Adjust or govern

A healthy dose of populism wouldn't hurt President Dilma Rousseff. Over these five years, the federal government has traded the strength of charisma for the power of the pen. Decisions are made without sugarcoating the words of those who truly matter. It's not merely an economic issue. The sheer stupidity of the figures brutalizes daily life, hiding the true nature of someone who wakes up hoping to conquer the world. On the contrary, the alarm clock – the enemy of peace – insists on reminding us of the feeling of someone determined to slay a lion every day.

If the country is experiencing a crisis – as the statements by ministers Miguel Rossetto and José Eduardo Cardozo suggest – Brazilians need to find in the government the image of someone who eats rice and beans like a prince. To secure the future and look at the Lacerda faction in the rearview mirror, history demands a little more blood, sweat, and tears from the president. The implacable Winston Churchill would say: "Don't leave them without it, give them everything they deserve." And this applies to the opposition as well, including the PMDB.

The history of populism is intertwined with the biographies of some of the world's most highly regarded Latin American leaders, including Juan Perón, Getúlio Vargas, Hugo Chávez, and Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. However, since January 2011, an American has decided to add his name to this list: Barack Obama. After the Republicans stole the majority in Congress from the Democratic president and announced a policy of "obstruction" to paralyze the White House (any resemblance is not a coincidence), Obama abandoned conciliation and decided to adopt a bipartisan tone, confront his opponents' issues, and, above all, adopt a combative stance, highlighting the contrasts between reds and blues. Obama had no other choice, just as Dilma Rousseff has none.

While Finance Minister Joaquim Levy is reducing purchasing power by raising the basic interest rate and increasing taxes on electricity and fuel prices, the president could tighten the belts of her allies with a plan to cut appointed positions, bonuses, corporate credit cards, and perhaps even ministries. Those familiar with public finances know that cutting ministries in the Esplanade of Ministries would be a theatrical measure with little impact on the Union's budget. The cut – in itself – would serve no administrative purpose. The issue, perhaps, could serve as the axis of a provocative agenda, capable of pushing the fury of those who didn't take to the streets or awaken the "giant" with the banging of pots and pans towards the Brazilian Congress, but who are slowly dying against the current of demonstrations, hindering the public, like those who voted for continuity and only tasted the bitter flavor of unpopular news.

Sócrates Santana is a journalist and former press secretary for former governor Jaques Wagner.