The pipe will close.

By Florestan Fernandes Jr, of Journalists for Democracy - We have spent the last few decades hearing accusations from the far right that the left aimed to impoverish the population and divide all the material goods of the citizens. The left was also accused of wanting to end freedom of the press and the basic rights of a democratic society. None of this, however, occurred in the so-called "left-wing" governments in Brazil. The great phenomenon of the moment is that the far right itself, represented by the Temer and now Bolsonaro governments, is the one executing these agendas with excellence.

In just 30 months they managed to increase poverty, throwing thousands of families onto the streets. They dismantled labor laws, reducing income and pushing thousands of workers into the informal economy. There are already 13 million unemployed, 52 million people living below the poverty line, and 15,2 million in extreme poverty. Our GDP has fallen back to the level of 8 years ago, and 63 million Brazilians are in debt. Many of these have been forced to mortgage their homes or sell everything to pay bank interest.

Last week, banker-minister Paulo Guedes presented a pension reform proposal that preserves the privileges and high pensions of military personnel, judges, prosecutors, and politicians. They intend to increase the age and contribution period required for retirement. If the government's proposal is approved without changes, in the near future we risk the approval of a "death benefit." This would be something like offering families a painless death and free cremation for unemployed elderly people.

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As promised, the tax burden on companies should be reduced. The law sanctioned by FHC in 1995, which exempts profits and dividends from taxation on financial investments, remains in effect. Just for the record, the net profit of the five largest banks in Brazil exceeds R$100 billion annually. It is the banks and Brazilian investors who are, in fact, taking our homes and our material possessions. They are the ones who charge the highest interest rates on the planet and control, with their financial power, many important politicians, media groups, and even sectors of the judiciary. It is no coincidence that the mainstream media has been openly supporting privatizations and reforms that reduce workers' rights. All in the name of the primary interest of the so-called market. Even those who defend liberalism cannot explain why the best names to run the country's economy are always bankers: Henrique Meirelles, Paulo Guedes, Joaquim Levy...

After six years of robust growth in emerging countries, the collapse of Lehman Brothers in 2008 had a significant impact on countries like Brazil. The crisis reduced investments and caused real wage losses. Ten years have passed, and the financial sector is now seizing the opportunity to recover gains lost during the boom in consumption and growth. The bill is being paid by the far-right in an alliance with conservatives. The leader of this new group is Donald Trump, who did everything to elect Bolsonaro. The captain secured his position with the financial sector, which is rapidly taking away our wealth. Those who feared losing their homes are losing much more: self-esteem and prospects for the future. There are things in life that we only value when we lose them. Democracy and social rights are threatened. The right-wing wave hasn't subsided yet; when the tide closes, it will be time for progressives to surf back to dry land. To do this, we have to fight hard and leave no one behind.

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