Corruption during the pandemic! Human lives, what does it matter? (episode 22)

Brasilia,Brazil

In a letter he wrote to Francis Godolphin on April 25, 1651, intending to express gratitude to that family who had encouraged and supported his studies and intellectual progress, Thomas Hobbes dedicates to him the book “Leviathan”, a study of the state, and says to Godolphin:

“I humbly dedicate my discourse on the State to you. I don’t know how the world will receive it, or how it might be reflected in those who seem to favor it. For, squeezed between those who fight for excessive freedom on the one hand, and on the other for an excessive authority, it is difficult to pass unhurt between the spears on both sides”.

The book is a beauty, a treasure, and in it Hobbes teaches with the clarity of the great masters who know how to teach with simplicity and depth, that wherever there is a gathering of people there will be a parade of vanities, malice, and corruption.

Hobbes’ perspective comes from the ability to read the past, interpret facts and people. This ability to read signals allows you to read and interpret the past, analyze the present and project the future, whether in the short, medium, or long term.

This is why one of the hallmarks of his evolutionary, political, and philosophical studies is to prove that man is man’s wolf.

Observe and you will see it in his work, in his church, association, union, political party, among his professional colleagues. What prevails are vanities, jealousy, and the absolute lack of solidarity with the talent of others. Everyone wants recognition for themselves, which they do not accept to recognize in others.

Hobbes says that “utility is the measure of law”, that is, we are moved by the constant and unstoppable thirst for Power. Altruism is not a characteristic that comes in our DNA, because in our nature we allow the war to be waged by everyone against everyone.

This is why we live to conquer what we deem useful and flee from what we consider unpleasant, even if this “unpleasant” is the practice of good, honest work and empathy and solidarity.

In this search for the comforts of life, imagine how privileged politicians and all those who occupy some position manipulates the gears of the rich State and coffers supplied by taxes, public prices, and the income it collects feel.

Every calendar that time tears forces us to meditate on what we have done or what has been done for us. On the one hand our personal responsibility and on the other the responsibility of the State, which in exchange for the large sums of money we pay as taxes promises to provide us with housing, health, education, security, etc.

Perhaps it is these two sides that lead us to meditate on what should have been done and what can be done in the present and future, and it is not done because of negligence and political disregard for the Nation.

Based on these reflections, I want you to be aware of what you can do for yourself. Not playing the game of life by the rules is prematurely condemning your future. For example, if you know that your future depends on working, being lazy is attracting condemnation that you have no right to complain about later; if you know that studying is the bridge that takes you from the poverty stage to better acceptance in the job market, then neglecting school and diplomas is being foolish.

In addition, 2022 is coming, and thinking that a new election with a new political “messiah” and your vote will change your life, is to follow the same route of deception.

Below are three more links to cases of corruption, political misuse of money, and public income, which occurred in Brazil only in the year 2020, which together exceed $200 million.

I am a teacher in the soul and that is why my insistent and redundant repetition has didactic pretensions and, as Hobbes would say, “I do not know how the world will receive it, or how it will be reflected in those who seem to be favorable to it. For, squeezed between those who fight for excessive freedom on the one hand, and on the other for an excessive authority, it is difficult to pass unhurt between the spears on both sides”.

It is true that if there is a dream that only death will consume along with me, it is that the Brazilian nation, the people, one day, will no longer be seen by municipal, state, district, and federal governments as a means and start being seen as an end, to the point where we all have one body and one soul for Brazil.

To be continued next Saturday.

December 1^st 2021, the last episode of this series.

If you want to understand in depth what corruption with public money is, the causes, consequences, if you want to learn how to profile the corrupt and know who and who are corruption’s allies, and, finally, what are the tools to fight it, purchase the “Encyclopedia Corruption in The World”, by www.judivanvieirabooks.com