Last week the former Brazilian president Mrs. Dilma Roussef got the boot in the back by her fellow colleagues who voted for impeachment. Now this red lady is gone and substituted by the new president Michel Temer, former vice-president of Mrs. Roussef. No new president election is planned, supposedly will Mr. Temer be in charge until 2018. Most matters continue like before in new clothes and make-up. Probably after the next election too.
Soon the Brazilians have to participate in another election, of Mayor in the municipalities. Brazilians are forced to vote; if they stay home they are punished and get their identity card canceled. Forced democracy to vote on demagogy. The first round of these elections will be held on October 2, and the eventual second rounds on 30 October. The event will also include elections for Deputy Mayor, and council members that will integrate the Municipal Legislative Chambers.
As usual, the campaigns are on full speed and the propaganda litter is distributed to the people, the candidates are trying to catch the votes with funny slogans and empty promises.
Every election is so. Among the many candidates appear a lot of strange names, unusual nicknames. This year, there are several. It is the Volcano Women, Wake Up Early, Happy Show Tche Tche Tche, He-Man, Tarzan, Hulk and Barbie.
Usually these people already use these names day-to-day. This is the case of the Volcano Woman, or Sheila de Oliveira Soares, 31, flagging the fight against “fat phobia”. And Christmas Rambo or James Silva de Oliveira, 40, known in Rio Grande do Norte to help voluntarily to organize the traffic in a Sylvester Stallone character dress.
Pepper, Parsley, Paprika, Fish and Carrot. This is not a shopping list for grocery but candidates running for these elections. Pepper Rondônia, for example, is candidate for Mayor of Porto Velho in the state of Rondônia. Paprika, Fish and Carrot compete for councilor positions in the state capitals João Pessoa, Campo Grande and Cuiabá, respectively. There are still other names of food for those who want to complete the menu with Beef, Rice, Sardine, Banana, Watermelon-the-friend-of-yours, Sugar and Peanut.
From whatever angle we approach our eternal political problem we reach the same conclusion: it´s fine if the community could determine the ends to be pursued, but only experts should select and apply the means and office should be rigidly reserved for the best equipped. Where do we find these trustful experts today? Definitively not on the election list. Leadership and public administration is a task too complex to have its issues decided by number, but at least in Brazil, the voters do not care so much of capacity as they are attracted by circus tricks, funny people, beautiful faces and bullshit-speakers.
However, the selection of a leader of a public office is something very serious. Less important issues requires a lot of knowledge and ability. A good work can only be made by those who have knowledge: an economist, e. g., must do right in matters of contabilistic calculus; or a pilot in matters of navigation, or an engineer in matter of construction. . . .So why not require a better standard of capacity of our leaders and also a solid knowledge and interest by whom votes or selects ? If it is necessary to continue with democracy.
South Africa Today – World News – Brazil
