Trouble in Brazil

[The Thriller]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-22946736

As many as 200,000 people have marched through the streets of Brazil's biggest cities, as protests over rising public transport costs and the expense of staging the 2014 World Cup have spread.

The biggest demonstration was in Rio de Janeiro, where 100,000 people joined a mainly peaceful march.

In the capital, Brasilia, people breached security at the National Congress building and scaled its roof.

The protests are the largest seen in Brazil for more than 20 years.

Trouble is brewing in Brazil.

That top picture is their capitol building in Brasilia. The media has now turned in favor of the protests. Many reporters (from CNN and Globo) were hit with pepper spray and rubber bullet in Sao Paulo. Even police are protesting WITH the protesters.

The .20 cents increase in public transportation was merely the the straw that broke the camel's back. It's the psychological effect that it had on the people that pissed them off. While millions live in favelas (ghettos. To have a taste of what that's like, watch the beginning of Hulk.) and struggle to make ends meet, billions are wasted in the construction of soccer stadiums and corrupt contractors who are "preparing" the country for the World Cup and Olympics.

In Brazil, many of the highways are single or 2 lanes. Often, the pavement will suddenly "stop" and it will turn into a muddy/gravel road. These are highways too. Main arteries to major cities and neighboring countries. Their health care system could use some work and education is very polarized. If you can afford to go to the top schools, awesome. If not, yikes. It is sort of a slap in the face at the people. Bring the Olympics and World Cup so a few can make a killing while the vast majority won't see much benefit (if any) at all.

It will be interesting to see what happens. People are calling for their President's head.

 

[Stoked]

Makes me wonder if it will spread as the Arab spring did. Is the Earth seeing a mass changing of the guard. Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Egypt, Syria...and now mass rioting and protests in Turkey and Brazil? What's next? Ecuador? Bolivia? Honduras? Mexico?

 

[franklin]

"The .20 cents increase in public transportation was merely the the straw that broke the camel's back."

Poor people are so petty.



*Edit*

 

[babe]

"The .20 cents increase in public transportation was merely the the straw that broke the camel's back."

Poor people are so petty.

socialist elites promise the moon to get their "managers" elected, and once the votes are in. . . . whether actually counted correctly or not. . . . pay big bucks for a good press about how beneficial their policies are. . . . and call the poor ingrates whether they march in the streets or don't.

But the worst of all the things they do is "create the reality" that the poor are dependent upon them somehow.

marching in the streets about the price of bus fare is what happens when the state has the power to set the price of bus fare.

 

[Stoked]

"The .20 cents increase in public transportation was merely the the straw that broke the camel's back."

Poor people are so petty.

You ever live in a favela? I have.

 

[Stoked]

socialist elites promise the moon to get their "managers" elected, and once the votes are in. . . . whether actually counted correctly or not. . . . pay big bucks for a good press about how beneficial their policies are. . . . and call the poor ingrates whether they march in the streets or don't.

But the worst of all the things they do is "create the reality" that the poor are dependent upon them somehow.

marching in the streets about the price of bus fare is what happens when the state has the power to set the price of bus fare.

This protest has grown to be much more than bus fare issues. It is about basic living conditions. Dirt floors, lack of clean water, no or very limited access to medical care, corruption in the police...

 

[franklin]

You ever live in a favela? I have.

No, why?

 

[Stoked]

No, why?

Just curious if you had first hand knowledge of what they are protesting against.

 

[cowhide]

Makes me wonder if it will spread as the Arab spring did. Is the Earth seeing a mass changing of the guard. Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Egypt, Syria...and now mass rioting and protests in Turkey and Brazil? What's next? Ecuador? Bolivia? Honduras? Mexico?

What is happening is as the divide between the rich and poor grows, the poor are tired of all the corruption and waste that the rich usually do. When people can not have a sustainable life then they revolt.

 

[Stoked]

What is happening is as the divide between the rich and poor grows, the poor are tired of all the corruption and waste that the rich usually do. When people can not have a sustainable life then they revolt.

I understand what is happening. I am just wondering if it will spread.

 

[The Thriller]

"The .20 cents increase in public transportation was merely the the straw that broke the camel's back."

Poor people are so petty.

Neg repped. And rest assured, more will be coming. You deserve at least 5 more after this horrible post.

Try telling these people that they're being petty when it's explained to them that they must come up with $5 billion more to build extravagant stadiums (which they will never attend) while they live in these conditions:

Middle-class favela. Not even close to the worst I've seen. Many LDS missionaries live and work in these places.

Horrible sewer system. Typically 3-5 times per month we'd have flooding in Sao Paulo (their biggest city) due to rains and the horrible sewer system. People die in these btw.

Line to a doctor's office.

Public school

But yeah. These poor people sure are being petty.

 

[Stoked]

Pos repping Franklin* to negate people being dense. That should cover you for two negs.

 

[Gameface]

Neg repped. And rest assured, more will be coming. You deserve at least 5 more after this horrible post.

Try telling these people that they're being petty when it's explained to them that they must come up with $5 billion more to build extravagant stadiums (which they will never attend) while they live in these conditions:

Middle-class favela. Not even close to the worst I've seen. Many LDS missionaries live and work in these places.

Horrible sewer system. Typically 3-5 times per month we'd have flooding in Sao Paulo (their biggest city) due to rains and the horrible sewer system. People die in these btw.

Line to a doctor's office.

Public school

But yeah. These poor people sure are being petty.

Someone didn't get the sarcasm...

 

[franklin]

Neg repped. And rest assured, more will be coming. You deserve at least 5 more after this horrible post.

Try telling these people that they're being petty when it's explained to them that they must come up with $5 billion more to build extravagant stadiums (which they will never attend) while they live in these conditions:

I wasn't addressing their actual situation, just that poor people in general are petty. They tend to fight over tedious b.s. and spend effort worrying about the dumbest things instead of improving their own conditions. But you can read it however it best suits your agenda. You always do.

Pos repping Franklin* to negate people being dense. That should cover you for two negs.

The only thing that feels better than a Stoked pos rep is a Shriller neg!

 

[The Thriller]

Not far from one of the main stadiums in Sao Paulo. Yay! Lets build more stadiums and pray that it doesn't rain because the $5 billion used on stadiums wasn't used for the sewer system.

Keep in mind, this is one of the largest industrial centers in the entire world. Ford, Chevy, Volkswagon, Mercedes, all have big bases here in this city.

Stop bitching about the increase!

ahhhhh! Home sweet home! Where The Thriller's mission all started. This was my first area. After one of those rainstorms, one of these homes actually fell into the canal. I heard that 3 children inside were killed. But be quiet, we need to pay for the Olympics and world cup!

 

[mellow]

I wasn't addressing their actual situation, just that poor people in general are petty. They tend to fight over tedious b.s. and spend effort worrying about the dumbest things instead of improving their own conditions. But you can read it however it best suits your agenda. You always do.

Franklin, I have a generally favorable impression of you, therefore I really hope I am missing a joke or the sarcasm here.

 

[Stoked]

Main problem I have with Thrillers comment is the appearance of blaming this all on the Olympics and the spending associated with that. The problems were in place long before Olympic spending.

 

[The Thriller]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGXjNCGiEVw

Best video I've ever seen on this.

This favela lies right across the street (literally) from one of the richest communities in all of Brazil. I remember looking from an amazing condo below onto this favela. It was the first time I had ever seen something like this (after wards, I discovered that the majority of my areas had places like these). I couldn't do anything but just stare at it. It was HUGE. And it just erupted from a surrounding area of amazing homes and condos that you'd find in an otherwise rich part of town.

I encourage everyone to watch this short 3 minute video. It will give you a unique insight that very few people will ever have. This video should be mandatory for all missionaries who will serve in South America.

 

[The Thriller]

Main problem I have with Thrillers comment is the appearance of blaming this all on the Olympics and the spending associated with that. The problems were in place long before Olympic spending.

Absolutely, you are correct.

However, the frustrations have boiled over now because of the outright slap in the face for most Brazilians.

Whereas before, they knew that their government was corrupt... Now it's just outright slaps in the face and kicks in the groins. They are spending over $1 trillion on Olympic and World Cup stuff (much of it is being lost to corruption, pathetic contractors, and politicians) while throwing tax increase upon tax increase onto the Brazilian people.

Whereas before, their government was "just" corrupt. Now they're giving the people "the finger" by obtaining these world games, throwing the cost onto people who will never reap the rewards from them, and investing them on petty games that will be over in a few weeks.

I think Brazilians would be fine paying these higher taxes if they KNEW that the money would be used for the right purposes. Brazilians for years have been calling for public works. However, they have been told that the money just isn't there. Now they're seeing that the money is there but it depends on the government's priorities.

 

[Stoked]

I served in Honduras and it is mostly one giant favela. So I agree that they just finally had enough. Poor food quality, poor medical quality, dirt floors, dirt walls, doors are a worn, ripped sheet, no water system, little to education, blatant police corruption in places they even bother to make an appearance, extreme gang violence and gang rule of entire neighborhoods...