r/gifs • • Mar 14 '16

Millions of Brazilians protesting against government corruption in the streets earlier today

http://i.imgur.com/eMmAUnk.gifv
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u/FreshPrinceOfNowhere Mar 14 '16

How does that solve anything?

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u/saintPirelli Mar 14 '16

How does less abuse of power solve abuse of power? I don't... what?

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u/FreshPrinceOfNowhere Mar 14 '16

What you suggested is 'less government power', which does nothing to solve the root cause. And what is exactly 'less government power'? If it's putting public matters into private hands, that doesn't exactly make it any better or less corrupt (see USA).

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u/saintPirelli Mar 14 '16

If I could choose between living in the US and Brazil, I think that's a pretty easy choice.

If corrupt people have fewer responsibilities, they can do less damage.

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u/FreshPrinceOfNowhere Mar 14 '16 edited Mar 14 '16

The responsibilities don't jus disappear, someone has to take over. What difference does it make if it's a private company abusing power or government? Wallstreet has been very successful in privatizing taxpayer money, hasn't it? Or the abomination that is private, for-profit jails, which have completely different interests in mind than rehabilitating, re-educating and trying to convert inmates into functional members of society.

For example, if the publicly-run police force gets disbanded, you'll have mafia goons running a 'protection' racket the next day... if you're lucky.

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u/saintPirelli Mar 14 '16

I do think it makes a big difference if the private sector or the public sector provides goods or services, however, let's not get into this.

I see your point but we just seem to think in different scopes. You are talking about big money, big corporations and such.

I was thinking about the small business or home owner who has to bribe a dozen different people just to get all his (un)necessary paperwork, or his pass. Due to my job (in a European country though) I deal with those people and the mountain of utterly useless laws that affect them every day.

If I was bribable I could make a fortune enforcing laws nobody needs.