Brazil Political info

This weekend I read an article titled “Political corruption in Brazil” by The Economist, published on November 23, 2013.  This article talks about how the former Chief of Staff to the President, José Dirceu, was arrested recently for bribery, money-laundering, misuse of public funds and conspiracy in order to win support in Brazilian congress. Henrique Pizzolato, who was also guilty of money laundering, fled from Brazil to Italy and Brazilian officials are still trying to get Italy to turn him over to them. The guilty party, which consists of 25 people, is still making pleas and arguments against their arrest to no avail.

This article both depresses me and impresses me because it is so horrible to think that José Dirceu, the most powerful man in Brazil, was making money off of his own country, but I’m impressed that Brazil caught him and is making such good progress on arresting the most of the guilty party. This man’s punishment will probably be lessened due to his social status and wealth which angers me in so many ways. He chose to cheat, lie, and steal, but he is going to get the best treatment he can get, even though he’s in jail. It is a step up from letting him roam free which happens all too often in Latin America for the wealthy or political officials.

I’m glad that there is some kind of change that has occurred in Brazil that gives the courtroom enough power to sentence the rich as well as the poor. Whatever Brazil is doing differently they should keep doing it because it seems to be helping them gain equality. I would like to hear some kind of statement from Brazil’s current president, Dilma Rousseff, about this accomplishment. If the people of Brazil work hard enough, then they might become the leaders in cultural revolution involving Latin America. There have been too many factors hindering social and economic equality and poverty in Latin America up to now.

Brazil will have to be the example for Latin America that the United States was for the world. America being an example should commend Brazil’s attempt at equality. It is the same kind of problems that African Americans have had in the U.S in the century following the civil war. However, America had a stable government during those times which Brazil does not, so the least we could do is support Brazil in these endeavors when we can.