Re: What Documentaries Influenced You Most and Why?

My wife is Brasilian, and arguably, they have one of the most corrupt "working" democracies. She told me that it is common during election time for a candidate to go to the country, where people are poor as dirt, and find the head (father/mother) of a large family and do something like get concrete poured in their house. They know full well the politician is corrupt as hell and will sell his vote and loot the treasury, but the logic is everyone will do that, so why not get a concrete floor.. then everyone in the family votes for the crook.

I'm still somewhat of an idealist, in the case of our country, I think removing every politician with an (R) after their name is a good thing as these guys would give Tammany Hall politicians an inferiority complex. I think we have to demand more, or we will get what is in Brasil, where the attitude is so jaded nothing more is expected. I call my congressmen and senators AT LEAST once a month, even though I know my Senators are the crooks I want out.. I want them to know I am pissed and tell them regularly. I campaign, and do believe that there are uncorrupted politicians. I do believe that they are in a minority, but I believe they exist. And I know like making sausage, it may not be pretty to watch laws being made, but sometimes the product can be tasty. To not expect compromises and payback defies logic.

I have many, many friends that have become very apathetic and jaded about politics.. I mean after all, politicians are just humans and corruptible.. That's why I think just a regime change is a good thing, and will likely be railing to throw out the dems in a decade.

Probably the most alarming thing I have ever witnessed is that people are becoming used to scandals and treating it like it was no big thing rather than being outraged and letting the elected officials know. This is the only government in the west where the people are afraid of the government instead of the other way around. People need to stand up and scream, and not get too complacent. If you don't then look forward to a Brasilian government. People will always be corrupt, but people do not always have to stand for it. Accept it, and it's yours.