EDITORIAL. Ninguém cuida do circo

Editorial: Nobody Cares for the Circus

The clown show that defines a gubernatorial candidacy in Minas – erasing any remaining credibility of the party and its would-be candidate – is a stark illustration of Brazil's political decay and a society growing increasingly indifferent to the country's future. Minas, once home to some of Brazil's greatest public figures, now has a high probability of being governed by an influencer who best represents the nation's revolt, but who is incapable of articulating public policy or contributing anything beyond their own revolt.

How did we get here? Through a mix of elite irresponsibility and the Brazilian middle class's abandonment of reasoning – all wrapped in the sensationalism of politics created by social media, which promotes noise over substance and fame over competence.

The Brazilian elite is gone. Part of it is in Miami or Portugal, while another part, which once organized with a true public spirit to support or oppose candidates, now only laments the country daily in WhatsApp groups. Some burned out by political involvement, others were investigated by Alexandre de Moraes, and many (most) lost their ability to influence.

Brazil must question if the law banning business donations, thought to "clean" politics post-Lava Jato, helped elevate debate quality or instead created an adverse selection, where bad candidates can win with (wasteful) Election Fund money and then owe nobody. There's also a third group: the elite that only serves their sectorial or aristocratic interests and adapts to any government: the bad and the worst.

This includes the worst of the bad, the greedy businessmen, and party presidents, who are often mediocre to corrupt and only choose candidates to "win" – regardless of how poor and incapable they are.

But the "Brazilian people" also need to help themselves. The Brazilian press – another elite type – has always seen (and still treats) the "people" as a poor wretch who votes poorly because of low education and lack of good information (irony...). Yet, it seems the people believed the narrative and decided to accept it. The bizarre or monstrous characters Brazil sends to Congress, State Legislatures, and City Councillor Chambers are increasingly of the incredulous breed.

It's time for the average Brazilian – the regular person – to stop coitadismo and realize they depend more on electing a good government than on the elites themselves. If Lula is believed, he ended hunger in the country, and today even the humblest Brazilians own a smartphone (just look around in the bus). Bolsa Família guarantees access to nutrients, and information access is now broad and democratic.

There is no more excuse for ignorance. The people who vote poorly deserve the governing they have. In every corner of the country, numerous cases of incompetent candidates exist – some veterans who did everything they could 20 years ago and still have nothing new to offer, others with bad character, and others who have broken municipalities and states without shame, running again.

It's up to the elite to expose them. It's up to the press to expose them. And it's up to the people to stop them. But, obviously, this editorial will only be read by an indifferent elite, while the people eagerly follow what truly matters: the Big Brother of Globo TV. The post EDITORIAL. Ninguém cuida do circo appeared first on Brazil Journal.