Re: RES: [PEN-L] Brazil Pays Parents to Help Poor Be Pupils, Not Wage Earners

[Michael Pollak <mpollak@xxxxxxxxx>]

On Sun, 4 Jan 2004, Renato Ribeiro Pompeu wrote:

> > [One cheer for Lula deparment]
>
> As a matter of fact, these programs began long before Lula became
> president. They were initiated principally by municipal governments.

That's why he gets one cheer instead of three.  But he is increasing them
substantially, and using national (and hence redistributive) funds to do
so.  It isn't socialism, but it isn't what you normally find in an
austerity budget, and it does seem like a good thing.  No?

Michael