http://www.nationalreview.com/article/433009/brazils-president-dilma-rousseff-faces-impeachment . . . then again, socialism's end always looks a lot like the Hindenburg. "In October 2014, Dilma Rousseff was sworn in for a second term as president of Brazil. She had succeeded her mentor, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who was leader of the Worker’s Party and the most popular politician in Brazil — so popular that many in the opposition were afraid to challenge him. Seventeen months later, Dilma struggles to keep her job, support for the government is at a historic low, and Brazil watches the largest street demonstrations in its history. What has changed?"
They ran out of other peoples money. "One of the reasons for the revolt is economic. Right after Dilma’s reelection, it became clear that she had lied to the nation. After more than a decade of uncontrolled spending sustained only by the temporary boom of commodities, the government — surprise! — had run out of other people’s money. Brazil’s economy shrank 3.8 percent in 2015, and the markets predict a similar decrease this year. Unemployment and inflation are running out of control. The main reason for the uprising against Dilma and her party is the extensive list of crimes committed during her tenure in government (and Lula’s). The main reason for the uprising against Dilma and her party, however, is the extensive list of crimes committed during her tenure in government (and Lula’s)." Another feature of socialism, criminal governance. Part of the reason this was not discovered earlier is the Chinese Ponzi was driving up the price of commodities, and Brazil was a beneficiary of this. Economic boom times have a way of blinding us to political reality, until they end, then we become more inquisitive. "The dominant feeling in Brazil is that Dilma’s government is over. The impeachment process, already started, is likely to pass in the house next month. Until 2018, Brazil will probably be governed by Vice President Michel Temer, a centrist. What comes next? The fall of the Left and the rise of democratic right-wing movements are something completely new. But if those groups want to effect an ideological shift in the country’s collectivist culture, Dilma’s impeachment will be only the first step. In the last three decades, socialists and social democrats have taken control of public institutions and the educational system. Fourteen years of Worker’s Party government has also expanded the destructive reach of crony capitalism. In this context, it will not be easy to fight for individual liberties and to encourage a belief in personal responsibility. This battle will have to take place not only on the streets but also in universities, churches, and civic associations across the country. Brazil’s Berlin Wall has already fallen. It is time to start building a new country." Let's hope the transition is voluntary, and smooth. Let's also hope that whatever replaces this government utilizes a more sane, market/liberty centered economic approach. The last thing Brazil needs is to replace one variant of crony socialism, with another. And where did the idea of crony "capitalism" come from. This has nothing to do with capitalism, the crony system only exists in systems with a strong socialist system. For cronyism to arise, it needs a large government with money to dole out. Once that happens, some entities find it easier to lobby, and eat out of the public trough than to compete in the free markets. This is cronyism. Without large, government with money to spend cronyism cannot happen. This is why the US historically only had serious cronyism problems during wars, or when the government was supporting large infrastructural projects like the transcontinental railway. Call it what it is, Crony Socialism!
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