h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

seems I agree with you again. Well, I am attempting to be a better person these days

I think Lula will be good for Brazil. One of the reasons for this is that he is rejecting the dogma that has plagued South American politics since Che Guevara and decided that, erm, the Left should be more concerned with helping out the poor and disadvantaged rather than persueing a vendetta against private enterprise and American investment. The right-wing policies of the previous government seemed to have failed because they *did* listen to dogma and Brazil is learning that, in the real world, putting the market first does *not* alleviate poverty, no matter what an Ivy League brat from Chicago can prove with charts, ideology and a nice speaking voice.

After the disasterous (not to mention out of date) "coup attempt" in Venezuela (nowhere near as powerful as Brazil) I don't think the US will be interfering in the politics of the democracies on it's doorstep in such a way again. If Lula plays his cards right, and knows to be firm with America and it's ideologues without isolating them, then he could make Brazil a South American Sweden rather than another Cuba.

I wish him and Brazil all the best. It's a huge, country with a great football team and it's people deserve better.

Hear, hear. And good luck with your quest for self-improvement!