Ordem e progresso

David

David lives here at the guesthouse because there isn’t enough room with his family and rent anywhere in Rio is far too high. He teaches and his wage is far better—about 50 reis per hour—than the 8 reis per hour most teachers earn. He can pay for his own healthcare, but most people can’t. 

His work is infrequent. It isn’t for lack of hustle—people in Rio, people in Sao Paulo, are always hustling, looking for work, educating themselves. But the robbery and corruption of the government is staggering and it siphons off much of the steam of an otherwise healthy economy.

To put the corruption in perspective, David’s mother, who worked as an architect for 30 years, earns 1,800 reis a month in pension, about $800 a month. 30-35 years is about the benchmark for retirement. Politicians, on the other hand, receive pension after 8 years of ‘work,’ and receive a staggering 19,000 reis per month, or about $8,600 per month. 

There is a current project in Rio to update a tourist cable lift to a popular attraction. Many estimate the cost at about 5 million dollars, yet the local government has managed to budget a billion dollars, most of the funds mostly likely consisting of related party transactions rife with conflicts of interest. 

When I hear these staggering stories of government corruption and outright theft, I feel slightly more hopeful for the future of Brasil, as people seem to be aware of the source of the problem—an active and healthy mafia called ‘government.’ There are hundreds of thousands of people who have descending from the hills of the largest favela in Rio who are on the streets protesting at this moment. There will be protests every day of the year until there is a marked decrease in corruption. 

There is a history of keeping the poor uneducated and in the dark. Before elections, politicians give gifts of food to families, sometimes bicycles, in exchange for votes.    But now the heat is on the government. These protests will weaken the will of those who continue to steal. 

People are aware and angry—how can such a rich country have such a hard time with education? Where is all the money going? People are paying attention and taking to the streets. The corrupt who are in power will not be able to sleep, and no amount of tear gas and rubber bullets will break the will of a people who refuse to be robbed. As government is the adolescence of humanity, it is thrilling to see Brazilians push humanity in a new form and direction.

São Paulo: Vem Pra Rua

“O povo unido é gente pra caralho.”

Government, qua government, is a monopolistic control of violence; it is a mafia. Over the years governments have used various techniques to keep their masses in line or 'happy,' but occasionally the human farm becomes uncomfortably self-aware.

There have not been very large mass marches or demonstrations for over 2 decades since the fall of the last Brazilian dictator. So what was the impetus of current protests?

The mafia got caught flashing its riches while fleecing the human farm. 7 billion reis have been borrowed from the taxpaying base in Brasil to finance World Cup and Olympic construction. Many see the capital as having very little value for the future of education, healthcare, and standard of living of average Brazilians. Many see such expenditures as a wealth transfer between the government and large, international firms. Many see the 7 billion reis as the government's strange ability to have deep pockets for certain projects, while being hamstrung for other projects. Several weeks ago the government announced an increase in the tariff of public transportation of 20 reis, about 10 cents. This proposed hike illustrated the disconnect between the government and those it attempted to delude: How can such an 'institution' materialize such capital for the World Cup when at the same time lacking capital for public transportation that poor depend on as an essential part of their daily lives? Hence it wasn't the actual 20 reis, it was the affront to the intelligence and dignity of Brazilians.

Last week, the first rounds of marches, or "manifestações," were met with some police presence and resulted in some nasty conflicts--pepper spray, tear gas, rubber bullets. I did not participate in those particular demonstrations in Rio or São Paulo. Yet on Monday I was invited to make signs and march in unison in support of this resistance to the lack of consent inherent in government. This time, the government decided to remove the police from the streets. There were about 60,000 people who marched on Monday night (the 18th), and in the 4 hours and 11km I marched, there was great peace, happiness, friendship, music, dancing, singing, and chanting. The same occurred on Tuesday night (the 19th). I witnessed no violence whatsoever as I marched through the streets with this large group.

Many on the sidelines hung white sheets out their windows in support of the movement. People painted their faces, cars honked their horns in support, large bands where in the middle of the crowd, playing drums, horns, whistles. There were chants against the hike in the tariff, chants protesting the low pay of teachers, chants in favor of the bus drivers, who never get pay increases, but mostly chants against a large government who taxes much and gives back little. There was great jeering in front of the main municipal building as the government workers looked from the windows, sheepishly. They had job security, for now. It must have been strange for them to see the faces of the people they rob.

None protest as beautifully and peacefully as do Brazilians.