Charlie Rose

Paulo Valvezan  06/26/2008 04:47 PM Report

Excellent interview. Brazil has a lot to offer in many areas. Also, let's put all of these videos into quicktime for iphone viewing. Iphone, is IP TV and will allow a greater number of people to enjoy this site.

Felipe  04/13/2008 10:44 PM Report

I think it is interesting to see that this debate has taken on a pro-Lula vs. pro-FHC shape. The reality of it is that both Presidents have pursued similar policies while avoiding major reforms, and I don't blame either of them for their inability to seek greater change. Both have maintained the economy stable through increased taxation instead of significant structural reforms.

I would argue that 1985 was the re-birth of Brazil as a nation, and 23 years are simply not enough to undo a history of colonialism, coronelismo, and other powerful institutions that have perpetuated inequality in Brazil. Both men have their merits and demerits, but this is just the beginning of change. The very nature of our political institutions (Federalism, presidentialism) force slow changes.

My only caution is a possible third term for Lula, which would represent an erosion of new democratic institutions and a move towards the hypocritical Chavizmo that we see today in Venezuela.

Shawn Klein  10/02/2007 09:50 AM Report

It's a shame your "video screen control(All you got to do is click the video screen and you can watch the interview on your

computer.)" isn't accessible to the blind. I really would've liked to see this. At the very least the video should just start automatically instead of forcing people to search for a graphic which isn't accessible to a screen reader anyway. At the most, put some alt-text on that puppy and make it a more standerd control, not a hidden whatsit. Designers of this site check out

www.webaim.org

and

http://www.w3.org/WAI/

and

www.accessible.org/

Ed  10/01/2007 10:12 PM Report

Mr T, your political ignorance bewilders me, you are an example, of what is in the mind of the "extreme right wing conservatives". People with your views, have been the cancer of this nation.

Mirian  10/01/2007 02:17 PM Report

There you go Mr. Rob T! We are only harvesting what we planted in the last 30 years. Concentration of wealth, insignificant economic growth, very little investment in housing, education and sanitation. I think you are smart enough to know, that you don't change the face of a nation in 5 years. Yours and Iara's criticism of the goverment, stems more from your prejudicious reasoning and than from analyzing the facts. I know its hard for you and others (brazilian elite) in accepting the fact that a man with little education, is "begining" to change the face of this nation.

Ed  10/01/2007 12:48 PM Report

You are right Mr. T, an example is the state of Sao Paulo where violence has been on the rise for many years. The city of Sao Paulo is responsible for 1% of the worlds homicide. We can thank these numbers to the PSDB goverment who has been in power there for the last 11 years. What can you expect from a goverment, who's closest political allies are the "conservative right", responsible for greatest social injustices this country has seen. ZERO investment in the social well being (schools, sanitation, housing, etc..) of its people.

Rob T.  10/01/2007 12:26 PM Report

For those that love to pick out the "impressive" numbers of Mr Lula and his government there is another one just released by United Nations that only confirms whatever lucid people can see spreading geometrically around this country - Brazil is expected to achieve 53 millions of shanty towners by 2010. I believe they will call this new project of "PAC DOS FAVELADOS".

Iara Arco  09/30/2007 10:26 AM Report

This is my last comment to this page; I'm tired, and I assume I won't convince Mr Jurema, Ed, or Miriam to admit the rotten aspects of this government.... oh well.... just so that Ed's lat points don't remain answered, though:

1) it is true, the payments were not necessariliy monthly. There were cases in which they happened with a different time-span: bi-monthly, weekly, or even daily in couple of occasions (the same congressman received payments in consecutive days). I simply translated the term 'mensalao', which is innacurate. The problem is that the payment existed, in an irregular manner, and it involved a lot of money and a lot of the most important figures in Lula's government. Mr. Ed, why does he have such great difficulty to recognize that crimes are not 'mistakes'? Instead, he says to his party "we should abandon those people who made these mistakes". This is sickening.

2) The media is just doing its job of investigating, as it did with previous governments. In fact, the media was quite pro-Lula until the mensalao came. Blaming it for reporting the rotten things this )government did is trying to shoot the messenger.

3) In the 90s, there were several huge international crisis - Mexico, Russia, Asia - that created turmoils in the whole developing world. In the current decade, this has not happened (yet). That's what created the difference in the external conditions, not the US growth. When those developing countries collapsed, investors were reluctant to go to any other developing countries, such as Brazil. In the end of Lula's term, the country will have grown more, but, once again, not as much as it could, and helped by external conditions.

Could I ask here, once again, for some Lula-supporter to AT LEAST come forward and admit that these government has serious ethical shortcomings, and that it profits from continuing the economic policies of the previous government (which were so strongly opposed by Lula when he was oposition)??

Iara Arco  09/30/2007 10:26 AM Report

This is my last comment to this page; I'm tired, and I assume I won't convince Mr Jurema, Ed, or Miriam to admit the rotten aspects of this government.... oh well.... just so that Ed's lat points don't remain answered, though:

1) it is true, the payments were not necessariliy monthly. There were cases in which they happened with a different time-span: bi-monthly, weekly, or even daily in couple of occasions (the same congressman received payments in consecutive days). I simply translated the term 'mensalao', which is innacurate. The problem is that the payment existed, in an irregular manner, and it involved a lot of money and a lot of the most important figures in Lula's government. Mr. Ed, why does he have such great difficulty to recognize that crimes are not 'mistakes'? Instead, he says to his party "we should abandon those people who made these mistakes". This is sickening.

2) The media is just doing its job of investigating, as it did with previous governments. In fact, the media was quite pro-Lula until the mensalao came. Blaming it for reporting the rotten things this )government did is trying to shoot the messenger.

3) In the 90s, there were several huge international crisis - Mexico, Russia, Asia - that created turmoils in the whole developing world. In the current decade, this has not happened (yet). That's what created the difference in the external conditions, not the US growth. When those developing countries collapsed, investors were reluctant to go to any other developing countries, such as Brazil. In the end of Lula's term, the country will have grown more, but, once again, not as much as it could, and helped by external conditions.

Could I ask here, once again, for some Lula-supporter to AT LEAST come forward and admit that these government has serious ethical shortcomings, and that it profits from continuing the economic policies of the previous government (which were so strongly opposed by Lula when he was oposition)??

Ed  09/29/2007 06:53 PM Report

Mrs Iara, when you refer to the payment of "big monthly allowances", from what I've read there was no consistancy to monthly payments,as the mainstream media (conservative)build it to be. Money from a publicity agent was given to the treasurer of the Workers Party who later distributed it to political allies, to help pay for encured campaign debt. The source of the money has not yet been determined, speculation is, the money came from companies with private and public capital. I have just learned that a top political figure from Mr. Cardoso's party PSDB, has publicly admitted receiving money from the same publicity agency back in 1998. In his interview he says that part of the money was past on to Mr.Cardoso's campaign office. I guess we will have to wait and see to find out who really began this scheme. One of the big differences between this goverment and Mr. Cardoso's that I see, is the fact that conservative media is using all its power to bring Lula down, it is so evident! If you have a chance, try to view a documentary made by BBC called "Brazil; beyond citizen Kane", it was prohibited in Brazil through judicial means, filed by Rede Globo. It shows the power this media empire has on brazilian politics, it is sickning! One other edge, that Mr. Cardoso had during his presidency, was his Attorney General, a man who simply would not investigate ANYTHING that could hurt the federal goverment. To touch on your view that world economics was worse in Mr.Cardoso's presidency than today, I can only suggest you check your sources. The U.S economy grew faster than in recent years, the price of oil was just over 20 dollars (today 80 dolars). The fact is, Brazil's recent fiscal policies (goverment surplus of around 4% of GDP) has laid the necessary foundation for sustained economic growth for years to come. One more fact for you to verify. With the present growth rate of 4.7% of GDP, continuing to the end of this year, the expansion of the GDP under Lula will have surpassed that of Mr.Cardoso's 8 year presidency.

Iara Arco  09/29/2007 03:19 PM Report

By th way, I mentioned Mr. Jurema and Rob T. in a previous comment, but I clearly meant Mr. Jurema and Ed.

Iara Arco  09/29/2007 03:09 PM Report

As a response to Miriam's comment, let me say that Mr. Cardoso's government was not perfect. Were there corruption scandals? Yes. Was he as firm as I would have liked against these scandals? Not always. The electricity fiasco was certainly created by the incompetence of Mr. Cardoso's government (even though it should also be said that, after the problem was detected, the MANAGEMENT of the problem was competent, as it avoided any blackouts in the country. The same thing cannot be said about the management of the 'aviation blackout' in Lula's presidency). The devaluation of the Real in 1999 was something that in hidnsight was indeed an error; at the time, people knew that sooner or later this had to be done, but there were also advantages to keep the currency at a higher value. The "help" offered to those 2 banks was disgraceful, and I hope the justice system will punish the responsible for that. The tampering of the Senate's voting system is something that has nothing to do with the government at the time, even, as you correctly point out, it was done by 2 allies (even though ACM was at the time already somewhat of a burden to Mr. Cardoso). The "votes" that were bought for the re-election amendment were done by a couple of people in the periphery of the government, and really cannot be compared to the widespread scheme that was the "big monthy allowance". This, on the other hand, were perpretrated by very big names, close alies to Lula, and it was applied to a vast array of members of Congress. The difference between these two governments (and I hope I clearly expressed the fact that I was not happy with everything in the previous one) is that Mr. Cardoso did not contemporize, he did not said he was betrayed but later kept contact with the very people who betrayed him. Mr. Cardoso also had no moral difficulties in saying that something was wrong, while Lula often (as in the last Workers' Party convention in SP) says that "our friends did some little mistakes, but we should not abandon them." Those were not mistakes, they were crimes, and I wish the president had the moral clarity to affirm that unambiguously. Furthemore, the corruption problems in Mr. Cardoso's presidency were committed by people who were NOT part of the core of the government. Unfortunately, Brazil's political system encourages (or even demands) that presidents make unsavoury alliances in order to govern. Jader Barbalho, unfortunately, was on the government's side then (as he is now again...), but he was not a close advisor of the president, and Mr. Cardoso had no ambiguities when his crimes were denounced. I don't believe that "all politicians are the same", and that Lula simply does the same as everyone else. There is a difference in scale and proximity that should not be ignored. Now, moving to the economic argument of the previous comment. It is true, the country is in a beter situation now; however, what people pretend to ignore was that this is greatly influenced by the international climate. During Mr. Cardoso's presidency, he had to face innumerous international crisis that curtalied the ability of the country to develop. Now, on the other hand, Lula has benefited from great conditions, and, yet, our growth is only greater than Haiti in Latin America. If both presidents had faced similar situations, I have no doubts who would be more successful. Besides, the economic reforms and the privatizations done in the 90s are important factors for our continuous growth, and president Lula simply denies that fact. He thinks he is the cause of everything good in the country today, and he blames previous governments for everything bad that happens. I have the courage to affirm that there were many actions done in Mr. Cardoso's time that I disagree with, so I offer here a challenge for some of Lula's supporters to at least acknowledge that today's prosperity is only possible because of the previous government, which took measures that were vehemently opposed by Lula then (but which are quitely adopted by Lula now). I wish Lula were able to have the moral clarity and the honesty to point out that crimes are not mistakes, and to accept that he is reaping the fruits that were planted before he came to office. His incompetence I could even forgive; I am sure he is trying his best... I cannot forgive his dishonesty and arrogance, though.

Mirian  09/29/2007 07:58 AM Report

Just to refresh your memory Mrs. Iara, here are some scandals that were proven but never investigated during Mr. Cardoso´s presidency:

1) A 200,000 Real payment to various representatives to approve a constitutional amendment allowing a second term for Mr. Cardoso.

2) The billion Real bailout (public money) of two (2) banks after the de-valuation of the Real.

3) The " tampering" of the senate voting panel by his 2 closest political allies. A "blow" for democracy in Brazil.

4) The electricty " fiasco"! Brazil couldn´t have grown if it wanted to, for Brazil was left in the dark, Brazilians had to ration electricity. Beleive it or not!

5) The federal´s goverment billion dollar aid to many private banks, I beleive it was called the PROER.

6) During Mr. Cardoso´s presidency, Brazil saw it largest money laundering operation in history, through a bank called BANESTADO (a state bank).

There are many other scandals during Mr. Cardoso´s presidency, but due to the limited space I won´t mention.

One the biggest`"traps" that Mr.Cardoso set for the brazilian people was, the sale of federal bonds indexed to the dollar. As soon has he was re-elected he allowed the Real to "float" against the dollar, causing the public debt to rise from 34% of GDP to nearly 53% of GDP. Today thanks to Lula´s fiscal policies, Brazil has bought back all these bonds there were issued pegged to the dollar. During Mr. Cardoso´s years Brazil had a defecit in its foreign current account (never a surplus). For the last 4 years Brazil has had nothing but surplus in this area. Enough should I say, that all the debt with the IMF has been PAID OFF. The fact is, Brazil today has more assests in strong currency than liabilities in these currencies. The reason for the huge amounts of foreign investments that are pouring into Brazil. Brazil is ONE step from receiving an "investment grade" rating from the worlds rating agencies. First time in its history!

Iara Arco  09/28/2007 07:53 PM Report

It is hilarious to read what Mr. Jurema and Mr. Rob T wrote. To think that the corruption of this government is the result of more transparency is absyrd when you realize that all these scandals were either uncovered by the media (which President Lula demonizes at all times), or by a inside traitor like congressman Jeferson. Besides, how can you explain that almost all of his closest advisors were involved in it, including 2 presidents of the Workers Party? Poor Lula, he didn't know anything... HE IS THE GREATEST BENEFICIARY OF THESE SCHEMES!

Furthermore, to say that he "strengthned" the institutions is a joke; he undermined them tremendously, but thankfully former President Cardoso left such a strong legacy that even the Workers Party find it hard to dismantle it completely. The shameful way in which they increased government spending (including with projects such as this Public TV, which supposedly will treat his government more fairly... in Lula's imagination, the concept of fair is to deny that the "big monthly allowance" to Congresmes never existed), and with all their friends getting jobs for which they are not slightest qualified (should I mention the ANAC, who regulates the aviation, with its directors who were completely incompetent?).

Anyone who supports this government does not understand the importance of ethics in politics, and they fail to see that Lula's so-called sucesses are simply originated from keeping Mr. Cardoso's basic economic tactics, while at the same time benefiting greatly from not having to deal with external financial crisis like in the past. God save us if that were to happen.

Tom  09/28/2007 03:45 PM Report

Wow I almost can not believe I am witnessing BRASIL getting better. I left there in 1986, inflation was 1000%, I had a good job and made good money but I could see that it was not going to last. I was receiving great pay raises almost monthly. So I saved up and left. I am happy LULA has been able to improve the country but don't forget that some of the tiny steps were set in place before him. For example when elections took place, when the Real was set in place. Brasileiro needs to be patient and strong. The Brazilians that complain are the ones who can aford a maid, have two cars, go to the beach for the summer. I tell these that they should not be like pigs in other countries such as the USA, enjoy the growth of all of BRASIL. LULA is a hero.

Rocha  09/28/2007 10:30 AM Report

It´s a shame to have Mr. Lula president of this great natioan called Brazil. He leads a gang (Workers Party) that stole a lot of money from taxpayers. Right now they are all, except Mr. Lula (why???) in trouble with Justice. It´s a very corrupt government.

Bernardo Jurema  09/28/2007 07:29 AM Report

President Lula is doing a great job in Brazil. For the first time ever, the economic growth is taking place at the same time that the wealth is being distributed - both socially and regionally. The "corruption scandals" are consequences of two things. On one side, Lula's government has strengthened the institutions, and it is therefore the most transparent government we have ever had. On the other side, Lula has to deal with a very aggressive and economically powerful opposition.

And all the transformations Brazil is going through within the democratic regime. Lula cannot impose anything - all measures are debated extensively. The fact is that President Lula chose the hard course of democracy ever since he entered politics, in the late 1970's - and, coherently, he is deepening Brazilian democracy by including yet more people, providing them with dignity, citizenship and consumer capability. It is a silent revolution that really bothers the conservative sectors of our society!

james  09/28/2007 03:35 AM Report

All you got to do is click the video screen and you can watch the interview on your computer.

Iara Arco  09/28/2007 03:33 AM Report

Too bad the international media does not see Lula for what he really is. Since he came to power, Brazil has seen its worst corruption scandals (and we had quite a lot in the past to compare it with). The most notorious one, known as the "mensalao" (roughly translated as "big monthly allowance") was a shameful scheme to buy members of congress with public money. This scheme was orchestrated by many of Lula's closest collaborators, but in the end he simply said that he did not know of anything, and that he was betrayed. He tries to make us believe that he never knows anything that goes on around him; if that were true, he would be dumb and inept, but he is not. Lula is a very shrewd politician, and I don't deny that deep in his heart he thinks he is doing what's good (actually, deep in his heart he thinks he is the best thing that ever happened to Brazil...), but he is deeply involved in a corrupt government. Besides, the 'greatest' achievement of his years in power were the expansion of a program created by his predecessor that started as a good idea to keep kids in school, but became under Lula's leadership a program that offers no way out of poverty for those people, simply creating dependency and assuring that they will most likely vote for Lula or whoever Lula supports. Besides that, his best achievement was that he did not screw up the economy, by pretty much following what was created during Mr. Cardoso's former government (policies against which Lula was ardently opposed 10 years ago...). However, he simply kept those policies without doing anything to reform the tax system and the work legislation that makes Brazil grow at an abysmal rate. Mr. Cardoso led Brazil in a very difficult international climate (with the crisis in Russia, Mexico, etc); Lula, with the world in great expansion, was able to give Brazil the 2nd worst growth in Latin America, only behind Haiti! Besides that, don't even get me started in the chaos that his administration did to our aviation system, and his ineptitude to fight a situation that could have been controlled had he been more competent.

So, before having this admiration for this 'great man who was the 1st worker to become the president, blah-blah-blah", people should get informed about what really goes on in Brazil

RCA  09/28/2007 12:42 AM Report

I enjoyed very much president Lula's interview.

Lula did a very good job answering Charlie's questions.

Lula turned out to be a much better president than I expected when you take in consideration the state of affairs when he became president of Brazil.

I would give him a very good grade for all his efforts in trying to improve the standard of living for a large number of people in Brazil.

.

Ed  09/27/2007 07:03 PM Report

I am sure Mr. Rob T is a brazilian and a right winger, who will never except the fact, no matter what, that Brazil is going through its best moment both socially and economically since the last 30 years. The facts are there for those who wish to see. Here are some: 1) more than 6 million new jobs in his 4 1/2 years, (800,000 in 8 years from his predecessor). 2) More than 8 million brazilians are no longer miserabely poor (distribution of wealth). 3)Foreign investment is at its highest level ever. 2)Over 160 billion dollars in foreign reserves (foreign debt around 140 billion). 4)Economy is growing at nearly 5%, with low inflation. 5) Stock market went from 11,000 points to 59,000 points during his presidency. 6) The number of federal police agents went from 5,000 to over 10,500 in the last 4 years. 7) Number of federal police "stings" went from 54 in the previous 8 years to over 210 in the last 4 years. 8) The sale of new homes are at a all time high.

Yes, many people are bothered by these numbers, especially the so called ruling "elite", media owners (who helped support the previous dictatorship) , right wing politicians, the very rich, etc...

They will never except the fact that Lula, who doesn't have a college education much less a phd, is slowling making things better for the "majority" of brazilians. Brazil's biggest problem by far, is the concentration of wealth.

Rob T.  09/27/2007 05:07 PM Report

Every time I hear Mr. Lula's speech I feel deep in my heart this compulsion feeling to invite international journalists and everybody that dream on his beautiful words to come and live in Brazil at least one year or so. Forget about Europe, Scandinavia, Australia, etc and check for youself that Brazil is the heaven in Earth or even better if you take Mr Lula's words textually. Perhaps you can be selected to be among millions to receive government's money at your home without having to do anything besides vote for his eternal reelection and of course his buddies. It's perfect isn't it ?

Rob T.  09/27/2007 10:52 AM Report

This brazilian president is a huge fake !!!. He's an actor performing what he does best that's lying for decades. He's the chief of a gang (Workers' Party ??)that took Brazil's presidency taking in mind only a project of power to do in Brazil what dictators like Hugo Chavez does in Venezuela. Of course he has a different approach. No doubt he's a smart guy. They all come to this scene saying that they care about poor people, they came from the same place and they know what poverty means (ask Forbes about Mr. Lula.

We all know this history very well. You should not take what this guy says seriously. He is playing this silly game a long time in Brazil...

Marcos Maldonado  09/27/2007 04:19 AM Report

The Presidente of Brazilian is the Best!

Champion Desenvolvimente!

Maxwell and Deidre  09/27/2007 12:40 AM Report

great conversation with the brazilian presidente...looks like hes fighting with all hes power for the needed brazilian people...God bless you all