Our World

Will Brazil's President Gain His 2nd Title?

As found on page 106 in our textbook, economies like Brazil are struggling with currency devaluation, debt burdens, inflation, and growing unemployment. Ironically Brazil's current president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (President Lula) has done so much to reduce poverty in the slums of Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, but didn't get enough votes to win a 2nd term. There will be a face-off election on October 29th.
President Lula is considered to be Brazil's first working class president who was born into poverty. Read http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15045273/this to find his interesting background and history. Globally President Lula attended workshops in the U.S. and Europe to learn organizing tactics and leftist social theory. Lula " adopted conservative fiscal and monetary policies that won praise on Wall Street." "Lula won the prestigious Prince of Asturias Prize in Spain for his 'admirable history of fighting for justice' and was cited as a potential canidate for the Nobel Peace Prize." President Lula also introduced a program called "Zero Hunger" which is like a food stamp program, giving poor families about $30 a month as long as they vaccinate their children and keep them in school. This is in a country where 1/3 of the people live on less then $2 a day. President Lula wants to focus on reforming taxes and labor rules in his 2nd term.
So what's the controversy? Major newspapers reported that Lula was running corrupt dealings and this may have prevented him from getting all the votes he needed. Lula received 48.8% and needed 50% plus 1 vote to win. It will be interesting to see if the corruption claims are true. Do you feel he deserves to win a 2nd term? Lula has been at the center front fighting to improve life for the average and below average Brazilians. Ironically voting is manditory in Brazil. If you can't justify your absence you may be fined. Do you think this would be a good policy to put into practice in the U.S.?
www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/americas/10/01/brazil.elections.ap/index.html

posted by Anonymous @ 10/08/2006 01:40:00 PM