Requisite International Correspondent Report

[Edit: since I'm a moderator in this sub, I don't want to be lynched for invading a safe space. This message has been pre-approved as a massive troll.]<br><br>I hope this post will be well-received, as I'd like to offer an outsider's perspective on your recent news.<br><br>I am not Brazilian. I am not a troll. I'm just a curious guy here in America. I'm speaking near native Portuguese, and I've been living here in Brazil for the last four months, and in Argentina for the last several years.<br><br>I give you my guarantee that I'm not acting in bad faith: I come in peace, and I'm asking for your attention, as I'd like to share an interesting observation with you.<br><br>---<br><br>You're very close to being a wealthy country<br><br>I've been to a lot of countries in Latin America, and I'd like to point out that Brazil is a tremendous achievement. The roads, the services, and the commercial services are of decent quality. I think the world underestimates your country.,<br><br>Don't fall for the gringo lie that you're a "developing country." After visiting dozens of countries in Latin America, I can tell you that they're the ones who need to be developed. Your country has a robust administrative framework from which to base your future prosperity. Your problem - and your greatest strength - is yourselves.<br><br>Brazil is a country of immense contradictions that has managed to get many things right. Civil society is strong and mature, thanks to your world-class media. While this sub might indicate otherwise, you've achieved a level of stability most countries can't manage. I don't think you realize how much of an accomplishment this is: any Brazilian can safely walk the streets of São Paulo or Rio without being kidnapped and extorted. Even in the US, cities like New Orleans, Baltimore, and Detroit don't offer that level of safety. It's unacceptable that crime is a problem in Brazil, but at least you have a functioning justice system.<br><br>I would argue that widespread corruption is another symptom of your strength, not weakness. Where corruption is a crime committed by individuals, a strong civil society can root it out. In contrast, corruption is the system in many other countries in the region, and there's no quick fix for this.<br><br>The other major problem, in my opinion, is your collective psyche. It's very easy to focus on your country's deficiencies, but in comparison with the rest of the world, you're very close to realizing your potential.<br><br>So focus on your strengths and the areas where your government functions. Discuss your weaknesses and what should be done to address them. Focus on the present, and plan for a better future.<br><br>---<br><br>The recent news are not a surprise<br><br>Unfortunately, that a corrupt politician was elected president wasn't a surprise to the world. It wasn't a surprise to Brazilians either, if we're being honest.<br><br>Here's another observation: the current president was elected by democratic means. This is an impressive achievement that strengthens your institutions. It would be a waste of this effort if you protested his election. What the president says and does is his own responsibility. If he loses control of his actions and radicalizes, it's your responsibility to hold him accountable for his actions, as you did during the massive protests several years ago.<br><br>Know that your president is not taken seriously abroad. He's an embarrassment, and the world is confused by his actions.<br><br>More importantly, though, he's your embarrassment, and it's up to all of you to correct this.<br><br>---<br><br>There's a big difference between a democracy and a republic<br><br>I notice that politics in Brazil is highly polarized, more so than in the United States. I'm not sure if this is a good or bad thing.<br><br>To a certain extent, polarization is inevitable, as elections are binary choices. In contrast, in a republic, political divisions are less relevant, because the government is constrained by a set of rules that it cannot break. It doesn't matter if you're right or left, as the government is not supposed to pick winners and losers.<br><br>For example, in the US, the republic only recently began to break down, but for many decades, it did not matter whether a Republican or Democrat was in office. The government had to follow the rules, and politicians were expected to be statesmen. In contrast, today's politicians are combatants.<br><br>Brazil seems like a democracy, and not a republic, judging by your president's style of governance. The difference between a democracy and a republic is that in a democracy, the majority has the right to rule the minority, whereas in a republic, the majority protects the rights of the minority.<br><br>This is why the US was founded as a republic, not a democracy. A republic reduces the importance of each election as much as possible. Unfortunately, in Brazil, it's as if the president sees their election as a mandate to impose their will on the minority.<br><br>---<br><br>You shouldn't be ashamed of your president<br><br>I know it's easy to fall into the trap of feeling ashamed of your president. But you should relax. It's a normal part of life that politicians are polarizing figures. It's easy to judge them, and often, they judge themselves. It's extremely common for politicians to be corrupt and shameless.<br><br>And while your president is seen as radical, we have radical politicians worldwide. The US president is an asshole who's more famous for his selfishness and vitriol than his accomplishments. The Argentine president is more interested in being a dictator than a figure of national unity. The Mexican president basically does whatever he feels like, as he's responsible for none of his mistakes.<br><br>So, see? You're not alone.<br><br>---<br><br>You're not alone<br><br>I imagine your country feels isolated after these elections, especially if you're on the left. I want to remind you that you're not alone. The world is a very big place, and you're not isolated. Your elections were an international news event, and you probably saw how much attention was generated abroad.<br><br>The major news outlets in Argentina are absolutely horrified by the your president. In Uruguay, the politicians are also outraged. Americans are generally clueless about Brazil, but they were also shocked by what happened. Even the Chinese are worried about what your president will mean for their international interests.<br><br>I want to reiterate that your president is not the best representation of your country. The world knows that there's more to Brazil than your president, and they refuse to write off your country because of him.<br><br>---<br><br>So what now?<br><br>So, what's next? Do you give up and move to Portugal? Or Argentina? Do you accept that your country is doomed to be a failure and move on with your life? Do you protest in the streets until something happens?<br><br>I think your country is at a turning point. Yes, your president might be more of the same corruption and extremism, but his election can also serve as a catalyst for change.<br><br>Unfortunately, the tradition in Brazil is for corruption to be a crime that's often committed by individuals, but not the system. The president might be a corrupt politician, but the country's institutions and civil society will hold him accountable. The major media outlets here are excellent, which is an asset, as they will scrutinize and expose the president's actions. As a result, he cannot act with impunity. Sooner or later, the truth will come to light if he continues to engage in corrupt behavior.<br><br>The best course of action is to keep living your life normally. If things are going well, don't let them get you down. If things are going badly, don't give up. The next four years will fly by, and I have no doubt that your president will be unable to destroy your country in such a short period of time.<br><br>He can't be worse than the radicals in Argentina, who have spent the last 80 years quietly destroying their country.<br><br>So don't give up. Your country is stronger than you think.<br><br>Stay calm. Go on with your life. Fascism is alive and well, but this is still a functioning democracy, even if the system is far from perfect.<br><br>Keep being a shining example for the world.<br><br>I have no doubt that you will overcome this moment.<br><br>Thank you for your attention, and best wishes for your country and people.<br><br>&#x200B;