O futuro e a Revolução Brasileira

Jones Manuel begins by stating that Brazil faces numerous fundamental issues, including urban mobility, violence, environmental degradation, inequality, insufficient education, unemployment, low wages, and a hostile Congress. He argues that resolving these issues requires a critical look at political economy, as production relations form the basis for societal transformation.

Manuel describes the Brazilian economy as neoliberal, dominated by primary-export activities (agribusiness) that prioritize commodities for export over domestic food production, leading to environmental damage and precarious labor. He also points out the prevalence of rentism, with high interest rates benefiting financial speculation, and the increasing appropriation of Brazilian strategic assets by foreign capital and big tech companies.

Manuel highlights a generalized feeling that life is getting worse in Brazil, with declining prospects for future generations. He advocates for being 'radical,' defining it not as violent but as going to the root of the problem, as Karl Marx suggested. This means refusing to reconcile with landowning elites, rentism, and foreign control over national resources.

Manuel controversially suggests learning from the far-right's intransigence in defending its program. He argues that Brazil lacks a radical left movement that would refuse to negotiate on issues like agrarian reform, the sale of national resources to foreign monopolies, or the end of exploitative work schedules like the 6x1 shift. He laments the privatization of public assets like Eletrobras and Petrobras refineries.

Acknowledging that the left has never held a majority in Congress under capitalism, Manuel asserts that historical achievements like the CLT, SUS, and racial quotas were won through a combination of popular mobilization, clear political-economic programs, and institutional pressure. He cites examples during the Bolsonaro government where popular pressure led to policy changes, such as the new FUNDEB and the nursing floor wage.

Manuel emphasizes that the political horizon for the PCBR (Brazilian Communist Party) is socialism and the Brazilian Revolution. He argues that a radical transformation, similar to the goals of early SUS advocates and the MST, is necessary to achieve immediate gains and put power in the hands of the working class. He stresses the importance of re-engaging with debates about the Brazilian Revolution, national sovereignty, and anti-imperialism.

Manuel quotes Mark Fisher: 'It's easier to imagine the end of the world than the end of capitalism,' arguing that this mindset prevents the creation of a hopeful future. He illustrates the harsh realities faced by teachers, nurses, and gig workers, highlighting the physical and mental toll of precarious work and societal neglect. He concludes by invoking Leon Trotsky's idea that 'a revolution is impossible until it becomes inevitable,' urging for combined efforts to make the Brazilian Revolution unavoidable, leading to a country of happiness, prosperity, and equality for all.