BRAZIL - Poverty, gangs, child workers; is this a failed democratic nation?

BRAZIL - Poverty, social inequality, and criminality; is Brazil a failed democratic state?

Brazil is a so-called democratic nation whereby choice, freedom, liberty, and empowerment is meant to be enshrined. However, the other Brazil is a land of absolute poverty, enormous social inequality, and where young children often have to work in order to support their family. Given this, is Brazil a failed democratic nation or is Brazil caught up in a poverty trap?

Brazil and the Philippines are in theory democratic but surely their democratic ways are tainted because of their massive social inequality? Often we equate democracy with freedom, modernity, hope, social justice, more options, and other positive things like quality education and a strong welfare system. Yet this is simply not the case when it comes to Brazil or the Philippines, and other nations, therefore, democracy is often flawed in many parts of the world.

More alarming for people in Brazil is the lack of central authority because crime is rampant and child workers are a fact of life. Added to these woes is the endless number of no-go-areas in major cities like Rio. Therefore, special protection gangs have grown in numbers because these appear to be the only functioning factors in the slums of Brazil. However, this protection must be paid for and you have to wonder if organized crime could be manipulated by these functions within Brazil?

For child workers the current inequality gap is real and their situation is pained by the wealth they see day in and day out. These child workers are already on the margins of society and their respective futures are very bleak. So democracy to these children is very hollow. The only democracy they want is economic democracy and not political democracy.

Therefore, it would appear that Brazil does have a functioning democratic state but its democratic principles are tainted by corruption and enormous inequality. I fear that this nation is going to continue in the same way and for millions of people in Brazil they do not believe that they reside in a democratic nation. Overall, Brazil is a failed democratic nation because so many of her citizens have little hope or rights and for many poverty awaits them like a curse.

Lee Jay Walker Dip BA MA

http://journals.aol.com/leejaywalker/uk/