Reflexiones em Brasil
Trip Start
Jan 04, 2012
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4
7
Trip End
Apr 03, 2012
Sao Paulo, State of Sao Paulo, Brazil
Friday, February 3, 2012
Besides seeing all the great sites and trying all of the "traditional" foods, I've had very enlightening conversations with Julio, his law school friends, and my aunt, uncle, and cousin. Many of them tell me that the most pressing problem here in Brazil is corruption. Politicians embezzle taxpayer funds in every city and there's at least one instance of a whistleblower being murdered; it seems as though every bureaucrat is involved and the public feels helpless. Adding to the problem, the less-educated electorate continues to reelect incumbents that tout the illusory success of reducing poverty through direct cash transfer schemes, the ridiculous idea that Brazilians are wealthier than the British (in reality only by GDP), among others.
It's worth noting that Brazil is a developing country and should be expected to have some dysfunctional systems. However, no one can explain to me why the government disproportionately allocates taxpayer money to the few public universities (they are very good and free) and not primary/secondary institutions. I learned that in order to enter a public university you must pass a very difficult exam that students from public schools are ill-prepared to take, so only those that can afford private primary/secondary schools have a chance. (Private universities in Brazil have many of the same problems as for-profit colleges in the US.)
As I sit here in the posh 'west zone' the disparity between the rich and the poor become very evident. Apartment buildings here have gatekeepers, gardeners, maids, and security; the shopping malls feature Western brands and foreign cars, e.g. Billabong and Toyota, for (literally) double the price in the States. (Electronics are 20-50% more expensive; a normal gym costs over $100 per month.) In other parts of the city, streets are decrepit, buildings shabby, and people overweight. Sao Paulo is an extremely classicist city where the very wealthiest businessmen commute by helicopter (commanding the largest fleet in the world--very annoying) and the poorest people are lured to pay for everyday purchases in installments as credit becomes much, much easier. I've even heard stories of people buying iPhones they cannot afford to use and luxury vehicles they cannot afford to fill with gas!
Anyway, I'm excited to leave the big city of Sao Paulo (technically, the fifth largest metro region in the world) for the beautiful beaches of Florianopolis on Friday, where I'll be spending the most time (and money) during Carnaval--February 18-21. Until then, lata!
