Brazil's embrace of the far right.

[PaloAltoCougar]

This guy was elected fair and square by one of the world's biggest democracies. Brazil isn't Venezuela or North Korea (hideously failed socialist experiments, ironically). So stop preaching your reflexive leftist dogma.

I'm open to the possibility he was the lesser of two evils, but I don't think condemning, or at least mocking, each of the elements (most are demonstrably true) in the first sentence of your quoted statement makes one an ugly American.

[frank ryan]

This guy was elected fair and square by one of the world's biggest democracies. Brazil isn't Venezuela or North Korea (hideously failed socialist experiments, ironically). So stop preaching your reflexive leftist dogma.

I'm not preaching reflexive leftist dogma. I'm not sure what your getting at by reducing me to an exagerated label other than expressing disdain. With all due respect, to expect others to be muted in criticisms of world leaders in other countries, because they don't live there is silly. This thread makes for an interesting target of your hostility.

When Chavez came to power he was legitimately elected and reelected before he took control of the organs of power, and he was shitty. Duterte in the Philippinnes was legitimately elected and he is an awful shithead. Erdoghan in Turkey has not been good for Turkey, or the West. He was legitimately elected, but subsequently has corrupted their democratic process and harmed their institutions.

[SeattleUte]

I'm open to the possibility he was the lesser of two evils, but I don't think condemning, or at least mocking, each of the elements (most are demonstrably true) in the first sentence of your quoted statement makes one an ugly American.

We don't disagree. Hate speech is a terrible thing. And yes, Brazil faced a lesser of two evils. The day the Left starts thinking realistically about how to feed and clothe 8 billion people not to mention eliminate infant mortality, educate them and give them an acceptable standard of living, I'll take the missionary lessons. Of course Bolsonaro says ugly things. And the party that has been in power has been the cause of untold misery and death in addition to outright theft of billions of dollars. Corruption is the new totalitarianism, a destroyer of progress. Once again, planned economies are at the root of it.

[frank ryan]

We don't disagree. Hate speech is a terrible thing. And yes, Brazil faced a lesser of two evils. The day the Left starts thinking realistically about how to feed and clothe 8 billion people not to mention eliminate infant mortality, educate them and give them an acceptable standard of living, I'll take the missionary lessons. Of course Bolsonaro says ugly things. And the party that has been in power has been the cause of untold misery and death in addition to outright theft of billions of dollars. Corruption is the new totalitarianism, a destroyer of progress. Once again, planned economies are at the root of it.

Speaking of legitimate elections, Bolsonaro longs for golden age of Brazil living under military dictatorship. There is nothing admirable about that. In South America, the Right doesn't have a great track record of governing, moderates do. He's not one of those.

[Jeff Lebowski]

[creekster]

We don't disagree. Hate speech is a terrible thing. And yes, Brazil faced a lesser of two evils. The day the Left starts thinking realistically about how to feed and clothe 8 billion people not to mention eliminate infant mortality, educate them and give them an acceptable standard of living, I'll take the missionary lessons. Of course Bolsonaro says ugly things. And the party that has been in power has been the cause of untold misery and death in addition to outright theft of billions of dollars. Corruption is the new totalitarianism, a destroyer of progress. Once again, planned economies are at the root of it.

It seems like I either agree with you almost unreservedly or I disagree with you almost completely. Here I think you are pretty much spot on.

I suspect the Brazilians might feel a bit like I do when other people tell me they know whats good for me better than I do.

[New Mexican Disaster]

We don't disagree. Hate speech is a terrible thing. And yes, Brazil faced a lesser of two evils. The day the Left starts thinking realistically about how to feed and clothe 8 billion people not to mention eliminate infant mortality, educate them and give them an acceptable standard of living, I'll take the missionary lessons. Of course Bolsonaro says ugly things. And the party that has been in power has been the cause of untold misery and death in addition to outright theft of billions of dollars. Corruption is the new totalitarianism, a destroyer of progress. Once again, planned economies are at the root of it.

What are you talking about? You sort of missed that whole military junta period I guess. What a joke.

[Bo Diddley]

It's true. I am an ugly American.

[Walter Sobchak]

Are you sure the Russians didn't have something to do with it?

Pretty sure only the US is allowed to interfere with other nation's elections.

[creekster]

Pretty sure only the US is allowed to interfere with other nation's elections.

Et tu, whataboutism??

[Walter Sobchak]

Et tu, whataboutism??

We export democracy. We are the good guys! Just ask the people in Afghanistan, or Iraq, or ....

I'm agreeing with Mr. Ryan here. We know what's better for the Brazilians than the Brazilians. Similarly, we know what's better for the Koreans than the Koreans. And on and on.

[BlueK]

https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/ar...a?srnd=opinion

"Years ago, Bolsonaro called for Congress to be shut down, and has mused publicly about the effectiveness and attractiveness of a dictatorship, even praising the military government that ran Brazil for three decades until 1985. While his statements moderated somewhat during the campaign, it is highly likely that he will pressure the courts and the Congress to test the limits of his power."

[frank ryan]

https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/ar...a?srnd=opinion

"Years ago, Bolsonaro called for Congress to be shut down, and has mused publicly about the effectiveness and attractiveness of a dictatorship, even praising the military government that ran Brazil for three decades until 1985. While his statements moderated somewhat during the campaign, it is highly likely that he will pressure the courts and the Congress to test the limits of his power."

But he opposes social programs, so they’re in good hands.

[falafel]

But he opposes social programs, so they’re in good hands.

They put themselves in his hands. This is what Brazil wants.

[frank ryan]

They put themselves in his hands. This is what Brazil wants.

For now, until he actually follows throw with desires.