> Brasília, the country’s Oscar Niemeyer-designed modern masterpiece of a capital
I think it's more of an dehumanizing homage to concrete and the car.
Brasília at Midnight
11–20 of 78 posts
Re: Brasília at Midnight
#12Earlier quoted context omitted.
So the crisis is not a result of a combination of incompetence, corruption and fiscal fraud, but of orchestrated propaganda?
Why must they be exclusive? Propaganda is a classic justification for corruption, incompetence, and fraud. You need a place to encourage people to look that isn't where you are exploiting.
Agree completely, which is why the previous government had public companies (i.e. taxpayer money) spend millions to fund "progressive" blogs and other people working on social media to speak well of the government.
But I don't think this is what the parent poster was talking about.
Re: Brasília at Midnight
#13For anyone trying to understand what's happening in Brazil and Venezuela, read about Foro de Sao Paulo [1], a socialist collective that is influencing politics since 1990. Their leaders led Latin-American countries to social and economical disasters and now are facing impeachment or being replaced. The Kirchner family of Argentina were the first to fall after twelve years in power [2]. In Brazil, Dilma is standing th…
It's also interesting that this coincides with a lot of other government regimes - Clintonism, Blairism, Putinism, etc.
The general structure of the world has been pretty similar since the 1990s, and as the years wear on we are finding out more and more how bankrupt both intellectually and morally it has been.
Re: Brasília at Midnight
#14As a Brazilian I can say this article is full of misinformation regarding current political events. The "coup" allegations are nothing but ridiculous. What kind of coups is done with ample defense opportunity and full validation of the Supreme Court? There's nothing flimsy about the fiscal fraud committed by the soon to be former president. And while this is not being considered for the impeachment process (because i…
> _What kind of coups is done with ample defense opportunity and full validation of the Supreme Court?_
Ermmm.. defense opportunity? A totally partisan-biased Supreme Court does not leave much for a defense strategy. That's like putting Benghazi to be judged by the GOP.
>_It's funny because in 92 the same politicians who are now claiming a coup is going on have voted in favor of impeachment_
Maybe because they're being consistent on their stances?
Re: Brasília at Midnight
#15> Brasília, the country’s Oscar Niemeyer-designed modern masterpiece of a capital I think it's more of an dehumanizing homage to concrete and the car.
In the 60s, that was a modern masterpiece. Can't blame Niemeyer for living in a time where cars and roads were a priority.
Re: Brasília at Midnight
#16> The rich want her out, the poor want her to stay put.
That's so oversimplified, it's laughable.
The middle class want her out and the poor never participated in politics in Brazil, and it's no different now.
The real rich always made money from the government either way, since big companies (banking, construction, telecom, you name it) either get incentives and legislation that help hold monopolies, or have the government as primary clients.
Author is apparently ignorant about Brazil's socio economics and history. Considering the praising of the rich left, artists and Niemeyer (self-proclaimed communist architect of Brasilia, considered today a failure in city planning), his analysis not only lack in depth but also balance.
Re: Brasília at Midnight
#17As a Brazilian I can say this article is full of misinformation regarding current political events. The "coup" allegations are nothing but ridiculous. What kind of coups is done with ample defense opportunity and full validation of the Supreme Court? There's nothing flimsy about the fiscal fraud committed by the soon to be former president. And while this is not being considered for the impeachment process (because i…
> _What kind of coups is done with ample defense opportunity and full validation of the Supreme Court?_ Ermmm.. defense opportunity? A totally partisan-biased Supreme Court does not leave much for a defense strategy. That's like putting Benghazi to be judged by the GOP. >_It's funny because in 92 the same politicians who are now claiming a coup is going on have voted in favor of impeachment_ Maybe because they're bei…
> Ermmm.. defense opportunity?
Yes. Multiple opportunities for the defense to expose its views and interview witnesses, both in congress and senate.
> A totally partisan-biased Supreme Court
The majority of the current Supreme Court has been appointed by in the Lula and Dilma governments and are strongly tied to their party, including a former lawyer of a party member who is now in jail.
If there's any bias, it's in favor of the accused.
Re: Brasília at Midnight
#18As a Brazilian I can say this article is full of misinformation regarding current political events. The "coup" allegations are nothing but ridiculous. What kind of coups is done with ample defense opportunity and full validation of the Supreme Court? There's nothing flimsy about the fiscal fraud committed by the soon to be former president. And while this is not being considered for the impeachment process (because i…
> everyone wants their own government tit to suck from.
That is the general schema by which statist ("socialist") regimes hang on to power... that is until they have inflated themselves out of existence.
Re: Brasília at Midnight
#19> Brasília, the country’s Oscar Niemeyer-designed modern masterpiece of a capital I think it's more of an dehumanizing homage to concrete and the car.
In the 60s, that was a modern masterpiece. Can't blame Niemeyer for living in a time where cars and roads were a priority.
It is and always was the reflect of a dysfunctional view of society. One fit for the military dictatorships of its time. One with no concern for mass transport, housing and entertainment (even as the 60s where when metro started in Rio and São Paulo).
It is where by design one would live the closest to the artificial lakes and best public infrastructure according to the position it has on the State administration.
With no place though for the supporting people, who ended living in rings of poverty around the designed opulence. Going on-and-of during hours everyday to serve the rich bureaucrats they support.
Having been there sometimes, it is disgusting.
Re: Brasília at Midnight
#20As a Brazilian I can say this article is full of misinformation regarding current political events. The "coup" allegations are nothing but ridiculous. What kind of coups is done with ample defense opportunity and full validation of the Supreme Court? There's nothing flimsy about the fiscal fraud committed by the soon to be former president. And while this is not being considered for the impeachment process (because i…
> everyone wants their own government tit to suck from. That is the general schema by which statist ("socialist") regimes hang on to power... that is until they have inflated themselves out of existence.
Yet people are conditioned in schools to love the state and hate the "all evil" capitalism.
In Brazil it's political suicide to suggest cutting government expenses such as bloated programs and agencies (even though they are known to be infested by corruption). People are hit hard by our extremely high taxes but don't make the connection to the government inefficacy and corruption. They keep asking for more government services and programs. People hate our postal service (which has a monopoly on some sorts of deliveries), yet freak out at the idea of opening it to the free market.
The current president attempted to end the "ministry of culture" (which basically is a money gateway from our pockets to already-rich artists with political connections) and replace it with a smaller department. Teachers and university students brainwashed by the state-worshiping religion kept protesting until the president gave up and bought the ministry back. That has been happening to all his attempts at fixing things.