Brazil’s Giant Problem

Brazil’s Giant Problem

• THE SATURDAY ESSAY

Wall Street Journal

Corruption is just a symptom of Brazil’s deeper issue: a vast state apparatus that has tried to be the country’s engine of economic growth

By John Lyons at john.lyons@wsj.com and  David Luhnow at david.luhnow@wsj.com

It is worth reading it. Read here: http://on.wsj.com/1T4g7Fc via @WSJ

Some comments:

What got my attention in the article was the reference of the Brazil's State as a Leviathan. It looks like if the authors got that name from the intercessors of Brazil, from those involved in spiritual warfare. The Leviathan is pretty much a principality who operates through pride, witchcraft and idolatry. 

Here are some excerpts from the essay. 

Brasilia, the capital "was one more expression of the country’s long and troubled attachment to the concept of a giant paternalistic state, responsible for managing the affairs of the entire society, from its biggest companies to its poorest citizens.

Founded by Portuguese monarchs who moved their court to Rio de Janeiro in 1808, Brazil has experienced almost every conceivable sort of rule over the past two centuries. Its leaders have run the gamut from emperors and dictators to democrats and former Marxists. Regardless of their politics, however, almost all of them have shared a commitment to the Leviathan state as the engine of progress.

Today, the Leviathan is sick. Brasília is embroiled in a sprawling embezzlement scandal at the state oil company, Petróleo Brasileiro SA. Investigators say that politicians, oil executives and businessmen conspired for a decade to siphon billions of dollars from the firm, channeling money to Swiss accounts and the slush funds of major political parties.

In Brazil’s Congress, where six in 10 members now face some kind of criminal investigation, lawmakers in the lower house have voted to impeach President Dilma Rousseff, a leftist economist whom many blame for fostering corruption and ruining Brazil’s economy. One vote against her came from Congressman Tiririca, a professional clown who won office campaigning that “it can’t get any worse.

Why does Brazil’s Leviathan state endure? One reason is a strong current of nationalism running through Brazilian life. Another is that it has delivered just enough on its grand promises to win the loyalty of key segments of the population.

Perhaps the most insidious legacy of Brazilian’s Leviathan state is the country’s endemic corruption. Bureaucrats with broad controls become tempted to seek bribes to issue permits, licenses and contracts. Businessmen become tempted to pay them. 

Brazil’s Leviathan grew so great that it gave rise to a popular theory that corruption could be a good thing because it “greased the wheels” of otherwise paralyzed bureaucracies. 

The Petrobras scandal is also a case study in opportunities squandered by Brazil’s Leviathan state. 

The Petrobras scandal also allegedly shows how politicians used corruption to retain control.

Trimming back Brazil’s Leviathan state won't be easy. As much as 85% of Brazil’s federal budget goes to spending that is guaranteed by law, from increases in retirement plans to spending on housing. Changes will require constitutional amendments.

Now some Bible references:

"These people are springs without water and mists driven by a storm. Blackest darkness is reserved for them. For they mouth empty, boastful words and, by appealing to the lustful desires of the flesh, they entice people who are just escaping from those who live in error. They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity—for “people are slaves to whatever has mastered them.” If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and are overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning. It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them. Of them the proverbs are true: “A dog returns to its vomit,” and, “A sow that is washed returns to her wallowing in the mud.”” 2 Peter 2:17-22 NIV

Can you pull in Leviathan with a fishhook
    or tie down its tongue with a rope?
2 Can you put a cord through its nose
    or pierce its jaw with a hook?
3 Will it keep begging you for mercy?
    Will it speak to you with gentle words? Job 41:1-3

“But God is my King from long ago; he brings salvation on the earth. It was you who split open the sea by your power; you broke the heads of the monster in the waters. It was you who crushed the heads of Leviathan and gave it as food to the creatures of the desert.” Psalm 74:12-14 NIV

Islamic Terrorism: Our daily gall!

Josimar Salum

What ultra radical Muslims have in common with all others? 

Paris is now the main news headline in the world due to the terrorist attacks the city endured on November 13, 2015 by those human incarnated demons called ultra radical Muslins who shot and bombed civilians while crying out and loud: Allahu Akbar! Allahu Akbar! Allahu Akbar!

I offer my "solidarité" to the French people, but I must include all those who across the Earth are subjected  EVERY DAY to the barbaric violence committed by radical Muslims in Afghanistan, Turkey, Palestine, Iran, Saudi Arabia and all around the world. Those stories are not shared through the media, and in those places, women are treated worse than trash. Christians are persecuted and killed, millions of citizens are silenced and deprived of their basic human rights. Why? Where Islamic beliefs are the main focus, which are not just beliefs, they are laws!  Laws which all  must obey or pay a severe penalty - including death. 

I stand in solidarity with the families of 200 Christian Syrian children who were shot by the Islamic State (ISIS) few days before the terrorist attacks in Paris. I must express my indignation with the main media which ignored what should have been THE main headline. The media did not even focus on that  unspeakable act of cruelty!  These Syrian children were not murdered in Paris, but they were all kneeling, with their little hands tied behind as they all dropped dead hearing  the frantic cries of the shooters: ALLAHU AKBAR! ALLAHU AKBAR! ALLAHU AKBAR!

I know where I live we all STILL enjoy freedom though every day we realize that our freedoms are increasingly being threatened. Millions of people already see with their own eyes this reality in several regions like France, Germany, Holland, England, Lebanon, Israel and some places in USA, even in Brazil and in many other Western places, not including millions and millions of people in the Middle East, Africa and Asia who are living under Sharia Law. Do you know what Shariah Law is?

Clearly those ultra-radical and radical men and women that terrorized Paris and shot the Syrian Christian children days before have at least two things in common with those who are called moderate and "nominal" Muslins. They are all Muslims and shout ALLAHU AKBAR - "God is great". It's a fact!

Anyone who knows the Koran acknowledges that in pure Islamism there is no forgiveness, Allah does not have a word of blessing for any other people on Earth, all islamic prayer is always cursing the enemies of Islam and Islam is not an ideology of true peace! Its concept of peace is linked to the Islamic world domination. When all become Muslims there will be "peace!" Oh, yeah! Peace without freedom! And you must understand this basic premise: If you are not Muslim you are considered an enemy of Islam! 

Sharia Law that Islam wants to deploy throughout Earth threatens the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It is easy to verify this assertion! Just compare the text of the declaration with the main pillars of Sharia Law. And then if you compare Sharia Law with the "Bill of Rights" of our American Constitution it will become even more evident!

Many of our leaders want us to believe that Islamism as a whole is not a threat, but only its radical version is.  However, examples throughout the world multiply to attest that today Islam is the greatest threat to human civilization in all versions. All versions of Islam have a lot in common. Think about it!