MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Hundreds march in Rio to protest education federal funding cuts by Bolsonaro's administration
Hundreds of students and professors protested against public education funding cuts outside a military high school in Brazil where far-right President Jair Bolsonaro was attending a ceremony. Bolsonaro’s conservative government sparked outrage last week when it revealed at least 30% cuts to the annual budgets of federally funded high schools and universities. Read full article
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Disclaimer & comment rulesI don't know to what extent some of the latest 'happenings' in Federal Universities has to do with it, although mentioned by the Minister of Education as one of the reasons to reduce funds of certain faculties - sociology, phylosophy - and what most of the media fails to report, is that in several Federal Universities, many students believe their time should be used partying, smoking pot (on campus), protesting and running around campus, naked....and even attending classes in the nude......how wonderful, is that how they think taxpayers' money should be used ? to keep a bunch of irresponsible idiots in clover ?
May 08th, 2019 - 08:58 pm - Link - Report abuse 0If they don't like the cuts, there's an even better solution : kick them out of University. If they can't respect the fact that they are the privileged ones, then they don't deserve the scholarships. Let someone else, who wants to study, be benefited by them.
Sounds like the reports were made expressly to soften people up to accept the funding cuts... you've said many times that Brazil ought to spend MORE on education. Even if some students are partying instead of working, cutting funding won't help. Throwing out anyone who fails their exams/gets bad grades would. And it excuses cutting money for schools even less; I daresay in reality it's a cost-saving measure.
May 08th, 2019 - 09:45 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Any politician true to his salt can justify ANYTHING!
May 09th, 2019 - 10:01 am - Link - Report abuse 0@DT
May 10th, 2019 - 06:27 pm - Link - Report abuse 0“Sounds like the reports were made expressly to soften people up to accept the funding cuts”
Don't follow your “logic”....first, there are courses in Fed Unis that are over funded (philosophy, for one ?), and other more important ones, under-funded....the Ministry of Education, besides having to cope with far less revenue due to the crisis, is trying to allocate the available funds to where they'll be better used....despite this, when/if the situation improves, and the situation permits, funds can be restored.
Second, if some faculties stand out due to the irresponsibility of their students, nothing more logical than to make them the first to have funds reduced.
Third, to imagine that the press would report on the students' actions before the cuts were announced, in order to soften people's reactions, and into the bargain, favor the government, can only be a joke.
Just fyi, three students at the Universidade Federal de Brasília have been arrested for growing a small cannabis plantation on University grounds....for their own consumption and to sell to their colleagues. I think they should be expelled....'n you ?
But don't get me wrong...I definitely do believe “education”, but 'taken seriously', is the single most important medium term factor in getting Brazil out of the rut.
Just for the record, the cuts are not reprisals for partying etc, but they had to start somewhere in the federal school system....and I've said before, and will repeat, not everyone is material for higher education...forcing many through the system, by making it easier to get in ('n out) through lowering the standards, with students not taking their responsibilities (to themselves 'n the taxpayer) seriously, just for the sake of stats, is hardly the solution...perhaps the funds would be better used, 'n the students more dedicated, in professionalizing courses, which will teach more of them, a profession. It's like a pyramid...“everyone” goes thru the base, not all (can) reach the top
“To imagine that the press would report on the students' actions before the cuts were announced, in order to soften people's reactions, and into the bargain, favor the government, can only be a joke.”
May 10th, 2019 - 11:54 pm - Link - Report abuse 0You said before that most of the press was NOT reporting them. If a small segment of the media start publishing a bunch of stories on one topic, it's not so unreasonable to think they might have an agenda. Students have been linked to protests since forever, and drugs are common everywhere; I don't find those stories particularly noteworthy, but if you publish a bunch at once it can give the impression of a (worrying) trend.
They didn't have to cut spending on education anyway. Who'd have thought the new government would be spending more on the BF and less on schools and universities? Cutting spending on research and education seems extremely short sighted to me; not only will you have a less educated population and less innovation, but it's gonna vastly increase the brain drain as smart people go and work or study abroad.
As for 'professionalising' courses, that might be a good idea, but the article doesn't mention any increase in them, only spending cuts.
REF: “federal funding cuts”:
May 11th, 2019 - 11:53 am - Link - Report abuse 0Looks like the crisis really is getting serious instead of turning into a mockery! I even heard that as a gesture of solidarity, ALL the politicians will unite in giving up their:
- Exaggerated FAT Salaries
- Exaggerated Privileges
- Immunities+Protections from the laws
- Loopholes created by them to escape legally from the law
- “Oranges”
- Rights to steal Public-Funds
- Money Laundering
- Bloated Off-Shore accounts, make-believe foundations
- And above all; lying to the masses!
Well - all this is because Brazil is most likely to turn into the World's Largest Exporter of Cheap-Manual-Labor?
DT
May 11th, 2019 - 08:28 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Not really sure what you're referring to with “You said before that most of the press was NOT reporting them”...it's over the whole media...but my point is that I don't see the press trying to cooperate with, or make, the government's life any easier.
Sure, universities in the last decades have been full of crackheads 'n drugs, but since it IS against the law, “we the taxpayer” fund public universities, why should “we” waste our money on these idiots' educations ? how would any parent like his kids to waste his hard-earned money on partying 'n drugs instead of studying ? afaic, today, the budget cuts are almost unavoidable, and not in retaliation - people seem to forget where we were 3 years ago, when the lack of revenue affected every single Ministry - afaic, drugs in Unis aren't necessarily a worrying trend, because as you said, they've been around “since forever”, but when students start to disrespect the institutions and those who pay for them, it's time to clamp down.
Today, with tax-revenue still dwindling, it's a matter of determining priorities....the BF, as a form of livelyhood for millions, has been seen as a priority....and when you think that “today”, with many students in public (free) universities who either - as I said, aren't higher education material - or are pushed through the system without taking it seriously, the cuts seem pretty rational....spending billions on students who think University is a joke, is no laghing matter. Also, as I said, thinking in terms of prioritizing, I believe it's more important to guarantee a fundamental education for the masses, than spend the same amount on far fewer, and sometimes irresponsible Uni students, who don't really have the capacity, nor the interest, in continuing higher studies.
OK, cuts in education is not the best way to go, but when it comes down to allocating scarce resources, it's a different story. The press just makes a point of omitting anything that might seem even remotely positive.
“Not really sure what you're referring to”
May 11th, 2019 - 10:18 pm - Link - Report abuse 0In your first post, you wrote:
“and what most of the media fails to report...”
So is it all over the whole media or not? I'm curious where you heard these stories. I don't think the majority of the media supports B by any means, but can easily believe a segment of it does.
“today, the budget cuts are almost unavoidable”
This I agree with, but education should be a priority, for the future of the country. When our government made the austerity budget in 2010, the only two areas they protected were education and health.
There's another factor I didn't mention before. Religious people are often opposed to education, especially higher education, because education tends to make people question authority and their bullshit doctrines. And B has fundamentalist religious types as a part of his base... That's my suspicion why he agreed to education cuts, despite the likely disadvantages for business and the country.
As for the partying students, if they can keep up their grades it's not my business, and if they persistently fail they should be chucked out anyway. But I was thinking: Brazilian students have to pay their own living costs, so only those with rich parents could afford to doss and do drugs. The poorer ones would be working. I think I suggested before that richer students should pay fees, like in the UK. If they were paying something they'd take it more seriously, and the government could save money without universities having to cut places.
“The press just makes a point of omitting anything that might seem even remotely positive.”
They're probably too busy reporting students turning up naked for lectures. ;)
Didn't I mention that Brazil is most likely to turn into the World's Largest Exporter of Cheap-Manual-Labor? Brazil is already getting ready to meet The Demand:
May 12th, 2019 - 10:24 am - Link - Report abuse 0http://www.chargeonline.com.br/php/charges/AUTO_aziz.jpg
DT
May 13th, 2019 - 02:03 am - Link - Report abuse 0OK, the media rarely reported on drugs & partying in public universities, but don't recall students walking around naked as part of the entertainment, or of other protests. Today, the focus is on the cuts - imo, unavoidable - because the media can hit back at the govt. I'd say that a small % of the media is fair, but most of it is out to do no favors, regardless of the consequences.
Once again, playing to a largely “ignorant” audience. For ex., the press claims most Brazilians are against the pension reform....a last week's poll, (ordered by the Nat'l Industry Confederation) showed that over 60% admit they have no idea what it contains ...about 25% weren't even aware a reform was being discussed...when you have ignorance on this level, the press can have a field day.
We agree rgdng the importance of education, but students need to take their (free) scholarships seriously, or f*ck off. Here, NO 'area' has been 'protected'...at the moment it's just impossible.
I tend to agree that Churches don't like people questioning their bs, but this has nothing to do with B, or 'his' religious background. Education funds were already being reduced well b4 B came on the scene. The cuts are a consequence of the overall situation, affecting all areas.
Since the PT voters are concentrated amongst the poor, makes no sense for B to want to keep them ignorant. The idea is to prioritize basic schooling for all, while, imo, the money being spent on Federal Unis is too much, being badly spent, even wasted.
Many don't keep their grades up....they are 'passed' from one year to another, because that's what the system is expected to do - to justify itself, and look good in the stats. Many graduates can't even speak or write Portuguese correctly...great !! The system is very permissive, 'n it wouldn't be politically correct to kick them out, even if /when justified. Yr suggestion - on poor vs rich - is illegal, besides, most students in the Fed Unis are not 'rich'
It's funny, the PT supporters also thought the media was out to get the government. Maybe they are against whoever is in power, or maybe it just looks that way as they hunt for the most newsworthy stories. I mean, students growing drugs on campus makes great news, and so would students partying naked, but the hundreds of thousands quietly getting on with their studies doesn't. Similarly governments screwing up is news, business as usual isn't.
May 13th, 2019 - 10:43 am - Link - Report abuse 0I'd say it's the media's job to inform people what is in the proposed pension reform, in ways the average person can understand. But if 25% of people haven't even heard of it, that's definitely their own fault.
“this has nothing to do with B, or 'his' religious background”
I don't think it's his personal beliefs; IIRC he's a Catholic, and judging by his three wives not a serious one. But the religious fundamentalists are a big part of his base, and some of his ministers are from that group, so likely to have an influence on policy when deciding where to make cuts. And all the politicians have a certain interest in keeping people ignorant.
“Yr suggestion - on poor vs rich - is illegal, besides, most students in the Fed Unis are not 'rich'”
They're as 'rich' as British and American students who have to pay for their own education. And it's only illegal until the government changes the law. If money is so tight, maybe it's something that should be considered? My experience is that if people have to pay, even a small amount, they will take their education more seriously and be less likely to spend their time partying.
And if no area has been protected, is military spending also being cut? How about subsidised loans and insurance for farmers?
REF: Reform [of any kind]: A pity:
May 13th, 2019 - 11:54 am - Link - Report abuse 0https://www.otempo.com.br/image/contentid/policy:1.2180223:1557614551/CHARGE%20O%20TEMPO.JPG?f=3x2&w=940&$p$f$w=9a2eab8
@ :o))
May 13th, 2019 - 03:59 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Filho da Mãe?
DT
May 13th, 2019 - 04:50 pm - Link - Report abuse 0The media was largely favorable to the PT, 'n to Lula, who in many cases acted like a despot conducting an orchestra...like spending billions on govt propaganda, favoring the large media groups. A few journalists criticized him, and that's when Lula's dislike of freedom of speech flared up. The press, generally speaking, only changed course regarding the PT, when they realized Lula's image was tarnished (only very slightly by the 'mensalão'), 'n later by the Lavajato 'n Dilma's pitiful performance. It would be no use carrying on favouring a man, or a party, whose credibility was being weakened through a series of events.
Right, agree that the majority of the Fed Uni students aren't partying or getting high - or, as recently, attending classes naked - but the press latches on to it like a slug and loves to be sensationalist.
After B announced his intention of reforming the pension system (mid-Feb), the proposed rules - including suggested changes etc - has been all over the news, constantly...'n in enough detail to allow anyone, who is minimally interested, to dig further. As they say, ignorance of the law does not excuse the crime.
B is a catholic, not too fanatical, 'n has only embraced the Evangelical groups as they are closest to his beliefs....more conservative. The “religious fundamentalists” have influence in Congress, not directly on B, but obviously, if he wants his projects passed, he cannot afford to antagonize them.
Afaik, the cuts are a result of the lack of money, compounded by the slow (if any) recovery of the economy, and B has left 99% of the decisions in PG's hands...who, afaic, is the first qualified Minister of the Economy Brazil has had in decades.
The bulk of the 'rich' kids are in the SEast, and not looking to change cities for a chance at higher education in a Fed Uni...they usually choose the more expensive, private ones, near their homes.
The military budget has been cut by 44%. Agricultural subsidies are also being affected.
If the media was favourable to Lula, why'd he have to spend billions on propaganda? Or do you mean it became favourable after he started doing that? I still think there's a natural bias; we notice and object when the media says something we disagree with, but when they agree with our own views it just seems normal and not biased.
May 13th, 2019 - 06:25 pm - Link - Report abuse 0“the press latches on to it like a slug”
Not only them, but also the current government. I'm sure lack of money is the main reason for the cuts, but attitudes to education also play a part. If B had a group of supporters that really valued education, it probably would have been spared, or at least reduced less. Don't forget they are cutting funding for high schools as well as universities, you're gonna have an even more ignorant population in future.
As for B and his unholy alliance with the Evangelicals, they're only conservative on things that suit them, but I'm used to such hypocrisy from the right.
I looked up the military budget; apparently it's only the discretionary budget that's being cut, about 5% of the total. Still, I'm surprised it's happened at all, given how much B relies on the military.
https://riotimesonline.com/brazil-news/rio-politics/security/bolsonaro-blocks-44-percent-of-budget-for-armed-forces/
But the last article I saw on agricultural subsidies said they were likely to be raised. Has something happened more recently?
DT
May 13th, 2019 - 07:56 pm - Link - Report abuse 0“If the media was favourable to Lula, why'd...” (???). Exactly...as I've already told you ...“quid pro quo”....Lula gave them billions in propaganda, they rubbed his back. One thing is what the 'media' says, another is the practical effect of what the 'government' actually does...and the former can be used (bought) to make the latter look prettier than it is.
Since you are liberal, 'n progressive minded, would you prioritize and maintain the BF, or make 30% cuts (temporary ?) in Federal universities ? With insufficient funds, is it “more important” to prioritize 12 years fundamental education for 30 million kids, or 500,000 Federal university students ? it's come down to basically one or the other.
“Or at least reduced less” ? D'you believe B & PG purposely want to screw the education system ? that they are against education ? I can tell you, no.
Alright, the Evangelicals are as hypocritical as any other religion, trying to defend what they believe in...If they weren't conservative, they may have supported Haddad, as many sectors of the RCC did....hypocrisy is not an attribute exclusive to the right.
Whether the 44% cut is only from the discretionary budget, it is still a significant cut....and I'm not sure if the cuts affecting the Federal Universities are also from the discretionary part of their budget, or the 'mandatory', as if the latter, he would not be able to reduce it.
And I think that the fact B has gone ahead with the cut in the Military budget, is a sign that money is indeed short, and every expense that can be reduced, will be.
PG was in favor of ending all agricultural subsidies....don't know about the details as haven't seen any specific reporting on it.....however, the injection of foreign capital in Brazil's agribusiness is probably helping it offset the subsidy reductions. I don't think any segment of the economy, that depends on government subsidies, or financing, is going to come out unscathed.
@DemonTree
May 14th, 2019 - 07:29 am - Link - Report abuse 0REF: Filho da Mãe?
Actually, it could be in plural + that too of Unknown Mothers!
DT
May 14th, 2019 - 02:45 pm - Link - Report abuse 0:o))'s 'filho(s) da mãe' is slang for SOB's...if you wanted to be more explicit, you'd say 'filhos da puta'...
@JB
May 14th, 2019 - 06:37 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Not sure what cuts I'd make. Yes, basic education is more important than university, but I think Brazil could really do with more of both. And I certainly wouldn't increase the BF (13th month) if it meant cutting education. Education and research ought to pay for themselves in the long run, so cutting them is a false economy IMO, but PG is choosing to make *very* steep cuts, necessitating this sort of decision. The military cuts show how serious he is about it, I agree.
I don't think he's against education, and probably neither is B in general, but I know conservatives in the US tend to think universities are full of liberals and thus the enemy. Don't know whether this attitude has spread to Brazil, but if it hasn't it probably will. A shame, the value of education should be something everyone can agree on.
We'll have to wait and see what happens WRT agricultural subsidies, I can easily believe PG wants to end them, but he may not have the final say. These expiring budgetary decrees that :o)) linked to are a new wrinkle they'll need to deal with.
I didn't now the RCC supported Haddad, and I wouldn't have expected it. Did they give a reason?
Re 'filho(s) da mãe', I thought it must be something like that from context, but the literal meaning is innocent enough.
@JB
May 15th, 2019 - 11:42 am - Link - Report abuse 0REF: More explicit - 'filhos da puta'
Calling a politician THAT'd be insulting to these hard-working females, maybe?
DT
May 15th, 2019 - 08:08 pm - Link - Report abuse 0What Brazil needs, we all know, but let's put the cuts in perspective. There are abt 60 Federal Unis in BZL. Total budget 2019, R$ 49,6 billion. The cuts, of R$ 1,7 billion, are all from the discretionary expenses, and represent 24,8 % of them.....or, 3,43 % of the total budget. The obligatory expenses (salaries, pensions, student assistance) have not been touched....'n won't be, as guaranteed by Law.
So, why does the press boldly announce 30% of the budget has been cut, and omit the essential information ?? Imo, either because they too are ignorant idiots, or,(more likely) just to misinform 'n create problems, provoking the less intelligent students, ignorant of the true facts, to protest.
PG, having the qualifications he does, is never going to be against education....neither is B, who on more than one occasion has expresed his FULL support for it.
And what the conservatives in the US think abt their Universities etc, has absolutely nothing to do with the measures being taken here. And even if they eventually got to think the same way here, who's to guarantee the govt will act on it ?
The RCC has always leaned left here....they were the ones who instigated the first rural workers to organize, and fight for their 'perceived' rights, a movement which eventually transformed into the MST (mid 80s), which now has little in common with its origin.
The RCC rarely gives reasons for its attitudes...it claims to help the poor, but IMO uses them to further its own ambition. The Jesuit influence in LatAm has unfortunately not been very positive, and in the last 50 years, has been responsible for the spreading the ideas of the Liberation Theology, with strong Marxist inclinations.
Today, the literal meaning of 'filhos da mãe' IS innocent enough, and hardly applies to our politicians....most of them, are really 'filhos da puta'.....and most times, their mothers deserve the compliment, as they are the ones who brought up the SOBs..
The press said there were 30% cuts to federal universities and high schools, not to the whole education budget. And the story on military cuts was similar. But what are discretionary expenses anyway, for schools or the military?
May 15th, 2019 - 11:23 pm - Link - Report abuse 0“And what the conservatives in the US think abt their Universities etc, has absolutely nothing to do with the measures being taken here. And even if they eventually got to think the same way here, who's to guarantee the govt will act on it ?”
Your government has already adopted their view on global warming, and acted on it. And according to DW, Bolsonaro called people protesting the cuts in education “useful idiots, imbeciles, who are being used as the maneuvering mass of a clever little minority who make up the nucleus of many federal universities in Brazil.” I'd say it's spreading already, just wait and see.
And from the same article: “The Education Ministry also announced last week that it would suspend scholarship payments to postgraduate students in the sciences.”
Very foolish. Brazil is gonna lose its smartest people completely, besides the chance of inventions and discoveries that could benefit the country directly.
Re the RCC, I never heard of liberation theology before either. Wikipedia says it was developed by the Catholic church in Latin America but frowned upon by the Vatican. Seems like an interesting history, the RCC in Europe has never been particularly left-wing, AFAIK.
@DemonTree
May 16th, 2019 - 02:57 pm - Link - Report abuse 0REF: “Brazil is gonna lose its smartest people completely”
Don't you think that the smartest of them all bags an award - that too in the USA - for doing absolutely NOTHING? THIS, in itself, is not at all a small feat!
DT
May 16th, 2019 - 06:37 pm - Link - Report abuse 0“The press said there were 30% cuts to federal universities and high schools, not to the whole education budget”.....and I never said anything different.
But the press went ahead and insisted on 30%, determined to give the impression it was on the whole budget for Federal Institutions (equal to the R$ 49,6 billion), and omitting it was only on a small part (25%) of the discretionary expenses (water, energy, some investments etc) which comes to an insignificant 3,4 % of the total (for Fed Unis)...two very different situations.
“O Globo”, now that the students have protested - many not even knowing why, as seen by live interviews with them - have decided to partially recant on previous statements, and explain where and how much the cuts really are....but at the same time, also claiming “they didn't know”....yeah, sure !
Let's not mix global warming with Federal Universities....don't use one to justify the other.
The students were manipulated....they acted on incorrect information...so yes, that makes them useful idiots, imbeciles and whatever.
And just fyi, many Deans in the Fed Unis are marxists...put there by the PT.
In 1992, the students - useful idiots - were also used to get rid of Collor...history repeats itself, over 'n over again, and people don't learn. And yes, stupidity is a tendency that spreads like wildfire.
Whatver is being cut, suspended, or “regarded as a contingency”, is included in the 3,4 %.
“Foolish” would be to cut funds for basic schooling, and can hardly be applied to a situation in which you have no choice, 'n must prioritize. The situation is dictating the solutions.
If the RCC in Europe has never been particularly left wing, it's probably because the jesuits never had the influence they had in the 'New World'. European society has had plenty of time to get things in perspective, with other religions to counteract it, while in LatAm, the RCC was the only influence, and almost as powerful as government.
”omitting it was only on a small part (25%) of the discretionary expenses (water, energy, some investments etc)“
May 16th, 2019 - 08:36 pm - Link - Report abuse 0How are schools/universities supposed to manage without water and energy? If they don't get the funding from somewhere, they'll have to close.
”O Globo... have decided to partially recant on previous statements, and explain where and how much the cuts really are“
Then you should be blaming the press for the protests, not the supposedly marxist Deans. But I think the students would have protested anyway; I did when I was a student. And 'used to get rid of Collor'... I thought he was famously corrupt, did you want him to stay in power? Why do you think they were used, rather than protesting of their own free wills?
”Let's not mix global warming with Federal Universities“
But of course they're connected. If you believe in a world-wide conspiracy of scientists, then you must necessarily be opposed to the universities where they work and train. For them, education and critical thinking are the enemy.
”The situation is dictating the solutions.”
Temer made massive cuts, reduced worker's rights, and Brazil's economy is still stuck in the doldrums. Are you sure more of the same will help?
Re the RCC, most of my knowledge is of Ireland, where the church was pretty powerful, entrusted with some of the functions of government. And it was very socially conservative; Ireland only legalised divorce in 1995, after it's influence had waned. But I don't think the ROI was ever so poor or unequal as Latin America, so the circumstances were different. Don't really know anything about Jesuits.
@DT
May 16th, 2019 - 09:39 pm - Link - Report abuse 0By reducing the wasteful consumption of such items...turning off lights at night, closing taps, stopping leaks, postponing non-essential investments...when the Education Minister announced the cuts, he was very clear that IF the economy improved, the cuts would be temporary.....but who bothered to listen ?
Listen, the press spread misleading information...deliberately, or through incompetence I don't know....perhaps a bit of both....and afaic, the marxist Deans 'n the press have too much in common.
Collor was no more corrupt than any other politician....but the students were convinced easily enough that he was...out of the blue, 'n in their protected little sanctuaries, they suddenly woke up 'n realized how corrupt Collor was ? ...'n today, if so idealistic, why don't they protest against Congress ? 15 -20 year old students aren't known for their experience, for being calm,or rational....they're easy prey to groups with special interests.
“But of course they're connected”....If they are, it's a looong stretch. But global warming is not the point here...cuts in discretionary expenses are...no one is against universities because they might produce a crazy scientist.
Yes, Temer made a few budget cuts...'cause revenue had been...tks to the crisis. He did not reduce worker's rights...why d'you insist ? He couldn't - labor rights are enshrined in the Constitution - they lost nothing. “Are you sure more of the same will help?”....first, what exactly is “more of the same”, and second, what would you suggest ?
The RCC's influence in Ireland, although having principles in common, cannot be compared to it's influence in shapíng the New World...'n more recently (60s,70s), while embracing social causes, ostensibly to better the lives of the poor - which at first sight, sounds very noble - and is, but they directed the movements in the wrong direction (ineptly ?), lost control over them, and then left the mess for others to try to clean up...Ex : MST..
@JB
May 17th, 2019 - 02:23 pm - Link - Report abuse 0REF: “IF the economy improved, the cuts would be temporary”:
1º: Believing in a politician is not such an easy task!
2º: So why don't they temporarily stop stealing Public Funds?
@:o))
May 17th, 2019 - 04:06 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Well, if anyone managed the impossible, i.e., stop all the corruption and stealing on all levels, the reforms probably wouldn't be as urgent as they are...
@Jack Bauer
May 17th, 2019 - 08:05 pm - Link - Report abuse 0True!
Hence I used the word “temporarily”- permanently? Never!
@JB
May 17th, 2019 - 11:15 pm - Link - Report abuse 0“By reducing the wasteful consumption of such items”
That's assuming there is waste, which there might not be after Temer's earlier cuts. I hope they are temporary.
“Collor was no more corrupt than any other politician”
My impression was that people didn't know that at the time. And students live in the same world as everyone else, but they do have more access to both information and rumour. How did Collor's corruption become know, anyway?
“If they are, it's a looong stretch.”
Doesn't matter if they are logically connected. With politics so partisan, people tend to adopt all the views common to their 'side'. B has already criticised students, so I don't think he's an exception.
“He did not reduce worker's rights”
I'm not going to argue this again, but he changed the law, anyway. It was supposed to decrease unemployment and improve the economy, but so far seems to have had little effect. Temer's policies were generally neo-liberal, and Guedes is a much more extreme example of that, which is why I'm skeptical. Plus cutting research and education is likely to damage the country in future, in ways that will take a long time to repair.
The RCC in the New World was and is still socially conservative WRT things like divorce and contraception. But perhaps economic problems there overshadowed that to an extent. I really doubt they created problems on purpose, but just wanted to help people.
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