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Brazil's Trump

 
 
 
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southernhybrid

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I'm getting tired of pretending that the only country in the world that is going crazy is the US, so can we talk about Brazil, or even some of the European countries that are moving further into crazy land?

But, for now, let's discuss Brazil. Hopefully, my fellow freethinkers follow world politics. Assuming that many of you do, what are your thoughts on the new Brazilian "dictator?" From what I've read, he became popular due to promising to bring down Brazil's high crime rate, but perhaps some of you can shed more light on what's happening in Brazil.

If you've been too caught up with US politics, let's take a look at what's going on in Brazil.

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/29/world/americas/jair-bolsonaro-brazil-profile.html?rref=collection%2Fsectioncollection%2Fworld&action=click&contentCollection=world&region=rank&module=package&version=highlights&contentPlacement=6&pgtype=sectionfront

A knack for turning setbacks into opportunity has been a constant for Mr. Bolsonaro, the far-right populist who won Sunday’s runoff election to become Brazil’s next president, upending the political parties and norms that have governed Brazil since the end of military rule more than 30 years ago.
Mr. Bolsonaro’s broadsides against women, gay people, Brazilians of color and even democracy — “Let’s go straight to the dictatorship,” he once said as a congressman — made him so polarizing that he struggled to find a running mate until early August. Traditional parties and politicians considered him too extreme.

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“Elections won’t change anything in this country,” he said during one of his seven terms in Congress. “Unfortunately, it will only change the day that we break out in civil war here and do the job that the military regime didn’t do, killing 30,000. If some innocent people die, that’s fine. In every war, innocent people die. I will even be happy if I die as long as 30,000 go.”
Far from disqualifying him, his incendiary remarks over the years and throughout the campaign made Mr. Bolsonaro appealing to millions of Brazilians. Many see in him the kind of disruptive, status quo-breaking potential that propelled President Trump’s victory in 2016.
On Sunday, Mr. Bolsonaro said during his victory speech that his government would uphold the constitution and democratic principles.
President Trump called on Sunday to congratulate him on his victory, following up with a tweet on Monday morning that said, “Had a very good conversation with the newly elected President of Brazil, Jair Bolsonaro, who won the race by a substantial margin. We agreed that Brazil and the United States will work closely together on Trade, Military and everything else!”
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Oh, and Trump is praising him. Is anybody surprised by that? WTF is going on in the world?
 
Well, Brazil is a corrupt shithole with one of the highest crime and murder rates around.

Nobody else did anything about it, so may as well roll the dice on crazy.
 
There is a crisis of politics all over the world.
The Brazil election wasn't even close. Perhaps the leftist candidate was even worse. What do you guys know about this Haddad character?
 
ruby sparks said:
I blame Identity Politics.
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Do you know anything about the highly complex political situation in Brazil, or did you just pull that out of your ass?
 
The jackboots are asserting their authority pretty quickly:

More than 20 Brazilian universities were invaded by the military police in the past 2 days. They confiscated material on the history of fascism, interrupted classes due to 'ideological content', removed anti-fascist banners and posters claiming that it was electoral propaganda.
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https://mobile.twitter.com/castriotar/status/1055836519318122496
 
Well, thanks for all the serious replies. I knew you guys were concerned about what's happening in other parts of the world.

/sarcasm
 
southernhybrid said:
I'm getting tired of pretending that the only country in the world that is going crazy is the US, so can we talk about Brazil, or even some of the European countries that are moving further into crazy land?
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In the last election 20% of the Swedish voted for actual Nazis.
 
What's causing such a rise in populist leaders around the world?

Is it just that the political right are more willing to capitalize on social media, and more willing to lie, cheat, and steal to 'win' at all costs?

I don't know, really, but we have seen what happens when a lot of right wingers come into power (see The Authoritarians). I'm thinking we're due for another world war, I guess.

Glad I don't have kids.
 
Worldtraveller said:
What's causing such a rise in populist leaders around the world?

Is it just that the political right are more willing to capitalize on social media, and more willing to lie, cheat, and steal to 'win' at all costs?

I don't know, really, but we have seen what happens when a lot of right wingers come into power (see The Authoritarians). I'm thinking we're due for another world war, I guess.

Glad I don't have kids.
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I think it's because of the Internet. It's the Dunning-Kruger paradox. Stupid/uneducated people think they're smart. And will listen to anybody who tells them they're smart.

The Internet has removed the media middle-man. Today the Internet allows for the idiots to talk straight to each other. There's nothing providing a reality check to these groups.
 
Worldtraveller said:
What's causing such a rise in populist leaders around the world?

Is it just that the political right are more willing to capitalize on social media, and more willing to lie, cheat, and steal to 'win' at all costs?

I don't know, really, but we have seen what happens when a lot of right wingers come into power (see The Authoritarians). I'm thinking we're due for another world war, I guess.

Glad I don't have kids.
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Apparently it's simply such a degree of dissatisfaction with the "Establishment" that people are willing to burn the whole thing down, even if it means there are disastrous consequences.
 
southernhybrid said:
Well, thanks for all the serious replies. I knew you guys were concerned about what's happening in other parts of the world.

/sarcasm
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Well, there's not much to do other than either laugh or cry. Brazil's government is a corrupt oligarchy which is ignoring the country's citizens and the place is a shithole of crime filled with people who don't have a viable path to a better future. There really isn't a way to fix it beyond having an outsider come in to, for lack of a better phrase, drain the swamp.

It doesn't really sound like this guy will do that and he'll more likely take a Trumpian path of changing the corruption to allow his friends to profit as opposed to having the other guys' friends profit, but he'll be allowed to do that and crack down on those opposing him because at least he's someone who's taking action. The country will become worse under his leadership and the fundamental structural problems which led to his election won't get solved or even looked at. Then he'll get re-elected in order to continue profiting from the country's downwards spiral.
 
Worldtraveller said:
What's causing such a rise in populist leaders around the world?

Is it just that the political right are more willing to capitalize on social media, and more willing to lie, cheat, and steal to 'win' at all costs?

I don't know, really, but we have seen what happens when a lot of right wingers come into power (see The Authoritarians). I'm thinking we're due for another world war, I guess.

Glad I don't have kids.
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I think that's true to a large extent. I was reading an article earlier today about how much social media, especially FB, has been used to spread propaganda in many countries, including Brazil.

What's going on in Italy? I've read that it is going much further to the right as well and how bad has anti Semitism gotten in Germany? I keep reading bits and pieces about that.

Brazil may be a shithole, but its new leader seems to be made in the image of Trump and Duarte. Brazil is the largest shithole in SA, and it's also home of some of the world's largest rain forests. Further destruction of the rainforests impacts the entire planet. Maybe it's hopeless and we should just accept our fate. :(

Do you think the next world war will be a hot war or a cyber war? A cyber war could damage power grids etc. Think of how social media attacks have already been used to influence elections in many countries, including the US.
 
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