Exploitation of Brazilians

In 1989 the Workers Party led to the reclaiming of public water in a region of South Brazil.  They established what is now a “far-reaching degree of public participation and democratic control over” the operations and investments of the Departamento Municipal do Agua e Estogo (DMAE).  DMAE is a participatory water management program running in Porto Alegre, South Brazil that “is a not-for-profit company that re-invests and surplus into improving the water supply” (9) and is now an example to nations with privatized water, and even other parts of Brazil, that citizens reclaiming public water management can be successful.  This process may also be a great example to citizens of the United States in the future since in the last seven years global water Multi-National Corporations (MNCs) began buying US water companies, including United Water and US Filter Corporation.  This may lead to water privatization in the United States in the future which leads to skyrocketing prices and unhappy citizens.  But in order to fight against water privatization, people must unite for one cause and all be willing to participate in all aspects of a public program.  

DMAE has citizens participating and trusting the running of public water.  “Due to this democratic system of checks and balances and participatory budgeting, “the poor communities of Porto Alegre have gained dramatically improved access to clean water.  Some 99.5% of the residents of Porto Alegre today have access to clean water, far more than anywhere else in Brazil.” (8)   Since the population participates directly in the decision making process their needs are prioritized and there are also few arguments over price increases because everyone understands where the money is going to since they are all involved in the investment process.  When people understand and are involved in the process almost everyone is usually happy with the outcomes.  The opposite is unhappiness, which leads to the possibility of revolts and rebellions.  If the prices of water skyrocket in the US due to privatization will this also lead to a change in how the government functions?  In the past, such as at the Seattle protests, we have seen that the government changes its actions and revokes the rights of citizens when there are riots and protests against the workings of democracy.  People in the US must begin to ban together and participate in our current democratic government and follow the steps of those in South Brazil in order to stay away from water privatization.