Topic: Brazil

[Lelygax]

I felt the need to share this here with my friends, about my country, sadly I dont know if a youtube version of this video exists, so you will need to access facebook to watch.

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=811427358878851

[Mooning Freddy]

Are things not getting better in Brazil? That is very pessimistic. The growth in Brazil is not very high but, after all, it's one of the most developed states in Latin America. So yes, the country has a very high rate of poverty and inequality. That is true.
However, from what I know, it is still much better off than most of Latin America, alongside Chile (significantly more developed) and Argentina. It's better governed than the uber-corrupt, semi-authoritarian populist Venezuela, whose economic policies are leading the state to bankruptcy, and significantly more developed then the smaller states in the region. 

You can't compare Brazil with USA. Brazil has only been democratic for a few decades and has been much less industrialized and much more corrupt than USA. And you know what I like about Brazilians? Like most South Americans, they're not broken by their misfortune. They want to get better and would work hard to get better.   

[Lelygax]

Well, I only wanted to share whats happening there so people know the truth, I didnt made this video lol

But it seems that they compare with USA because its directed to it, also dollar is a common wealth so its easier to compare. We could be better than other countries, but we are going downhill these last years, since election is near I hope things can get better

Our actual president did so many mistakes that we almost had gone backwars, wish us luck.

[eryson]

Its a sad reality

[Ratty]

Yeah the total waste of resources that was the World Cup really highlighted how much you need new leaders it seems. I hope things improve soon.

[uzo]

You got a paypal or something? Maybe we can give you a boost. USD is 2.4x your R worth too, so whatever is given would be more than doubled.

20$USD -> ~50$R

[Lelygax]

Haha thanks for the offer (if it was serious) but I didnt would feel good taking money from the others like this. I really only wanted to share with you dungeonites the actual situation of my country, since this wont appear on the news I think.

Yes, the World Cup is a cool event, but they wasted (I mean really wasted, like doing things in the wrong way) a lot of money that could've been expent on hospitals or something like that.

[Shiroi Koumori]

I agree on the World Cup wastages. If your government does not change, wait til you see what they'll gonna do with the upcoming summer olympics.

My country is hammered with high taxes and high corruption and greedy politicians for decades. So I fully understand what you mean.

[Mooning Freddy]

My Political History lecturer said the that the spending on the World Cup should not so quickly be treated as a waste, but an investment, which should repay itself in tourism or other kinds of income. He said the Brazilian government is not stupid and probably knows what it is doing. Also they used the World Cup as an opportunity for a massive crack down on all those bloody gangs in Rio. My lecturer was born in Latin America and has massive knowledge on the region, so I trust his word for it. 

Also, I think in comparison with Putin's Sochi Olympics, in which he wasted billions on bullshit and actually stole land and made people's lives miserable to build everything he did there (which turned out eventually to be complete crap, as expected from contemporary Russia), everything seems reasonable.

[Shiroi Koumori]

I see the point of your prof. Those projects would count as an investment in the future as long as it is not turned into a white elephant. And inclusive growth must be targeted (like in the tourism sector), or else, the poor would still remain poor.

[X]

or else, the poor would still remain poor.

The even sadder reality is, is that so long as the monetary system is still in use there will always be a poor populous. That's the one inescapable truth that many out there don't realize or care to. Especially those who're in power. If you want to eliminate poverty, eliminate and replace the monetary system. Nobody want to give up their money because it makes them feel important on some level or another. The stock exchange is also a big contributing factor to the problem of poverty. Before the stock market was in place the wealth was more evenly distributed amongst the classes. But now you have the rich sucking the wealth (life) out of the economy and the rest of the classes (middle and poor). Sooner or later--if this keeps up--there will be no middle class and the poor will be even poorer (if that's even possible). I'm only making 14 bucks an hour and I have two jobs. According to Canadian statistics if a person is not making at least 27 dollars an hour in Canada, they're below the poverty line. Guess where I stand in that regard. And the only way to off-set this is by having as few expenses as possible. Also I'm living with other people so that lessons the burden more.

[Ratty]

My Political History lecturer said the that the spending on the World Cup should not so quickly be treated as a waste, but an investment, which should repay itself in tourism or other kinds of income. He said the Brazilian government is not stupid and probably knows what it is doing. Also they used the World Cup as an opportunity for a massive crack down on all those bloody gangs in Rio. My lecturer was born in Latin America and has massive knowledge on the region, so I trust his word for it. 

Also, I think in comparison with Putin's Sochi Olympics, in which he wasted billions on bullshit and actually stole land and made people's lives miserable to build everything he did there (which turned out eventually to be complete crap, as expected from contemporary Russia), everything seems reasonable.

Yeah yeah. How long does he think it's gonna take for backpacking 20-somethings to make up for the billions Brazil spent on stadiums that are now abandoned in remote areas after being used for 1 or 2 games? Anyone who thinks Brazil is going to make back that wasted money from tourism within our lifetime (maybe even our children's lifetime) is fooling themselves.

The even sadder reality is, is that so long as the monetary system is still in use there will always be a poor populous. That's the one inescapable truth that many out there don't realize or care to. Especially those who're in power. If you want to eliminate poverty, eliminate and replace the monetary system. Nobody want to give up their money because it makes them feel important on some level or another. The stock exchange is also a big contributing factor to the problem of poverty. Before the stock market was in place the wealth was more evenly distributed amongst the classes. But now you have the rich sucking the wealth (life) out of the economy and the rest of the classes (middle and poor). Sooner or later--if this keeps up--there will be no middle class and the poor will be even poorer (if that's even possible). I'm only making 14 bucks an hour and I have two jobs. According to Canadian statistics if a person is not making at least 27 dollars an hour in Canada, they're below the poverty line. Guess where I stand in that regard. And the only way to off-set this is by having as few expenses as possible. Also I'm living with other people so that lessons the burden more.

Pretty much. The super rich don't spend money and create jobs, they horde it at the top as an elaborate measuring contest. A dollar sitting in a billionaire's bank account is a dollar that's not being used to pay wages or better the world in any way. This is the inevitable result of capitalism though, the world doesn't have unlimited resources and money keeps collecting at the top.

[Mooning Freddy]

Nobody want to give up their money because it makes them feel important on some level or another. The stock exchange is also a big contributing factor to the problem of poverty. Before the stock market was in place the wealth was more evenly distributed amongst the classes.

Before the stock market it was a pre-capitalist economic system. Before capitalism indeed wealth was more evenly distributed: everyone was equally poor. Capitalism allowed for the emergence of a middle class and significantly raised everyone's standard of living and the wealth in general.
People would argue that in social-democratic states there's more equality; That's true. But that does not mean the majority is better off than neo-liberal countries. In many cases they are worse off.

This is the inevitable result of capitalism though, the world doesn't have unlimited resources and money keeps collecting at the top.

I'm not a libertarian so I wouldn't argue with that, but you know what could be said about what you imply: That if redistribution is the answer, it would make more harm than benefit by killing investment, destroying initiative for improvement, harm growth and make public as a whole more dependent on the government. I think the fate of Venezuela is showing how populist policies can drive a rich country to the brink of bankruptcy. People can't get toilet paper there. Friggin' toilet paper. 

[uzo]

if it was serious

It was.

[Shiroi Koumori]

Ratty just proved that those stadiums are white elephants.

Redistribution is so difficult to do in countries rife with corruption in all levels and when the heads of government are all elitist (like in my country). Basic needs are not met for a majority of the population (poor) and even the middle class is having trouble with inflating prices, high taxes and stagnating incomes. I have a feeling that the rich wants to eliminate the middle class...

The ideal redistribution for me is through social services for the provision of basic needs plus free quality education and training financed by progressive taxation. It will never happen in my country.