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 In these past few days Brazil appears to have reached unanimity on three points: the existence of the "mensalão," or the monthly kickback scheme; the lack of investments in education as the principal cause of our inequality and backwardness; the refusal to take resources from another area to cover the deficit in education.
In 2004 I was in Ireland to see how that country had made the educational leap that permitted its transformation from one of the most backward countries in Europe into one of the most advanced in the world. In 1973, after days of discussions at a meeting held in the city of Cork, the Irish political parties agreed to unite around a national education project. I wanted to visit the place of that meeting, and Stélio Amarante, the Brazilian ambassador in Dublin, told me that we would not have time. I pointed out to him on the map that there were no great distances between cities in that country, but he said that the trip would take six hours. Unconvinced, I said that it was impossible that a country with such a high level of education should have bad roads. He responded, "That's exactly the reason" and explained that in order to make the necessary investments in education, science and technology, Ireland had deferred applying its resources to road building. Now that it is an educated country and a producer of science and technology for the entire world, Ireland is beginning to implement its highway project. In a few years the trip between Dublin and Cork will take a mere two hours. Presently it is still a six-hour drive. In Brazil unanimity exists in favor of education. But it would be difficult for the political parties to accept a pact taking money from the roads, or profits from the banks, or from interest, or from the income tax deductions, or from the high maintenance cost of the Congress or the Justice system, or from the industrial and agricultural subsidies, or from the state expenses for publicity, travel, consultants. Besides the unanimity in favor of education, there is also unanimity that no one will lose any of his or her benefits. There is unanimity over the fact that a "mensalão," or monthly kickback, was paid so that members of the Chamber of Deputies would vote with the administration in the past few years. But no one wants to reorient the priorities with which the Brazilian public sector has for centuries channeled its resources into meeting the demand of those who have access to power, while at the same time ignoring the long-term necessities of all the Brazilian people. Throughout our history, we have transferred an immense quality of national resources to those with the ability to influence public power: This is the "seculão," or centuries-long kickback scheme. Brazil is opposed to the "mensalão" but tranquilly accepts the "seculão." In the Brazilian imagination, education is, at best, a means towards financial success. Even those who invest in their children's education have in mind the future salary that they will earn, and not the fact that their children will be educated. Besides this, the Brazilian society does not have a common vision. It is divided into corporations, interest groups that fight among themselves to appropriate the maximum amount of the national revenue and public benefits. And without a common vision, it has no long-term one. Self-interest and a desire for immediate results impede the parties from uniting in search of a national project that will see results 20 or 30 years in the future. This is why the "seculão" is invisible and is hijacking Brazil. As long as this is occurring, we will be unhappy observers of our slow march. We are marching backwards in the world scene at the same time as we are making small leaps forward. There has been no decision to change the route and accelerate because this would demand sacrifices from some groups to benefit the common vision and the future of the nation. We accept the continuation of the "seculão" because we are its beneficiaries. Cristovam Buarque has a Ph.D. in economics. He is a PDT senator for the Federal District and was Governor of the Federal District (1995-98) and Minister of Education (2003-04). You can visit his homepage - www.cristovam.com.br - and write to him at
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. Translated from the Portuguese by Linda Jerome -
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Buarque explains that Ireland preferred education first and then roads buildings to show what Brazil should have done !
The problem is that Brazil did not invest neither in roads, nor in railways. And not more in education, housings, healthcare, sanitation.
Knowing that Brazil had and still has one of the world highest tax rates, the governments should have been relatively rich...by definition.
Saying it is a big country is incorrect in the sense that it has also a large population.
Then the basic question never answered so far by the politicians and governments is simple :
With such a high taxation, where did the money go ?
A partial answer is foreign debts, yes but then what did you do with that money too, because you got that money...by definition..
The reality is very simple :
- tax collections were and still are poor. Tax evasion is the norm.
- the country was really mismanaged.
- some of the money was and is still stolen through thousands and thousands of corruptions, red tape, kickbacks for every single project developed.
Most of that stolen money went in the pockets of your existing minority elite, this elite consisting also of your politicians, are quite wealthy by every standard.
- The civil servants
have a high salary and a very high pension, paid by the government budget,
In conclusion if someone receives 100 and spends :
- 20 (government maintenace budget)
- 15 (corruption, red tape, kickbacks, over billings at all levels)
- 20 ( pensions for government and civil servants )
- 20 (10 for reimbursments of debts and 10 for interests)
- 15 (re-transfer to states - and gaining politicial support)
The remaining balance is only 10, for education, housing, infrastructure, poverty, social inclusion..
How can then investments be made...with just 10 out of 100 ?????
It is then not without reason that Brazil is ranked as having one of the world most wealth inequality !
It is quite strange that an EX senator, Ex governor, EX minister is writing such an article, because he is one of those that took, stole and burned the government budgets, leaving the country population with very little.
If one takes Ireland as an example, he is right because they did a super job in 20 years. But to analyze how they did it should also be looked in how the government budgets are allocated.
For obvious reasons, no one in Brazil will ever do that analysis and publish it ! smile
And very one can guess why !