Modernization and tradition: the two faces of Brazilian politics

The FHC government supported its re-election and all the rhetoric of political domination on the idea of ​​currency stability and controlled inflation. As these are arguments that are difficult to understand for the overwhelming majority of the Brazilian population, were translated by: “Now you can plan to buy your refrigerator in 36 times".

Certainly the argument is not one of the most sophisticated, but allowed an almost hegemonic dominance for many years. The undisputed success of the Real Plan silenced doubts and marginalized critics, what, if on the one hand it allowed its profound application, on the other hand, it left no room for responsible questions.

International crises, when added to economic policies with excessive side effects, resulted in problems in the sustainability of the Plan (rapid and without warning devaluation) e, over time, in the political sustainability of its implementers (departure of the PFL from the government base and poor electoral result for the toucan José Serra).

It would be unfair not to recognize that the FHC era brought a lot to the country, particularly in terms of modernizing social relations. still, like no coin has only one side, It seems that it was also in this era that Brazilian patrimonial relations were able to become institutionalized, including gaining legality forums.

Before our recognized lack of memory works, let us remember what the blackout was: The makers of our economic policy did not hesitate to make cuts, even in terms of infrastructure; low investments in electricity production led to energy shortages; consumers were fined/penalized for using energy; the government passes a law that charges consumers for the presumed profit that companies did not make when the government fined us to save energy. Like this, we pay twice to companies at the behest of the government.

But what draws most attention is the issue of administered prices, which are those readjusted as a result of contracts or negotiations with the power – as is the case with fuels, public transport fares and tariffs such as energy and sanitation.

When we monitor the evolution of these prices, we see that they were well above the inflation accumulated in the period 1994-2002. Let's look at some values:

It is surprising that the Brazilian government is open to large increases precisely at a time when it is busy saying that inflation is under control and that Brazilians have increased purchasing power..

Certainly the prices of administered products were constrained by the previous economic model, in addition to the fact that some subsidies have now disappeared. However, exaggerated increases only make the population even more distrustful of the State as a social regulator, which increases the general lack of interest in politics. Is this the ultimate interest or is this all just a big mess?

Moral of the hist & oacute; ria: the way things are going, refrigerator only 72 times.

"Em uma democracia, The interrelationship between government officials and their public is always complex. A leader who limits himself to the experience of his people in a period of upheaval achieves temporal popularity, at the price of being condemned by posterity, whose rights you are neglecting. A leader who goes too far ahead of his society, will become useless. A great leader must be an educator, that bridges the gap between your visions and the familiar, but you must also be willing to walk alone, to allow his society to follow the path he chose"
Diplomacy – Henry Kissinger

magazine Author

Pol & iacute; tica

Year II – N. 12 – June of 2002