Journalled on Friday, 13 October 2023 | Flamengo, Rio de Janeiro: 27 degrees, hot, overcast and with showers.
Today is a half-bank holiday, marking the second day of the long weekend.
Although it is not officially recognised as a bank holiday, many civil servants will treat it as one. However, it will not be a holiday for those in sectors such as trade and healthcare. One of the advantages of being a civil servant in Brazil is the entitlement to all bank holidays, along with several additional days off.
Civil servants in Brazil often belong to the upper middle class, which resembles an aristocracy. Traditionally, many individuals pursue a university degree primarily to sit entrance exams, which provide lifelong financial stability through secure employment in the civil service.
Once you become a civil servant and join the government payroll, you have job security for life.
Regardless of circumstances, your salary will be deposited into your bank account consistently, rain or shine. Civil servants typically earn relatively high salaries compared with other professions. However, it is important to note that civil servants in Brazil enjoy significant protection against dismissal, regardless of competence, professionalism, or honesty.
There are numerous cases within the Brazilian government in which individuals have been found guilty of illicit and dishonourable acts. Yet, due to their status as civil servants and the protection afforded by Brazilian law, they cannot be dismissed quickly.
They may be sidelined from their jobs and not allowed to work, yet still receive their salary every month, even after being found guilty. Many of them might be staying at home and not working at all.
Being a civil servant in Brazil is considered a secure job; once you pass the entrance exam, you are guaranteed employment for life.
Many individuals who are better prepared than I am share the view that there should be no safe jobs in the civil service. If a civil servant fails to perform their duties or lacks professionalism, that person should be dismissed. Any government system that becomes complacent or lacks professionalism and dynamism can suffer consequences.
This issue is particularly severe in Brazil, likely worse than in many other countries. Abolishing safe jobs and eliminating certain areas of the Brazilian civil service would enhance government efficiency and support the country’s growth.
I have noticed that many civil servants can come across as arrogant. They often carry an air of superiority, as if they consider themselves above ordinary citizens, those who struggle to find work and secure a stable monthly salary.
Entrance exams are typically extremely difficult; not everyone is guaranteed to pass and join this elite group. However, many candidates come from families that support them while they study. For ordinary individuals, this often means balancing work to pay the bills with their studies and exam preparation, which puts them at a disadvantage.
If you come from a middle- or upper-middle-class family, you almost have a guaranteed path to a successful future. I understand this reality and do not condemn it; I acknowledge how the system operates.
Brazil is a society marked by extreme disparities and unfairness. In this system, the rich get richer and can maintain their privileged positions, largely due to the inequities inherent in their society. Life is significantly easier if you are wealthy and have access to resources.
Conversely, if you belong to a lower class and are trying to climb the social ladder in a country like Brazil, the journey is much more challenging than in other countries in Europe or the United States.
In Brazilian society, it is quite challenging to move up the social ladder, especially to attain a higher class, graduate, secure a better job, or improve oneself. I have always felt that if someone is born into poverty, they are often implicitly told from the beginning that they are worthless and have no future.
You are worthless and have no future! If you have no future, stop dreaming, because dreaming is not for you. Only the middle and upper classes are allowed to dream. In Brazilian society, people from poor backgrounds are often told they do not have the right to dream. It is a harsh and cruel reality.
Passing an entrance exam and securing a civil service position are significant achievements. However, there is often no mechanism, protocol, or process for verifying or evaluating individuals’ productivity.
Ultimately, it depends on each person to maintain high standards of professionalism and productivity going forward. This lack of oversight can lead to issues. Human nature tends to push individuals into their comfort zones over time. When people find themselves in this situation, life can feel good, even perfect, and they may start to relax.
As a result, their professionalism and productivity may decline if they are unaware of their responsibilities. If someone lacks discipline, they may become less productive and sometimes act unprofessionally, even while receiving a high monthly salary.
This situation presents a complex problem with far-reaching ramifications that I cannot fully address. However, such complacency is highly detrimental to society, particularly in Brazil.
Brazil remains an underdeveloped country, falling between the first and third worlds. Significant progress is needed for it to reach first-world status. This includes eradicating poverty and slums, fostering professionalism among its citizens, promoting new values, and improving infrastructure.
Furthermore, the presence of unprofessional, slow, selfish, and arrogant civil servants who prioritise their own interests over the country’s future hinders progress. Unless these issues are addressed, Brazil will struggle to move forward.
As I mentioned at the beginning of the post, a certain arrogance is associated with being a civil servant in Brazil. This elitism can be more or less apparent at different times. Sometimes it is overt, at other times more subtle, but it is always present to some extent.
I have had several girlfriends who were high-ranking civil servants, and their arrogance stemmed from their financial stability and freedom. Since I have few assets or much money, they often believed they were superior to me, both materially and intellectually.
However, I eventually proved otherwise by ending those relationships, which left them wondering why things had changed. It hasn’t happened often, but it has occurred multiple times, usually for similar reasons.
As I have always said, Brazil is a complex society that fosters a false sense of security and worth among many people. Ultimately, this leads individuals to believe they are more than they are. Lula and his government have exacerbated this issue by inflating the civil service with unnecessary hires, primarily to secure future votes. As a result, we are more disillusioned than ever.
I am not against civil servants or the civil service itself. However, the inequality and hypocrisy in this situation run counter to my principles and ideals, and they should also concern others.
It was a relaxed day with a few classes and little computer work.
In bed by 11 p.m.
Thank you.
Thanks for reading this blog post. Please explore my other posts and share your thoughts in the comments section.
Richard
