This Reuters article highlights one of the background factors behind the Brazil protests: the twisted priorities that support massive spending for the World Cup that displaces public services spending.
Contrasting the billions in public money spent on new stadiums with the shoddy state of Brazil's public services, protesters are using the Confederation's Cup as a counterpoint to amplify their concerns. The tournament got off to shaky start this weekend when police clashed with demonstrators outside stadiums at the opening matches in Brasilia and Rio. "We shouldn't be spending public money on stadiums," said one protester in Sao Paulo who identified herself as Camila, a 32-year-old travel agent. "We don't want the Cup. We want education, hospitals, a better life for our children."I'm reminded of Catarina's moving reminiscence of the Brazilian football great Sócrates. I can't help but think he would have been at the forefront with these critics of the way the World Cup -- and the Olympics -- have been used as pretexts not just for real estate speculation but also for security state expansion.
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