Scholars
debate future of politics, economy in Brazil
By
Lauren Nelson
On-line Forty-Niner
Two
Brazilian scholars, Marcos Arruda and Maria
Helena Moreira Alves, spoke to students
about the current political, social and
economic situations under the new Brazilian
president at a debate Thursday.
The
debate over the best strategies for achieving
long-term social transformation, eliminating
poverty, and reducing hunger along with
social inequality in Brazil, became a forum
in which both Arruda and Alves had unique
strategies.
Arruda
and Alves agreed that since the election
of Workers' Party candidate, Luiz Inacio
Lula da Silva, social conditions in Brazil
have improved. Arruda, however, thinks that
the president is not doing enough. Arruda
emphasized the importance of keeping U.S.
ideals out of Brazil now that the country
is starting to stand on its own again.
"The
U.S., the richest, most powerful [country],
is trying to integrate a new imperialism
around the world," Arruda said. "Competitive
globalization is being replaced by an imperial
project of America."
His main point was that imperial expansion
risks distorting democracy, voiding possibility.
"The
more [Brazilians] pay, the more they owe,"
Arruda said.
He said that the Brazilian people
are not able to invest in anything because
they must borrow to pay off debt.
"There
is no way out unless we break the chain
of oppression," he said.
Alves spoke about the program, Hunger
Zero, which helps Brazilians provide their
own income, something they have not been
able to do in recent years.
Unlike
the use of food stamps in the United States,
Hunger Zero allows its members to use the
available money to purchase whatever they
want. It is not limited to specific brands
or WIC products like food programs in the
United States. In order to benefit from
the program, families must keep their children
in school and have healthcare.
Alves
said he believed Hunger Zero is a good place
to start. Arruda thinks that there needs
to be an ideology that separates the economy
and the society. He said that it is starting
to happen under Brazil's new president but
it has failed to touch the different macroeconomic
policies that will make the shift between
society and poverty.
Brazilian
activists and intellectuals are in favor
of making a stronger world power. The debate
touched on the strategies that will be used
to accomplish the goal of becoming a self-sufficient
country.
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