BRASIL’S POLITICAL SAMBAS…
(when they’re good they’re very, very good…when they’re bad like now…they’re…horrid)

The largest economy and democratic society in South America is in shambles, and it’s a sad thing to watch because Brasil has lots of almost everything…from its Atlantic shores and Amazonian reaches to its Andean piedmonts and borders with its Argentine neighbor…that any other country in the world could wish for.

And yet, its economy and its socio-political condition are both in shambles despite all those resources and capabilities, mainly because of an almost genetically driven susceptibility to graft and corruption among its political class, which seems to think that any position of either authority or office no matter how modest…is a license to skim…while the skimming is good …rather than being one of fiduciary obligation. And this seems to apply no matter to which end of the political spectrum it belongs…including even with those of the purest Socialist creed. None seem immune from that less than endearing human character defect called…greed…which also…knows no political boundaries, viz…those Panama Papers.

These descendants and inheritors of bold Portuguese such as Magellan, Vasco de Gama, and others, are still a bold and enterprising people who, given half a chance, could still surprise this world of ours at what they yet might accomplish. In fact we’ve known a few ourselves, including a certain lady, of fond memory, who was, indeed, quite a “bold” Brasilian.

Well, we can but hope that our Brasilian friends, who were bold enough to pick up and move their seat of government from Rio to a new location named Brasilia almost a thousand miles away, in one fell swoop, are still bold and capable enough to not just clean up their political sambas (which when they’re good are very, very good, but when they’re bad like now…they’re horrid) and quickly restore their land into a better, more prosperous, and more equitable and stable society than they have today.

CENTURION