In a democracy, the voters are called the highest power.
Brasil’s law protects the voters.
Usa’s law protects the ones who have misused their power, regardless how criminal.
But surely couldn’t the argument be made that since all political power comes from the voters (in theory), they deserve to be the ultimate judge of whether someone is fit for office or not?
From a purely theoretical standpoint
According to US Republicans Donald Trump can commit crimes and any attempts to prosecute him are just political attacks. The US is Bizarro world.
Paywall
Summary of the article:
Despite similar behaviors by the two former presidents, the political repercussions have been significantly different due to the contrasting political and governing structures of the two countries. While Trump faces multiple federal and state charges, he remains a key figure in American politics, with strong potential for a future presidential nomination.
In contrast, Bolsonaro’s fall from grace has been swift and severe. Following accusations of making unfounded claims about the integrity of Brazil’s voting systems on state television, Bolsonaro faces several criminal investigations. Moreover, Brazil’s electoral court has ruled to bar him from political office for the remainder of the decade.
This discrepancy illustrates the different approaches to political misconduct in the two countries. While the US system leaves the fate of the accused to voters and the slow-paced justice system, Brazilian courts have been proactive, quickly and aggressively dealing with perceived threats to their young democracy.
The author also discusses the centralization of Brazil’s electoral system and the associated pros and cons. The system has helped to keep some corrupt politicians from power but is also seen as overly restrictive, with a centralized electoral court holding significant power over political eligibility. Furthermore, it has also been subject to criticism for overreach, with aggressive measures against anti-democratic misinformation or plotting sometimes perceived as violating freedom of speech and other democratic norms.
Despite some challenges, the author concludes with a quote from Omar Encarnación, a professor at Bard College, suggesting that Brazil’s democratic system can offer lessons on combating new anti-democratic threats, highlighting the need to “upgrade the hardware” of democratic institutions in the face of emerging challenges.
Because Lula’s not a feckless neolib?
It’s such a suspicious coincidence that both tankies and right wingers like these guys
We like Lula, not Bolsonaro or Trump. It’s such a suspiciuous coincidence that all liberals don’t know how to read.
By the the way, did you know in Argentina leftists call right wingers liberals? It’s funny how our right wing is your left wing.
We, left-wingers, like Lula.
Right wingers aren’t liberal and never will be, even though they’ve tried to steal that term many many times. From leaders like Lula actually. I’m pretty sure he can read.
It is funny that tankies are like reactionary right wingers, just pretending not to be
(or maybe think they aren’t 🤔)
Remember not to make assumptions of others! I don’t label you as any of the mentioned, even though I do sense the hostile tone :)
Liberalism, being inextricably intertwined with capitalism, is a right-wing ideology. Tankies are often on the wrong side of the issue, but that’s because, like fascists and conservatives, they are reactionaries. Tankies take the side of certain established powers because those powers advertise themselves as resistance to liberal capitalism, without realizing or caring that fascists are manipulating their support. Actual leftists care first and foremost about harm reduction.
