Lula to Offer Homes to Brazil’s Poor to Spark Growth

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Bloomberg

Lula to Offer Homes to Brazil’s Poor to Spark Growth (Update1)
By Andre Soliani

Jan. 8 (Bloomberg) -- Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is planning to hand out more free homes in a bid to help the construction industry ignite economic growth as the first global recession since World War II looms over Latin America’s largest economy.

Lula may also increase the amount of subsidies given to the poor for the purchase of new homes and cut taxes on construction materials, according to a draft plan obtained by Bloomberg News. The details were confirmed by Jose Carlos Martins, vice president of the Brazilian Construction Industry Chamber, who took part in planning meetings with government officials.

Growth in Brazil is slowing as factories curtail production, commodity prices plunge and demand for Brazilian exports drop. With construction accounting for at least a fifth of new jobs last year, Lula is betting increased building projects will spark growth, Martins said.

“The measures will be a tool to spur economic growth and generate jobs,” Martins said in an interview.

Brazil has already injected more than 96 billion reais ($41.7 billion) into the banking system in a bid to lessen the effects of the global credit crisis, BNP Paribas said in a Jan. 6 report. The government has also cut taxes by 8.4 billion reais to stimulate consumer spending, which is responsible for about 60 percent of gross domestic product, and meet a 4 percent growth target this year.



Read more: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601086&sid=aSgncEtYnJYk&refer=latin_america

[Xithras]

1. The big problem with Lula...

Is that his definition of "economic growth" can be defined as "rape the Amazon for money". Lula once said that, if the rest of the world wants the Amazon preserved, we can buy it. Otherwise, he said that Brazil has the right to exploit it however they want.

It's almost a given that these new homes and "growth" will involve clearing even more rainforest to build farms. Lula is a leftist on everything but environmental issues.

[acmavm]

2. Will you explain something to me then? Tell me, what are these people

supposed to do? And why is the world's supply of oxygen THEIR problem? The Earth used to be covered with forest. And ninety percent (just a fucking number I threw out there) cut theirs down. For farming. And room to live. And business. And whatever.

But these people, the people of this area, they're supposed to do what? Happily starve and wallow in poverty so all us assholes who continuously exploit the Earth and all her wonders can have ours?

edit: Just to add that I'm not being snarky, I just really want to know. Do you have any ideas?

[WriteDown]

3. You can't be serious?

The Amazon has always been a source of oxygen for the world due to the type of forest. Not just because of the trees :eyes:. The diverse fauna there should be enough reason to try to preserve it at all costs.

[acmavm]

4. PAY ATTENTION! Read carefully. I did not say it was right that they want

to harvest the Rain Forest. I DID SAY that everyone else destroyed their forests and now they expect these people to carry the burden. Are you up to speed so far?

Okay, I'll continue. I asked what does anyone expect these people to do? Live in abject poverty forever because the rest of the world got theirs? I did not say let them cut down the forest. I asked, why should these people bear the burden alone?

Now, I typed that reallllly slowlllly. Did you keep up this time?

[WriteDown]

5. Apples and oranges....

First of all, not every forest has been destroyed. 2nd, to compare a deciduous forest with a rain forest is disingenuous. By your logic, we should suspend all environmental controls and drill for as much oil and minerals as possible. Then we can spread the wealth to the people. I am amazed you think that destroying the rainforest is necessary for Brazil to do well.

[acmavm]

7. By my logic. NO, your mind might work that way, but mine doesn't. And

ONCE AGAIN, I am not stating that anything should be done in Brazil or anywhere and if you have any comprehension skills, you would pick up on that fact. What I am saying is why should those people shoulder the burden alone? I was thinking more in line of foreign aid, but you have your own dipshit ideas you run right along and don't hurt yourself trying to reason this out.

[WriteDown]

8. Read post #6 nt

[acmavm]

10. I did. That person is just as daft as you are. I was talking about

being fair and helping these people and you two lunatic have me cutting down the Rain Forest.

[WriteDown]

11. Helping how?

By your logic, we shouldn't worry about this animal. Afterall, the people of that country deserve success.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3681296

[acmavm]

12. Don't use the word logic please. You haven't a clue.

[WriteDown]

13. Not really an answer nt.

[Xithras]

6. Brazil has PLENTY of land without clearing rainforest.

Admittedly, much of it is rainforest that was cleared long ago, but Brazil has vast tracts of underutilized grasslands that belong to a relatively small number of megaranchers. These lands could be irrigated and converted into farms without harming the forests.

And the supply is THEIR problem simply because they live in the place that makes it. Those forests have been described as the lungs of the Earth because, unlike forests elsewhere, they produce oxygen at all levels of the forest year round. They produce the majority of the oxygen the rest of the planet needs to simply continue living.

[acmavm]

9. This is just one of the dumbest answers I've ever seen in all the years

I've been here:

<snip>

And the supply is THEIR problem simply because they live in the place that makes it.

<snip>

[The2ndWheel]

14. Yeah, they probably shouldn't be asked to do something we wouldn't do

Maybe when all the trees are gone, and in their place we've put all sorts of technological gizmos to do what the trees used to do for free, thus creating jobs, we won't have to worry too much about any of that. Really, how else can it be fair? We can't pay the trees. They're not contributing to GDP. They're just soaking up energy that could be put to more productive economic uses.