for what is happening in Brazil or the United States for that matter.

I do my part of the work with my pen: "The pen is mightier than the sword".

I am half way my nest article to be published by Brazzil magazine, you will be surprised about what I have to say about the current problems in Brazil and how to solve it.

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i can only agree about this book, how quickly americans want to forget who brought them to their knees

with all your knowledge and experiance at predicting

can you give me some kind of time frame for this invasion war that will happen because of the usa service men at colombia bases?

you can have a 3 year window of prediction ,like 3 to 6 years,or , 8 until 11 years

Lloyd Cata: Oh, ....And About The Euro

I'm thinking you might want to reconsider that one, but then again I seem to remember your not a fan of Mercosur either.


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Ricardo: I suggest that you read the following:

The US dollar and the biggest default in history
http://www.elitetrader.com/vb/...genumber=7


February 12, 2010

SouthAmerica: As the US dollar moves right on schedule to achieve the biggest default in world history…In the meantime the world financial markets waste time with irrelevant and immaterial events.

Maybe Greece is just the canary in the coalmine, and the United States economy and the US dollar are the main event.


*****


By the way, my screen name on the Elite Trader Economic Forum is: SouthAmerica.

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I have just returned from Brazil, amazing country and warm people but the people seem not to stand up and be counted if the high earners of Brazil would do as has been done in Greece and leave the farce of an infastruture and starve the government of taxes then it would change, but it would seem that the Brazilians live by a rather bizzare glass half full attitude, everything happy happy lets have another carnival. Why should the government change any policys with this kind of attitude tbh I would think the government are laughing while loading there back pockets and the people just accept!

i would think with your incredible powers of prediction you could have given me some kind of time frame. maybe, is it going to happen in my lifetime ?

hey if the tea baggers and their ilk win , or, sarah palin, i wouldnt be surprised.

but, if hugy makes some kind of big armed attack on colombia, then your theory doesnt count.if he does something stupid, he needs to be spanked

The sad thing is the weakness of the courts, who are caught between the elites, the politicians, and the Law.

More of the point Cata.. They are ALL corrupt. They are often 'brought' for a PRICE.

Capitalism by it's very nature REQUIRES a poor class to function. There is NO WAY of getting around it. It was a very astute but simple ploy by the "powers that be" invisible and their voluntary "visible" agents to decide by "color" for example in the Americas , just WHO was going to be on the bottom rung.
We have to GET OVER IT!

You miss the point that you probably don't believe or recognize yet, that the RULING ELITE ANSWER to an ENTITY. It is clearly that simple but no one believes it. At the upper echelons of the "ruling elite" they deal in occult sciences. Those that "know" , know this. So it is futile to believe that at some point this class is going to suddenly become benevolent towards the masses. The whole premise IS to keep them ignorant. They more people know the less of a grip the system can have on them.

ONE BRAZIL. If they do not invest in their people, if they are not willing to do the hard thing and help to save the society, then it will be on their heads, and soon enough you will be like the Americans, armed to the teeth, with more criminals than jails, worlds major importer of illegal contraband of all kinds. You can actually see it sliding this way in Brazil

As you can see ONE BRAZIL will never happern. It was never meant to be. The "chaos" deliberately structured in Brazil and South America in general with it class divisions is serve the "order" of filling the bellies and coffers of Western Europe and the U.S.. Western Europe and the U.S would not be able to sustain themselves in the way they have the past 100 years without South America at large in a PASSIVE position a' la' "missionary style" (pun intended) Yes, the Church promotes ignorance and is a government within itself. No one can deny this. The Church assists in creating the "poor" so they can feed off of them perpetually. And they work with the corrupt ruling elite to hold the masses down. It is ALL self serving.
There is only one way to alleviate the pressure downward. Utilizing "principles". And this is by DESIGN.. And an individual has to "CHOOSE".
As time goes by., and there is not a whole lot of it left, many will start to see this clearly.
Brazils new "middle class is being bamboozled. In a frenzy thinking the future is bright. But they are falling head first into a trap.. HELLO!!!... Learn from the U.S. Really?... Do they think they are not going to experience the very same scenario? All we are looking at is a huge monopoly game.

The question is, can you play with the least amount of deadly stress?
Do you KNOW the rules? And just WHO your opponent is?????

I have seen many thoughtful comments in this thread, which is a good thing, because it gives me perspective and I want to really thank everyone for the discussion. Since I am not Brazilian, I freely admit that I see this situation from the eyes of the outsider. I don't think that makes any opinion I have irrelevant, just ineffective coming from an outsider. So I will take the leap and preemptively ask your indulgence;

The Brazil I see is 2 societies at a crossroads in history. The gulf between these societies is both cultural and monetary. The separation only increased by time, education, and poverty. If there is nothing done to prevent the collapse of one side then both societies will suffer because "Brazil" will suffer....and there are wolves at the door.

For some, what I propose is impossible, for others it is blasphemy to even propose such a thing. I ask only that the proposal is given thoughtful consideration as it comes only with with the best intentions for Brazil, its people, its neighbors, and the world.

I am well aware of the transgressions and Empirical manipulations of the Catholic Church throughout the Hemisphere and Latin America in particular. Many will say that colonization of the hemisphere could not have been possible without the active participation of the Church. Others would say there would have been no progress without the active participation of the Church. Both are right, and both are wrong. The Church has been indispensable in both progressive and regressive policies. It stands as the 'silent' adjudicator of right and wrong, justice and injustice, truth and deception. That 'silence' is the deadliest threat to the idea of ONE BRAZIL. That 'silence' is what allows the corrupt to steal the future of the nation. That 'silence' is what allows a people in poverty to remain in poverty. That 'silence' has allowed the systematic theft of the future of the people.

It is a long history and I could go on for volumes, but let me say that the historically recent dictate from the Vatican prohibiting 'active' involvement in social issues was misguided by the need to distance the Church from 'liberation theology'. The rise of the US Catholic Church in forwarding the social agenda and actively influencing political thought was a danger to the agenda of the Church/State axis of the Empire. The Vatican therefore 'silenced' its internal critics of the Empires actions throughout the world. It was this calculated break with the people and their needs which has led to so much disgust, distrust,
and unhappiness with the 'leadership' of the Church, on both sides. Individual members of the Church, who still walk in the 'path of Christ', remain true to their faith and continue to die in the manner of Christ as martyrs and saints for the Glory of Christ. Christ was not
'silent' to the injustice of men! I hope this was the message that the Pope received from his latest visit to Brazil.

The Church and its reach throughout Brazil is only overshadowed by the reach of the government and in some areas more relevant. It has presence north, south, east, west, and throughout Latin America. Brazil has the largest Catholic population on the planet and it is time for the Vatican to appreciate this. For surely, as my evangelical friends, the Body of Christ is the people and not the infrastructure of the Church. Grand cathedrals, silk robes, and bejeweled pendants have nothing to do with the Work of Christ.

And so I implore the "Brazilian Church" to;

a) re-engage with "all" the people

b) respectfully advise the Vatican that the 'Body of Christ' in Brazil is under attack by all manner of disease; such as drugs, violence, corruption, illiteracy, and poverty. These things can only be overcome by an 'activist' Church that does not kneel before fear, intimidation, and murder.

c) Come out from the safety of your cloisters. The people are fearful and are in need of the Comfort of the Lamb. A Communist once said, "Religion is the opiate of the masses", but are we more comfortable with the opiates of the drug merchants? Surely they are winning under the very noses of those 'responsible' for the safekeeping of the Body of Christ.

That magnificent statue of Christ in Rio, surely a wonder of the world with his arms outstretched, MUST MEAN SOMETHING! It must stand for something other than the great feat of construction which it clearly demonstrates.

"THE BRAZILIAN CHURCH MUST STAND UP! THE BRAZILIAN GOVERNMENT MUST STAND UP, THE BRAZILIAN PEOPLE MUST STAND UP AND DECLARE, "WE ARE 'ONE BRAZIL' FROM THE HIGHEST TO THE LOWEST...and we will not allow the dictates and agendas of 'others' to decide the future of Brazil!

My humble apologies to any whom I have caused discomfort in this discussion, that was not my intent, but it is only in consideration that my future, and the future of my children, are indelibly tied to your future as we all 'exist' in the Body of Christ.

and to dnb....

i know you got your pop corn and are sitting back waiting for this scenario that you got from the bible to play out...you know, the one ending fits all scenarios.be careful, you may get fat and lathargic waiting on the couch

look, all this power and elite rich and their agenda is not anything new or profound to perceive, unless you will just give the real lincs that will demonstrate this 666 incarnate that you really are refering to.

the problem for your analasys and with cata, mans inhumanity to man aint going away. there are always the power elite at the top and the rest of us slaving away or floundering on the bottom.when places tried the communism thing, it still put a few people on the top and huge amounts on the far bottom together. and they eliminated millions with their totalitarism.

of course there is a power elite trying to manipulate the heck out of the whole world. some of them would resort to really dirty tactics and some others are just monster corporate entities that are operating with out boundries of countries. countries are just huge ameobas who will do anything to survive

im not here to defend the usa. i just know its not the worst player on the planet, the biggest threat or the dirtiast player.you talk about these unbeleivable elite behind the scenes power players

but the usa has the example , exactly because of its capatalistic ways, of people that represent new money, like bill gates from the computor age. its not just the same old money and power players. and where republicans and democrats do answer to the big money, and , look out for lobbyists and sometimes the same people will contribute to them, when one gets elected, they do have their own agenda to put across and the other side hates them.

what is going to dick the usa is these tea baggers who hate obama and would do anything to vote him out and talk big s**t about being ready for civil war.these idiots dont know the truth to what brought their country to their knees. as long as you have american idiots like that, some real jerk could get elected who could do exactly what bush and company did, tank the country and get it into another war.

and , the usa has freedom of expresion, the kind you wont find in china or iran. the f**king country is going down but you can still have the freedom to express yourself, take your business elsewhere if someone disrespects you and protest if you want

so i think all this concpiricy theory is crap,its really a few people at the top looking out for their interests. yeah they play dirty and would try to eliminate people if they could, but not like communism's history.but the people could really put them all out of business if they wanted to....really wanted to

they just dont want to...they want to buy on credit and eat corporate fast food and let the media spoon feed them entertainment and news...

if you cant change those aspects, you might as well sit on the couch and eat pop corn and get lathargic

For starters read "Rule By Secrecy" by Jim Marrs. It breaks down , in a simple manner with footnotes ,the histories of some of the major secret societies and their role in past geo politics.

Also a good read is "The Creature From Jekyll Island",.. It's a history of the Federal Reserve Bank.

And just try reading the Bible. The story of the "conspiracy" has BEEN there.

If you want any more evidence of a 666 connection go to a local Candomble' event. Or visit a psychic. Get your palms read or a tarot reading and see how many things a complete stranger can know about you.

You think we're alone out here?

Think again.

My humble apologies to any whom I have caused discomfort in this discussion, that was not my intent, but it is only in consideration that my future, and the future of my children, are indelibly tied to your future as we all 'exist' in the Body of Christ.

No need to apologize. Personally I think you are very sincere. It's just you don't know enough of the Truth.

Religion is the "WHORE OF REVELATION".. Revelation chapters 17 and 18. She's BEEN the problem. And principally RELIGIONS that claim to believe in Christ. Who God is going to hold most responsible because they claim to rep His interests.

et no one seduce YOU in any manner, because it will not come unless the apostasy comes first and the man of lawlessness gets revealed, the son of destruction. 4 He is set in opposition and lifts himself up over everyone who is called “god” or an object of reverence, so that he sits down in the temple of The God, publicly showing himself to be a god.
2 Thessolonians 2:3,4

It all started with the Caltholic church and its subsequent Protestant breakoffs.
All part of the WHORE that will be exposed , pillaged and destroyed soon. You can see it in the makings now.. Watch the news CAREFULLY with that end scenario in view and you will see it CLEAR AS DAY.... IF YOU WANT TO ( I suppose)

 And the ten horns that you saw, and the wild beast, these will hate the harlot and will make her devastated and naked, and will eat up her fleshy parts and will completely burn her with fire. 17 For God put [it] into their hearts to carry out his thought, even to carry out [their] one thought by giving their kingdom to the wild beast, until the words of God will have been accomplished. 18 And the woman whom you saw means the great city that has a kingdom over the kings of the earth.”
Revelation 17:16-18

God shares your sentiments Cata about the Churchs relationship with the governments .

My humble apologies to any whom I have caused discomfort in this discussion, that was not my intent, but it is only in consideration that my future, and the future of my children, are indelibly tied to your future as we all 'exist' in the Body of Christ.

You have never caused any discomfort to me in any discussions and therefore there is no need to apologize.

As for your contention about the Catholic church, I am not sure how far they are responsible for the current situation in Brasil about which Senator.Buarque writes or talks about. You have "implored" the Church to various things and that is jolly good of you. But...But... you are overlooking many things. Brasil might have the largest Catholic population in the world, but it is a secular country, whether be under the military government or under a "democratically" elected one. Of course I have received flak from some in this blog for saying that ours is a "secular" democracy and it bothers me the least.

Recently other "churches" have come in competing with the Catholic Church. They are trying to teach the poor to get up the social ladder, by going to "their" churches every week! Then you have this Head Rabi in São Paulo who works silently to promote Judaism (I haven't run into one single Brasilian who changed from Christianity to Judaism, though). Fortunately or unfortunately (depending on one´s point of view), we haven't heard about a "Chief Mullah" as yet.

You seemed to be a practicing Catholic and I respect it. We Brasilians are not. About religion, most of us have the same view as that of our young friend DnB. Probably he got the healthy attitude from his Mom. He quotes the "BOOK" and I know it irritates many people. But I don't get irritated, because what he says makes lots of sense. From what I know of him, he is not a "Bible thumping" Christian.

What amuses me is the way the American "leaders" and the "media" play the religion to divide and rule. Look at their newly coined words: "Islamo-Fascists", "Judo-Chrisitan" values, etc; We Brasilians do not know such terms and less we spend time on discovering their meaning (less) expressions, better are we. You are many times right, Dr.Cata and sometimes you (as well as I) can be fallible.

The biggest problem with us the Brasilians is the "Plantation" mentality. Instead of blaming the Church, Americans, the Military Government, etc; and demand from the "authorities" what our rights are, we will always remain a "Plantation".

BTW, Ricardo Amaral, Lord Augustus and I share the same opinion about religions, except that I am not an "atheist".

Women. Keep your legs closed until a "working" man "marries" you.

You cant target all the women and give such kind of stereotyped advice, lad. They don't have to marry a "working man". It is enough to sleep with a politician to make babies and sue him later.He can help you to bring up the child in U.K and the U.S. Another alternative is he can ask the editors of "Playboy" to print your nude photograph in its centerfold.

can you give me some kind of time frame for this invasion war that will happen because of the usa service men at colombia bases?

you can have a 3 year window of prediction ,like 3 to 6 years,or , 8 until 11 years

You are asking the wrong person, dude.Ricardo and Lloyd may not know it,but I do. The last I heard was that the "Colombian Americans", with the help of BO, have already invaded and taken over SE.

The next is your "Bairro".

KKK LOLOLO You're funny.

and rule. Look at their newly coined words: "Islamo-Fascists", "Judo-Chrisitan" values, etc

It is all part of the propaganda. They have been changed the words quite a lot lately. They used to not put a specific religious connotation to the "terrorists". Now they are just OUT with it. "Radical Muslims" etc. Good to see someone even in Brazil noticing what is going on. All you have to do is pay attention and stop believing the hype and connect the dots.

I am so glad Capn America is on board lately. Very informative and knows the game. Jake McCrann is on point too. And I wish more Brazilians would understand the "PLANTATION" effect. That is truly the beginning of understanding Brazils politics in general. Overseers do as they are "told" or "trained" to do. That is why Brazil has no qualms hiring a modern day "Willie Lynch" as is Rudy Guliani to clean out potentially rebellious "field hands" in Rio.

Each one , teach one is still our only and best bet at helping everyone see through this smoke.

the problem for your analasys and with cata, mans inhumanity to man aint going away. there are always the power elite at the top and the rest of us slaving away or floundering on the bottom.when places tried the communism thing, it still put a few people on the top and huge amounts on the far bottom together. and they eliminated millions with their totalitarism.


Understand please, to be poor is not to be confused with lack of dignity or responsibility. The Indigenous chief has as much dignity and responsibility as President Lula. After all, is he not faced with the extinction of his culture? A more desperate situation I can not imagine and yet he finds himself at the mercy of the world. IS THAT REALLY BRAZILS EXCUSE?
I'm confused by this description in relation to communism when it is so clear to see what has become of Iraq. What happened in Vietnam. Where is the communist beachhead in Africa, unless you count the insignificant Mr. Mugabe who still sees white devils behind every blade of grass?
Whatever your argument with my analysis, it does not come without the context of the historical 'carrot and stick' approach of the US policy in Latin America. They were offered the carrot of FTAA, which was resoundedly rejected by most of Latin America. NAFTA was 'supposed' to bring prosperity to all of North America, but now you see there is a bigger war on the US border with Mexico considered the 2nd most destabilizing situation on the planet. Rejecting FTAA was the catalyst for the necessity of occupation of Columbia. Only a very stupid person does not see the Empire preparing to use the stick to enforce its economic agenda on the southern continent.
Ignorance and criticism I can overcome, but stupidity is an affliction I am unprepared and unqualified to address.

I see you have not digested the truth, as depicted by Detective Serpico, so here is the other half with a compliment of witnesses;

http://mp911truth.org/

Now crawl back into your cabana and let your little whores rock you to sleep because you are clearly exposing yourself in public as the poor stupid child that you are.

Your responded to my comments, assuming I was American I think. I am not American and have to agree that America made a big mess. I am British, and they are just as much at fault.

A good tactic used by politicians to distract attention from the issues their own country, is to point the finger at others. I am not saying you are a politician, but you use the same tactic in referring to America and Japan.

Also, I never said that Education was Brazil´s only problem. I suggested it was the biggest, and I truely believe it is. Corruption comes close, and jointly I think they are the cause of most other problems. And, the big issue is that one feeds the other, and the masses ignorance is a sad tactic.

Before I get a vicious backlash to these comments, I want to say that despite all it´s problems I love Brazil and believe it has huge potential. I hope one day it is realised.

tainted with your conspiricy theory outlooks of the world. you mix truth with grandiose configurations without understanding the real dog eat dog nature of the world, which is surprising with your south bronx background and time in viet nam. some of the vets i knew were tunnel rats, or marines wounded in battle or at kason. none of them come close to your ideas of what is happening in the world.

communism has been responsibe for some of the most highest numbers of violent mans inhumanity to man or combat deaths on this planet as anything. im tired of bringing in real statistics and people like you just ignore them and dnb breaks down to another sermon on the mount.

give me a f**king break

mexico violence right now is the antiquated ridiculas drug laws that dont work. when the whole world is willing to take a real look at drug laws and abolish the bs with them, a lot of hypocracy will melt away. its just a sure sign that the world and the usa deserve to keep getting bitten in the ass

the people who struggled for communism in africa wasted a lot of time and lives . it contributed to things being set back over and over again.africa neglect is a differant story and a lot more complex than your star wars avatar break down of the empire

where in gods name did you get that i think poor people lack dignity? get the f**k out of here with that bull s**t

great south america regected the trade deal, it has nothing to do with colombia bases. you never did really understand what is happening in that area with all the lincs i brought in about the drug busts related to farc , and chavez supporting them and the ties to the big drug gangs in brazil. you just dont get it. its hard to have a real discusion about the issues at work down here with your lack of understanding of the dynamic. everything goes back to star wars and the avaton empire

ive been to condomble rights, i study the culture of the rhythms and dance, i read bishop macedos book describing condomble back in 1986, he sure knew how to use their tricks to get people in his church.

tying that in with the main man behind all the conspiricy elite back room rulers of the world with their mind boggling dominate the world with 666 at the helm would make a good movie

remind me to tell you one day of the religion i invented for myself , one day...i have to listen to you and cata spouting about jesus

ill give you a hint, the first testament is based on nat geo and discovery channal life and death on the savanah of africa wild beasts and the law of the jungle...it really explains things much more clearly than the bible

the second testament would be too much for cata to take now,he might get a heart attack and i dont want that to happen

i typed for dnb in the wrong area....

that one was for you dnb

As for your contention about the Catholic church, I am not sure how far they are responsible for the current situation in Brasil about which Senator.Buarque writes or talks about. You have "implored" the Church to various things and that is jolly good of you. But...But... you are overlooking many things. Brasil might have the largest Catholic population in the world, but it is a secular country

The Catholic Church's involvement in the fate of nations is very secretive and not well understood outside the heirarchy of the church, but one thing is clear; "the Empire could not amass the troop strength or the public support for unjust war without the 'grudging' support of the Vatican. To pretend otherwise is historically false and presently naive. Many people inside the Catholic Church do not understand the philosophical reforms that took place during and after World War II, the Cold War, and the Vatican bankruptcy(or shall we say 'financial difficulties'). During each of these events the Catholic Church became more involved in the activities and partnership in the Empire. This is not new; Pope John Paul II admitted to working with US intelligence. Heaven knows once the Soviets challenged the Church when one or the other of their stupid leaders ask the Vatican, "Where is your army?". No sooner were the words uttered than the process for the destruction of the USSR began. The ensuing challenge to the Soviets began on 'all' fronts and the Communism of Lenin and Stalin had to bow before the forces of the Empire. Did you think to just wake up one morning and the world had changed for millions. In ways you and I will never fully know, it was the Catholic Church and its arrangements with 'Ronald Reagan's America' that defeated the USSR. The Pope is not omnipotent in the church hierarchy, and although unable to overturn the edict, Pope John Paul II's trip to Havana was the most significant recognition of socialist principles as a legitimate process in Latin America. You may say I read too much into this but I would refer you to his encyclicals on Worker Rights.

You seemed to be a practicing Catholic and I respect it.

Sorry to disappoint, my observant friend, but I am, and shall remain all, of my days a Christian. My relationship with the Catholic Church began, as many do, as an orphan in which the Church did care for me and tutor me in the ways of my Lord, Jesus Christ. So it was that I did learn the power of truth. You see, what I have said here is only to address the authors question as to the 'education' of the people and so it is I look to Christ who, after all, was the greatest teacher in the world. The mission of the church is a teaching mission. No one other organization has the reach and the ability to accomplish such a task.
Besides, you must certainly know that were I a practicing Catholic excommunication would probably be considered too good for me.

we will always remain a "Plantation"

I am not ashamed to say that I pray every night that it is not the true. Understand that the Empire cannot attack Brazil directly. It would expose their naked aggression before the world. They cannot use a 9/11 excuse as a cover for their imperialist designs like they did in Iraq. Their failure to demonize the socialist movement has only made them more angry and desperate. The challenge is simply to expose their schemes before the world. It is not necessary for the Brazilian military to oppose them but simply not to assist them.

Though you may not believe in my words, or the power of my God, Brazil needs you too. There are ways to prosper and respect the dignity of common people. It does not have to be them or us. I once commented to our esteemed friend João that, "If I can convince one of you to see one of them as one of us", then all my words would be complete.
You understand the principles behind the term, "figures lie, and liars figure". I know the other way is hard. It doesn't appear that we can possibly change the equation to fit the need, but the need is not so large that everyman must have largesse outside his productive capacity. The man who tills the soil has not the expectation of the man who counts the money, but when the fruit of his labor feeds his family he has as much dignity as any elite.
Land reform that is fair and comprehensive is one means of changing the equation. Education changes the equation. Health care changes the equation. Yes, it all comes at some cost to everyone, but the alternative is chaos, anarchy, and a return to tyranny. In regard to Germany, many still don't understand that the shame of the German people is that Hitler was 'democratically' elected. The US is in somewhat the same situation and who knows what the public failure of democracy would mean for the US and the world. Who knows what will emerge from the ashes of the coming US financial collapse? No one! So when I hear people talking about the dollar as the 'safe' haven then I know that you can fool most of the people most of the time.
You are correct that the global jobs market is shrinking at the same time the pool of educated people is rising. So the real impetus for education must be social society. Primary school is a necessity for functioning society. An educated people are a necessity of the state for functioning population with civil responsibilities. Unfortunately, what it has been sold as is an entry card to corporate access and political influence. For the same reason voting is compulsory, so also should be primary education. What the US has really found is that they need an educated military for defense. Consider that the 'school lunch' program was not approved until the military testified that the recruits were malnourished and not healthy enough for service, black and white.

So I challenge you sir, to find the equation that fits for Brazil. If it has the ring of truth and the clarity of justice, the people will recognize what is need to go forward. Trust the people that they will respond to common sense.

I digress.....
Even if you did get a clue , you probably wouldn't admit it for the sake of pride.

All I was referring to.. And everyone knows this. Is demonic possession. Other intelligent beings capable of taking possession of the human mind. You can ignore that this takes place all you want. It doesn't change a thing. Do you think they don't have an agenda.


You are starting to get silly with your comments. I didn't want to take it to Cata level with you. But your comments speak for themselves. Quite delusional.

wow, you are stretching it a lot with that one about the soviet union.

reagon or the church never defeated the soviets, they defeated themselves from internal colapse from a system that just didnt work

you are revealing your true agenda about the soviets if you cant realise the truth about them

dnb , what, you got a problem with my own religion? because i have to listen to your sermons on the mount and laugh how you make your conspiricy hookups and then berate me for not getting it...
yeah i know about demon posesion in these cerimonies, but, you are implying something else.if the eilits are being posessed by demons, are they writhing on the floor ?

yeah i know about demon posesion in these cerimonies, but, you are implying something else.if the eilits are being posessed by demons, are they writhing on the floor ?

LOLOLOL

THE POINT EXACTLY... !!!


Albeit not the ones visible to the public. Presidents and what not are just "puppets. And at this point "democracy" , house and senate and parties and such just make it look like the people have a "choice".

At the end of the day "you don't have to BELIEVE it if you don't want to". That's the point of our existence.

btw, it's been said that Hitler "tranced out" in many of his speeches as if he were possessed. And he was KNOWN to deal in the occult sciences.
Anyway the U.S presidents are Free Masons. That sums it up. And that is not a 'social club'.

Thanks for the comment addressed to me regarding the Catholic Church. They are very interesting and coincide with the opinion of some of my friends. Especially of interest was the specific reference to Pope John Paul II. I was reading a book titled " Red Rabbit" by Tom Clancy a couple of weeks ago and it was about the failed assassination attempt on the Pope. It pretty much says what you are saying. Coincidentally, I read at that time that the Turkish assassin (Agha ?) was supposed to be released from the jail and he was willing to talk about that attmept. After that I didn't hear anything about him.

You also commented to Ricardo about Hitler being elected "democratically". If I recall, Hitler was a Catholic and the Pope at that time ( I forget his name) was friendly towards Hitler and indirectly supported his invasion of Russia. It is said that even Joe Kennedy was in favor of letting Hitler run over Russia, thus bringing down the Bolshevik Regime. So if the Church has so much influence on the "Empire", how come the Vatican could not prevent the good ole U.S. of A to enter into war against Germany?

I did go through the website you provided to ASP. This is not the fist time you have mentioned about 911 and not the first person either. Capnmerica & DnB This website also gives another link to "pilots for truth". I recall Mr. Baen Brodie trying to engage us all into further discussions on this issue. In case you remember, he is an accomplished pilot with experience in several types of aircraft.

My question to you: Supposing that it was a conspiracy and the victims were just "collateral damages", what was the real objective of this operation and who was (or is) supposed to benefit from it? You are a New Yorker and a veteran and I don't think that you are talking about the 9/11 lightly. Lots of other things you say make sense too.

So Dr.Cata, I am awaiting your reply to my two questions with your customary bluntness.

There are a host of ways an individual can put himself in direct contact with the spirit realm. Astrology, ouja boards, tarot cards, pyschics, just to name a few.
But you know this. You just refuse to acknowledge it. Really it is not an insult to your intelligence to understand these entities exist. In fact it may add to it.

The creatures mock humanity at large. They throw all kinds of evidence in your face and yet you STILL DON"T BELIEVE. They mock the incredulity. They LAUGH at it.

The invisible "elite" know what time it is. And they are recieving their 30 silver pieces (money and power) just as Judas did. But will face the very same demise.

The info is out there. The Bible is out there.. ( you don't believe it) But just to show that a "simpleton" has access to this pertinent knowledge. Some tend to get overhead with their supposed intellect and miss the point completely. These "aliens" gloat in that.

Very soon xenophobia against "religion" will be the order of the day
Im no prophet.. It's written.. Watch it happen

Very soon xenophobia against "religion" will be the order of the day

Xenophobia against religion? I think you are talking about "Theophobia".

P.S: I just wanted to be of help , before get pummeled by our friends for the "wrong" use of the words.

Ricardo Amaral: I enjoyed your citing "It takes a Pillage", and I hope to read it soon. Yet, I disagree with many assumptions you post here and else where. First, Paul Barnett makes a reasonable claim that education is a critical factor for the development of Brazil. You mention that Americans are more well-educated than Brazilians, but it didn't stop them from electing GW Bush. Well, that is not a good argument for not valuing education. Bush managed to steal the election mostly through manipulating the fear of lesser educated Americans after 9/11. But more importantly, education has played a critical role in improving the lot of many working class Americans. Many have benefitted from being the first to go to college, and then to a professional career that allowed them to live a comfortable middle class life. While this is not important that all people go this route, certainly the educated scientists, researchers, and engineers in the US were critical to developing technologies that have place the US at the cutting edge of technology and development. This area is also going to be the strength of the US economy in the future as it regroups from the recession.
Likewise, your assessment of the current situation of the US is far more dismal and cataclysmic than reality. Yes, the recession is nasty, and yes, Obama has been a big disappointment to the Left, as he appears more like a moderate Republican, and the the damn Republican party is hell-bent on making Congress ungovernable as it blocks and votes against everything Obama promotes. Yes, it's all absurd, ridiculous and painful to watch as many opportunities are squandered: healthcare reform in particular. But you come across like some kind of apocalyptic sci-fi scenario of the US collapse. Where and how will this happen? I read respected critical economist regularly (Paul Krugman, Joseph Stiglitz, for example) and they make no such claims, even if they see trouble, and continued high unemployment, they don't predict collapse and ruin. Some of your evidence for this impending collapse seem questionable: the aging population. Yes, baby boomers will retire, and there has not been such a boom in the population as in their days, but we still have a moderately growing population. Despite the typical criticism from South Americans that Americans do not welcome immigrants, we in fact have allowed quite a generous portion of legal and illegal South American and Central American immigrants into the US, which in turn has allowed for a certain growth in population, which has counterbalanced the "aging population" you mention. Europe has a greater problem with this issue, as does Russia and Japan, which have had negative growth. Yet, Japan is unwilling to welcome immigrants, since it is such a monolithic and somewhat static culture and society: witness the hardship of many Brazilian immigrants trying to integrate into the culture there.

Also, I don't get your point about too many educated people. Maybe I should read all the posts to fully understand you, but I want to contest your claim about educated people being 50% of the unemployed over the decades. I know that in the current recession has unproportionally devastated poor and working class communities, and been more mild for highly educated upper middle class professionals. While the unemployment issue is horrendous, it is somewhat relative, and depends on your class position. While I have read many posts here celebrating the collapse and sinking of the US economy as if it were the going down like the Titanic, I found it hypocritical, since certain poor and lesser educated people have been hurt most by the recession: so how could Brazilians celebrate this, when many of the illegal Brazilian immigrants as well as Mexicans, Blacks and other poor communities have suffered most from the recession. What's to celebrate about that?
The other day I spoke to a Brazilian post doc chemist I know here in the US. I asked him if the recession is affecting his job prospects and he scoffed at the idea, and related the boom in his area of study, and the great prospects for work. He then told me about friends of his back in Brazil who are not finding work, and how there is 50% unemployment in some areas. His numbers may be off, but I get his general point: the recession here is relative; Brazil has been experiencing far worse unemployment for decades.

I agree with Paul Barnett: many of the posts here demonize the US and developed nations as an us vs. them relation. As if the US is only against the success of Brazil. I don't see this. I see the local elite being more the culprit for creating the vast inequality of wealth that Brazil suffers. Nor do I see them, nor any other Brazilian faction offering a more just and fair vision than the US has provided. I know I will hear about the history of US intervention and imperialism, but I don't see this as all of US history. In fact, while I am generally more concerned about fighting corporate and political corruption and greed in the US, while favoring further development and support for the working and middle class, I do not wish for the collapse of the US. What other nation would provide a more just society? China INC. ??? They resemble the fascist, with their entire state suppressing all dissent, and promoting fiercely their capitalist agenda. While the US has done some dubious and downright immoral acts, it has also been a voice of freedom, progress, equality, and justice. If China INC. is the next super-power, I fear for the rest of the world. Hence I am not eager to see the US collapse. China INC will make the attrocities of US imperialism look like child's play in comparison.

Also, the idea of the US invading and occupying Brazil is silly paranoia. Obama is struggling to get us out of Afghanistan. Hell, we can't even hold down one of the poorest nations on Earth, so how the hell are we going to occupy vast Brazil? And why the hell should we want to do this? Conventional war is becoming increasingly obsolete. Military solutions are costly and ineffective even if they are trying to serve the needs of capitalist interests. So I don't see it, yet I see it as part of the jingoistic Brazilian mindset that continuously positions the US as some kind of all powerful evil empire. Maybe Hollywood movies indulge in this fantasy about US omnipotence, but anyone who comprehended Vietnam, should know that even a poor peasantry can defeat a super power, if they are determined to do so. I guess this paranoid fanatasy about the US, will only further more anti-Americanism, and as Paul Barnett says, it is a good strategy for deflecting criticism of Brazil's real problems (corruption, graft, vast inequality of wealth, poor education, out of control bureaucracy, environmental destruction and pollution, high crime rate, for instance) which are primarily created by Brazilians, particularly their elite and ruling class. Y

Besides, neither Americans, nor the world would tolerate such and invasion. It sounds like George Orwell fiction, but not 21st century reality. I guess this kind of urban legend, the kind of trashy ideas your hear on Brazilian TV novelas, could catch on, and justify a build up of the Brazilian military, which supposedly would be to defend against the "evil empire" of the north, but would be easily and more likely be used in local power plays in South America. What a crock of horse manure. Many of the posts here seem like they are from well-read educated people as well, but as you said, educated people can still come to some ridiculous conclusions: witness this paranoia about a US invasion. And all the other conspiracy bull s**t, is not even worthy of addressing.
Also,to those spouting off such nonsense: try getting your news from a credible news source and not a TV novela!

So if the Church has so much influence on the "Empire", how come the Vatican could not prevent the good ole U.S. of A to enter into war against Germany?

My words were;
Many people inside the Catholic Church do not understand the philosophical reforms that took place during and after World War II, the Cold War, and the Vatican bankruptcy(or shall we say 'financial difficulties'). During each of these events the Catholic Church became more involved in the activities and partnership in the Empire.

You apparently misunderstood who was influencing whom. During that time the Church did nothing to deter Hitler's rise to power and cowered before Moussolini, who was on their doorstep. So it was self-preservation that drove them to their knees and into the arms of the Empire. However, the church laity consistently worked 'underground' to defeat Fascism. The Empire(Allies) could not have prevailed without that covert assistance. It is not the first time that the Vatican has been repudiated by the laity, usually resulting in 'breakaway' sects no longer willing to bow to the 'political' agenda of Rome. The Vatican is by no means even a managing partner in the Empire, but it does enjoy the benefits of 'statehood' which allows its activities in service to the Empire to fall under the term 'statecraft', complete with all organs of state which allow for global 'influence', not mandate.

http://ivarfjeld.wordpress.com/category/vatican-history/

The Vatican's latest foray into the political/financial realm involves the rise of Opus Dei, which has formalized Vatican participation in world politics and financial affairs. These are the new Crusaders and they are everywhere ingrained into the fabric of the Empire. Note that the Jesuits have been relegated to a back seat as defenders of the Throne of Christ, and prevented from associating with the tenets of liberation theology. The few who dare step across are severely dealt with including the loss of their earthly existence.

Enough...for this period, my friend. I hope I have stepped up to YOUR challenge and have provided some food for thought. Always I am mindful that my opinion means nothing to the fate of Brazil and its people, but I am always hopeful that I may contribute to their success and freedom(remember the people of Haiti and remember that independence and freedom are not necessarily the same). The work for freedom is never finished if we are to remain independent.

My regards to Senator Cristovam Buarque. I hope he continues 'ranting' on this subject because it is vital to the future of 'all' Brazilians and I hope you will join him in the search for solutions.

Joao: I am not sure if I buy your ideas about Opus Dei and all the associated conspiracy theories, but clearly the church played a mixed role at best against the Nazis. I have even heard interviews with (the movie Shoah) say that the holocaust was justified as it was Gods punishment of the Jews for killing Christ. And who was it that gave them this ridiculously insensitive idea? The priest in their village.

I know priest who was has been working in Haiti for over 20 years serving the poor there, and organizing his parishioners in the manner Paulo Friere's pedagogy called for. He is a dedicated priest who serves the poor in the Liberation Theology tradition. It seems liberation theology had its moment of glory in South America, and yet, it has been swept aside, regrettably.

Joao, I also enjoyed your post above about the military dicatatorship.

From the generals point of view, even if they are allowed to introduce evidence of 'leftist' crimes and conspiracies, there is no good outcome to airing dirty laundry. There are, in fact, international considerations that must be considered if the truth were revealed in many cases.

Yes, we have the same problem in the US. Under Bush, the military has been guilty of torturing prisoners, and assaulting the Constitution. This was grave offense, and many Americans are deeply disturbed by their actions in Iraq and Guantanamo, and elsewhere. Yet, Obama seems to agree and has not been digging too deep into the past, yet seems committed to no longer using "waterboarding" and other torture methods. The military has been saying the same: there is no good to come of airing their dirty laundry. But I strongly disagree: how else will we know the depths of the problem, or be able to avoid it in the future.

You seem to be hinting (maybe I am reading you wrong) that military coup is possible in Brazil and likely to be supported by foreign interests (the US). Aside from the anomalous Bush era, the US has been increasingly stepping away from supporting military dictatorships. I know this is not always the case, but I think, beginning in the early 80s, they have understood the "blow back" or consequences for such hypocrisy is too great a price to pay internationally. That is why I see it less likely for a junta to come to power in Brazil supported by the US. Besides, capitalists in the US seem to be able to benefit from Brazil's poverty as much as their Brazilian elite counter part without the need of military repression.

Joao: I am not sure if I buy your ideas about Opus Dei and all the associated conspiracy theories, but clearly the church played a mixed role at best against the Nazis.

I am afraid that you got the names mixed up. It was our esteemed friend Dr.Cata who brought up the issue of Opus Dei. To be honest with you, the comments made by you and him about the Church seem to be very similar!

You seem to be hinting (maybe I am reading you wrong) that military coup is possible in Brazil and likely to be supported by foreign interests (the US).

I am not hinting anything. If at all it happens, it is not likely to be sponsored by the good ole U.S.! There are several other "interests".

BTW, I have read your other comments, especially your criticisms of Mr.Lula. I haven't heard him making anti American statements as you say he does. He is very friendly to all the heads of the state and that includes Mr.Shimon Pires of Israel, who successfully sold UAVs for the Rio Olympics. So to say that he is kissing the ass of Ahmedenijad is unfair to him. Please do remember that the Iranians haven't sold anything to us nor have we to them so far.

ASP: can you give me some kind of time frame for this invasion war that will happen because of the usa service men at colombia bases?

you can have a 3 year window of prediction ,like 3 to 6 years,or , 8 until 11 years


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Ricardo: Sorry, but I can’t give you the date and exact time and minute that WW III is going to start.

Usually there are many factors involved before a minor event triggers a major war such as in WW I.

Then there is a factor that is obvious to everybody such as Pearl Harbor.

But the United States involvement in Colombia it is like baby steps for the US to start another Vietnam this time in South America.

A country in such a Pathetic financial condition – a country dependent on borrowing trillions of US dollars from foreigners for its economy to stay afloat – a country that is financially sinking like the Titanic.

A country involved in two expensive wars with no end in sight.

A country that will be sinking under the humongous expense of keeping the Baby Boomer generation going: Pensions, Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and so on…

A country that for all practical purposes is financially bankrupt.

Such a country would not activate a navy fleet in the Caribbean that had been deactivated since the 1950’s and would make an agreement to occupy military a nation such as Colombia by taking over 7 military bases on that country.

The evidence shows that the United States is up to no good in South America – otherwise the US would not be wasting so much money in Colombia.

Borrowed money from China anyway….

A conflict like Vietnam develops in slow motion and before you know the s**t has hit the fan….

The French still laughing to this day about the US involvement in Vietnam….

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Lloyd Cata: Of course you know, as an atheist…


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Ricardo: I don’t believe on organized religion, but I am not an atheist.

I am an agnostic….

I hope you know the difference.


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Lloyd Cata: BTW, being such an authority with numbers, perhaps a little display of why the Earth could not support mankind indefinitely, as it was designed by the Creator,…


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Ricardo: which creator are you talking about?

You seem to have some kind of special knowledge about this creator that you are talking about….


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Lloyd Cata: Very good straightforward analysis. My father only went to the third grade, but he could see this coming many years ago.


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Ricardo: It seems that us 3rd graders have a good common sense and foresight about the future, but the well-educated investors from around the world including from Brazil and from China can’t see the obvious and they continue to invest in US dollar assets.

China will be holding the bag for trillions of US dollars, and by the end of 2010 Brazil will be holding almost US$ 300 billion – China and Brazil have one thing in common they are both be holding a lot of Confetti.


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Lloyd Cata: Perhaps you can assist our friend João in his love affair with the dollar.


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Ricardo: Sorry, I can’t help Joao in that area since I expect the eventual collapse of the US dollar.

The US dollar has reached the end of the line as the major reserve currency.

It takes time for the fools from around the world to catch on regarding the new reality about the US dollar and the need of a new global financial system.


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Lloyd Cata: ...and you haven't missed the significance of the 7 dirty sisters(bases) in Columbia as forward staging areas for the recolonialization of Latin America. Please consider that those 'unnecessary' 100 million people in Brazil may be what is needed to turn back the Empires advance.


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Ricardo: Afghanistan is where former superpowers go to die a slow death.

The United States is following on the footsteps of the Soviet Union. And we all know what happened to the Soviet Union and the Soviet Empire. (And also what happened to all the military bases of the former Soviet Union located outside of the Soviet Union.)


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Lloyd Cata: Land reform that is fair and comprehensive is one means of changing the equation.


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Ricardo: We can’t have land reform in Brazil as if we were living in the 18 or 19 century.

In the year 2010 and in future years we need to be very careful with productive land because we need to feed almost 7 billion people.

The same way we can’t have land reform in Brazil (meaning land redistribution) it is stupid to grow sugar cane to turn it into ethanol to sell in the international market.

Ethanol from sugar cane is a way for Brazil to be energy independent. It is a Brazilian solution for Brazil. But it is a mistake to use our productive land to make ethanol to sell in the international market – that is obscene when we have a shortage of productive land around the world – for food production.


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Lloyd Cata: An educated people are a necessity of the state for functioning population with civil responsibilities.

…So I challenge you sir, to find the equation that fits for Brazil. If it has the ring of truth and the clarity of justice, the people will recognize what is needed to go forward. Trust the people that they will respond to common sense.


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Ricardo: If I could I would like Brazil to adopt the many social systems similar to Sweden regarding education, and quality of life.

Sweden is an example for Brazil to follow regarding the population standard of living, quality of life, education system, civility, high quality human capital, family is the number one priority in Sweden, and so on…


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Ricardo: Sorry, but I am not going to get involved on your discussion about religion….


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Paul Barnet: Your responded to my comments, assuming I was American I think. I am not American and have to agree that America made a big mess. I am British, and they are just as much at fault.


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Ricardo: Yes, I did.

I didn’t know that you were British. I assumed that you were an American because of your name.


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Paul Barnet: A good tactic used by politicians to distract attention from the issues their own country, is to point the finger at others. I am not saying you are a politician, but you use the same tactic in referring to America and Japan.


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Ricardo: It is not a political tactic – we are talking about Brazil, a country – then we need to compare it with other countries from around the world such as the USA and Japan.

If having a large educated population is the key to prosperity then explain to me why the United States has almost 20 percent unemployment and 50 percent of the unemployed population has at least a college degree.

Are you suggesting that Brazil should expend a fortune to educate its population for them to end up like the well-educated population of the United States?

I know a lot of well-educated people in Brazil who can’t find a decent job.


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Paul Barnet: Before I get a vicious backlash to these comments, I want to say that despite all it´s problems I love Brazil and believe it has huge potential.


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Ricardo: I don’t mind a civil conversation about Brazil. I know Brazil has many problems to be solved.

I just go for the throat or for the “jugular vein” when someone attacks me, and my family – or when someone attacks Brazil in an offensive way.

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Hunh: But more importantly, education has played a critical role in improving the lot of many working class Americans. Many have benefited from being the first to go to college, and then to a professional career that allowed them to live a comfortable middle class life.


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Ricardo: I am aware of the role that education played in the creation of a large middle class in the United States - With the compliments of FDR’s GI bill – the GI bill made a huge investment in America's human capital. You can read about it at:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G.I._Bill


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Hunh: But you come across like some kind of apocalyptic sci-fi scenario of the US collapse. Where and how will this happen? I read respected critical economist regularly (Paul Krugman, Joseph Stiglitz, for example) and they make no such claims, even if they see trouble, and continued high unemployment, they don't predict collapse and ruin.

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Ricardo: If you have been reading my articles and postings then you know that Paul Krugman, and Joseph Stiglitz are among a hand full of economists that I respect and read their writings on a regular basis.

You said: “But you come across like some kind of apocalyptic sci-fi scenario of the US collapse.”

If you had the chance to read my article published on “Brazzil Magazine - February 2005 "It’s 2008. The US Has Dragged the World into a Depression." Written by Ricardo C. Amaral
http://www.brazzilmag.com/comp...ssion.html


You probably would have said the same thing: “But you come across like some kind of apocalyptic sci-fi scenario of the US collapse.”

And Paul Krugman, and Joseph Stiglitz - they make no such claims as I did in December 2004 when I wrote that article. Besides they are two Economics Nobel Prize winners and they can’t come out and predict the meltdown of the US economy. They have to be careful with what they say at all times.

We had a financial meltdown in the summer of 2008 as I had mentioned on that article, and I even mentioned the source of the meltdown the derivatives market.


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Hunh: Also, I don't get your point about too many educated people. Maybe I should read all the posts to fully understand you, but I want to contest your claim about educated people being 50% of the unemployed over the decades.


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Ricardo: I never said: “educated people being 50% of the unemployed over the decades.”

This is a recent trend that developed in the last few years, since the United States job market is saturated with people with college degrees.

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Hunh: While I have read many posts here celebrating the collapse and sinking of the US economy as if it were the going down like the Titanic, I found it hypocritical, since certain poor and lesser educated people have been hurt most by the recession: so how could Brazilians celebrate this, when many of the illegal Brazilian immigrants as well as Mexicans, Blacks and other poor communities have suffered most from the recession. What's to celebrate about that?


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Ricardo: It is not a celebration. Nobody is celebrating the collapsing job market in the United States.

Since the 1920’s in the last few years – starting around 2007 – the United States had reverse immigration of illegal immigrants. During 2007 and 2008 the United States lost about 1.5 million illegal immigrants – these illegal immigrants went back home to where they came from, because the job market in the United States was collapsing. Keep in mind that these illegal immigrants work doing anything for a buck.

These illegal immigrants are the canary in the coalmine – and they have been giving a strong signal that the job market in the United States is a lot worse than it shows on US government figures.

Since 2007 hundreds of thousands of Brazilians have returned to Brazil because of the US job market and also because of the improving economic situation of the Brazilian economy.

Business Week had an article last year saying that during 2008 about 100,000 Indians returned to India - (these were 2nd and 3rd generation of Indians who were living in the United States and these are the guys with all kinds of advanced degrees including PhD’s – these are the guys that usually start high-tech companies in Silicon Valley. The reason we have had this exodus of human capital from the United States to India is because these very well-educated people think that they have a better chance to prosper in India in the coming years than if they stayed in the United States.)


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Hunh: Also, the idea of the US invading and occupying Brazil is silly paranoia.


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Ricardo: I am not too worried about the US military bases in Colombia.

Look what happened to the Soviet military bases that they had before the meltdown of the Soviet Union.

Most of them are history….

Do you think it will be any different for the United States?

No money, no funding, no military bases….

The Chinese are waking up regarding the ton of money that the US is borrowing from China – to invest in military bases in Colombia?

Are you serious, pissing away like that the money borrowed from China?

.

i saw it coming when the dollar started dropping and never went up

i said it on a lot of forums before you did

so, what is it going to be about the colombia bases? world war 3 or nothing because of financial colapse?

will it happen in my lifetime?

if i die and it didnt happen , i wont even have the satisfaction to call you a fool....life is sure unjust

will it happen in my lifetime?

All indicators show.... YES...

I am fascinated by the many different theories behind the building of the seven airbases in Columbia. My favorite is the American capture and diversion of the Amazon.
However, is it possible that it could be something incredibly simple, such as the short combat range of the Brazilian Tucano, the Cessna A-37, and the Israeli Kfir. The purchase of such airplanes would seem to require an increased number of airbases strategically placed about Columbia to make these capable ground attack machines more worthy and to serve as a force multiplier. Columbia appears to have chosen wisely when it comes to upgrading its air force. 40 Kfirs for about 350 U.S. million, with the upgrades and warranty the Israels have given, and proven, seems to indicate that someone within the Columbian air force has done his/her studying.
In addition, after the strife, these same airfields may prove important to Columbia's economic development. I am not a fan of the U.S. and wish that somehow, Brazil would have stepped in after selling the Tucanos and offered to assist in the air base construction. I feel Brazil missed yet another opportunity. What is happening in Columbia is just as important to Brazil as it was the Americans, and Brazil's neglect was America's opportunity. Perhaps the same with Peru.
Still the idea of America trying to steal the amazon is captivating. Just my thoughts.

My favorite is the American capture and diversion of the Amazon.

I heard Al Gore is already working on a secret project to develop a "Hyper Pump" to suck the water from the Amazon and divert it to the good ole U.S. of A.

Still the idea of America trying to steal the amazon is captivating. Just my thoughts.

The idea of America stealing the Amazon is captivating? More like nonsense! Yeah, and they are doing this with the support of the Martians! Yes, the US is planning to populate Brazil with little Green Mars' men, vampires and zombies who will conquer Brazil and make it a slave colony of the US! Time to wake up and smell the coffee as we say up north. Invade Brazil? We can barely occupy Afghanistan, one of the poorest nations on Earth. You talk like we are still living in the 16th Century when colonial powers unabashedly marched into third world countries and planted their flags. While all these wacko conspiracy theories may go over big in the perpetually melodramatic world of Brazilian TV novelas, it doesn't wash or cohere with the current political climate of the US. The average American is absolutely sick of war. The Bush/Cheney regime were able to steal an election, invent an imaginary danger (weapons of mass destruction in Iraq), march us off to war by playing on the fears of Americans in response to 9/11. But as that old saying goes, "you can fool some the people, some of the time, but not all of the people, all of the time". The lies of Bush came back to haunt him. Obama is partly successful for his multilateral international political strategy of working together with like-minded partners. Although Brazil seems to be entrenched in seeing us as an enemy to distrust, the EU has only further strengthened its relation with Obama and the US. The EU and the world would condemn such and attack. But more important, so would the vast majority of Americans, who would come out in mass to protest this. Besides, it is so fantastical a concept that it's never even considered or discussed here in the US. It sounds more like a projection and fear of Brazil. Occupy the Amazon? The greatest investors in the Amazon now are the Chinese! And even they wouldn't consider such as silly notion of occupying, and why should they when they can simply buy it? Illegal logging has been occurring there on a vast scale, with the government for the most part ignored it, sending a small task force to police this vast. And they ignore it probably because some powerful business interests are benefitting from this trade. So either some US interest or Chinese interest will more likely make back room deals that will benefit neither the average American, Chinese, or Brazilian for that matter.

One last point since you don't seem to know about the current political and cultural climate in the US in regards to war. The dumbass war in Iraq brought no particular benefits to the US, neither oil, nor business, which would counterbalance the trillion dollars pissed away there. Likewise, while some could argue, Afghanistan is a war to prevent Al Quadea from spreading, it is an extremely costly war as well. So who is paying for it? The average American who now sees budget cuts in universities, public schools, parks, libraries, highway and infrastructure spending to reduce the immense deficit we are running, partly due to these wars. So no, even the more conservative mainstream Americans know that both wars were costly, and highly questionable as to whether they achieved their mission. But even before these wars, ever since Vietnam, Americans have demanded greater justification for entering a war. Now that the lies of the Iraq war have been exposed, and given that we are paying dearly for that war with the closing of schools and libraries, the American public is demanding much more transparency and explanation to justify any further wars. So this alone is a considerable countervailing force to imperialistic incursions. Yet more importantly, the idea of the US invading Brazil is just laughable to me. Partly, you seem to be exaggerating the value of the Amazon: multi-national companies can bribe and buy it easily, so it seems, without the need of war and bloodshed. Also, you have some exaggerated sense of our war capacity and appetite.
Try to get your mind around this: we do not all have horns and devil's tails: we are not your enemy: despite the bulls**t images of Hollywood (Rambo, Terminator, Die Hard), Americans are just regular folks like Brazilians who enjoy being at the beach or park with their friends or family, and not waging war; we are neither devils nor saints;we are just like you: we are all one people, one family: we strive for happiness and struggle with pain, loss, disease, death and suffering as well. Stop demonizing us, stop casting us in the crude stereotypes learned from TV novelas or Hollywood, and talk to us instead: listen and really learn about us. You will be surprised.

Fnally someone else making sense. U.S bashing is so dated. It hasn't been about "imperialism" for awhile now. Is it the lack of info that has so many in S.A bamboozled? Get with the times.

Iraq? Afgahnastan?... Simply about "destabilizing the region in the long run. Stirring up conflict for a further "agenda". That's all it really amounts to.

The situation is SO much bigger than the U.S

Ricardo A: after reading your comments and replies, I am probably in agreement with much of what you said. Perhaps I misread you as celebrating the collapse of the US, but since so many on this blog take such a position, I hope you can understand how I would conclude this. Anyway, my apologies if I misrepresented you.
I guess the only point I may differ with you, is that I think the metaphor of the US going down like the Titanic is a bit overblown for me. I think the US is in some deep s**t now, but I am somewhat optimistic about certain trends, particularly the move away from the Neo Con dogma, the current populist rage against the big banks and Wall St, the vague possibility of healthcare reform, and some fairly progressive trends in US culture. Obama is still a bit of a cipher to me: I am hoping he can take the US down a more progressive path, away from our overly militarized politics. I had hopes that he would have put millions of unemployed to work much like FDR in the Great Depression or in WWII, but in this case, in researching, and producing new green technology. Yet, I am not holding my breath on this, just hoping. He has been more timid than FDR, and is appearing more like Hoover in his inability to provide bold government intervention.
Anyway, I am mostly puzzled and saddened by much of the anti-American sentiment I read here as well as what I experienced in Brazil. I also had dreams of the US and S. America working more collaboratively, perhaps one day coming together much like the EU. I guess I am a dreamer.

ASP: “darn ,ricardo, i predicted the financial crisis before you did”


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Ricardo: First, why do you think that my books and published articles of the last 11 years have been competing with your books and published articles during that period?

I don’t know how many published books you have so far, and how many articles do you have published on major publications?

I never read any of your books and published articles. I was not even aware that you were an author with various published works on the subject of economics.

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ASP: i saw it coming when the dollar started dropping and never went up

i said it on a lot of forums before you did


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Ricardo: Really….

Then show me your articles backing your claims....

Here is an example of mine:

1) Brazzil Magazine - June 2002 - “The Euro Now” - Written by Ricardo C. Amaral
http://www.brazzillog.com/pages/p26jun02.htm

…On December 12, 2001 I sent the enclosed letter to the president of the European Central Bank, regarding Brazil adopting the euro as its new currency. In January 2002. I received a letter from a senior official of the European Central Bank in response to my letter. I was pleasantly surprised by the content of that letter. It is clear to me by their answer, that the door is open to Brazil at the European Central Bank, if Brazil decides to adopt the euro as its new currency.

In my letter to the president of the European Central Bank I mentioned that the US dollar was overvalued over the price of gold at US$ 295/oz at that time and the euro trading at US$ .85¢. Six months later, on June 4, 2002, gold was trading at US$ 325/oz and the euro was trading at US$ .95¢; during this period the US dollar declined in value by 10.2 percent in relation to gold and also declined by 11.8 percent in relation to the euro.

…The long term US trade imbalances have created a large pool of US dollars in the hands of relatively few central banks around the world. These nations continue to run large trade surpluses with the United States, and they continue to increase the pool of US dollars held by their central banks.

Forbes Magazine's columnist Steve Hanke estimates that today 70 percent of US currency circulates outside the United States. The major holders of this currency are the euro countries, Japan, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea, Indonesia, and Singapore.

Probably today, there is an oversupply of US dollars outside of the United States. Gold at US$ 295/oz might be undervalued when compared to the US dollar.

At US$ 295/oz gold provides about 15 percent of official world monetary liquidity. Central banks hold only one-third of the above ground gold supply available. Gold is the second largest component of international monetary reserves after the US dollar.

Gold and the euro will became increasingly important parts of the international monetary reserve system and their gains will be at the expense of the US dollar.

If any of these countries decides to move their monetary reserves from the US dollar into gold, the price of gold would increase versus the US dollar. If that happens in the near future we will have a major international monetary crisis in the world.

About 75 percent of the US dollars circulating outside the United States are in the hands of these few Asian central banks, and if any one of these countries decides to sell their US dollar monetary reserves to buy gold it will produce a stampede to exit the US dollar, creating a gold and euro buying panic.

…When this US dollar collapse becomes reality, the less developed countries will be the most devastated by this event, because these countries hold only a small fraction of their reserves in gold or euro.

This oversupply of US dollar circulation outside the United States might prove to be the Achilles heel of the US economy and also can become a nightmare to the Federal Reserve. The Federal Reserve would need to raise interest rates in the US, creating a major problem for the US economy and the financial markets.

…The current US dollar based international financial system is about to go through a dramatic change because of the new competition from the euro. I don't know, when or what will trigger the coming events, since no finance minister or central banker wants to be blamed for launching the world into a major international monetary crisis.


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2) The Brasilians - July 1999 (Reprinted on Brazzil Magazine in June 2003)
Should Brazil Adopt a New Currency?
By: Ricardo C. Amaral
http://www.brazzil.com/compone...3/564.html


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3) Brazzil Magazine - March 2, 2007
“Here Is Why Brazil Should Adopt the New Asian Currency”
Written by Ricardo C. Amaral
http://www.brazzil.com/compone.../9821.html

…Since December of 1998 I have been advocating and writing many articles saying that Brazil should adopt the euro as its new currency. But the world has been changing at the speed of light since then and everything is evolving very fast today.

In the last two years I have changed my mind regarding Brazil adopting the euro as its new currency, because the entire ball game has changed from the Brazilian perspective in the last few years, and in my opinion, in the near future, Brazil should adopt instead the "New Asian Currency," a new currency similar to the euro on its effort to adapt to the new global economic reality.

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dont go there amoral, its floating all over the inernet on various forums....i have better things to do than drag up my old internet posts from forums i dont even participate on now

Joao, I share your sense of humor.

ASP: dont go there amoral, its floating all over the inernet on various forums....i have better things to do than drag up my old internet posts from forums i dont even participate on now


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Ricardo: I close my case.

It seems to me that you don't have anything to back up your loud mouth....

You are just a Monday Morning Quarterback...

.

The Dead Flag Blues (by GY!BE)

The car is on fire, and there's no driver at the wheel
And the sewers are all muddied with a thousand lonely suicides
And a dark wind blows

The government is corrupt
And we're on so many drugs
With the radio on and the curtains drawn

We're trapped in the belly of this horrible machine
And the machine is bleeding to death

The sun has fallen down
And the billboards are all leering
And the flags are all dead at the top of their poles

It went like this:

The buildings tumbled in on themselves
Mothers clutching babies
Picked through the rubble
And pulled out their hair

The skyline was beautiful on fire
All twisted metal stretching upwards
Everything washed in a thin orange haze

I said, "Kiss me, you're beautiful -
These are truly the last days"

You grabbed my hand
And we fell into it
Like a daydream
Or a fever

We woke up one morning and fell a little further down
For sure it's the valley of death

I open up my wallet
And it's full of blood

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...re=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...re=related

its just that a few people have come in saying they forcast the crisis also

hey , if you cant give me the world war 3 date or the date of the dollar colapse, your big mouth is just an arm chair quarterback

yhannaynanananya

Ricardo: That sounds interesting that you were predicting a collapse long before it happened. I am not economist, not even close, just someone who tries to keep up with the news. Yet, I thought Paul Krugman was in fact alarmed about the housing bubble long before others spoke out about it. Frankly, I was in Brazil at the time, and I knew a professor from the department of Economics and Business school (FEA?) who mentioned one day (Oct 2006) that there was strong indications that the housing bubble may lead to some major problems that could reverberate through the throughout the market, causing major problems. He tried to explain the derivatives issue to me, but we didn't get into a great deal of detail. He was a kind of soft spoken man who tended towards understatement, which only made me believe he was hinting at something big.
When I returned to the US that May, I heard stories on the news mostly about certain people claim there could be problems, but then someone in the Federal Reserved for example, would declare it is nonsense. Over the months, the news went like this: someone would make some dire forecast, which would be adamantly denied. I was strange how month by month the reports were increasingly worse, but someone would be equally denying the depth of the problem. It was a strange series of bad news revealed which was followed by further denial. At some point, I began to think it was a bit bizarre, and if began to get my attention, as I began to doubt and question more and more what I heard, especially any government pronouncement. Of course the whole time I thought of this professor who had quietly shared his suspicion and concern about a collapse.

By constitutional determination regarding the educational system, the aforementioned legislation still applies as long as it does not go against the Constitution. This ambiguity is a consequence of the absence of a new Bases and Guidelines Law and characterizes a transition phase until the new law is finally elaborated and enacted. The bill has already been submitted to congress.