The Brazilian carnival: Between the fleeting festivity and public resource waste. (A Toast to Stupidity)

The Brazilian carnival: Between the fleeting festivity and public resource waste

    The Brazilian Carnival, traditionally one of the country’s largest popular festivals, is globally recognized for its grandeur, vibrant colors, and mesmerizing dances. However, behind this festive image lies a reality that questions the true cost of this celebration for the nation. 

    Over the years, the event has been increasingly criticized, especially regarding the use of public resources, the vulgarity often associated with it, and the superficial promises of social transformation it leaves behind.

Carnival and the Waste of Public Resources

    Annually, Brazil invests millions of reais into the Carnival, funds coming from taxpayers. These sums are applied in various areas, such as building temporary structures, security, public transportation, and even granting subsidies to samba schools and street parades. 

    The issue is not only the amount of money spent but also the lack of real return to the population. With so many chronic problems such as deficient education, dilapidated hospitals, precarious public security, and poor infrastructure in many regions, Carnival becomes a symbol of waste, revealing the disparity between government priorities and the actual needs of the population.

Vulgarity and Superficiality: The Image of Carnival to the World

    Carnival is also often seen as a reflection of a society that, in many ways, celebrates vulgarity rather than culture, education, and dignity. 

    During the event, excess becomes almost a rule: from the use of public resources for private sponsors to the often irresponsible behaviors that reinforce stereotypes of a culture that values hedonism more than the construction of a more just and supportive country.

    The promiscuity between vulgarity and Carnival is something hard to ignore. The costumes often objectify the female body, promoting a culture of excessive sexualization. Although            

    Carnival is, for many, a form of celebration and expression, it is undeniable that it has also become a showcase for questionable behaviors that, instead of enriching the national culture, only reveal the superficiality of a society obsessed with instant pleasure and devoid of critical reflection.

Carnival and the Nation’s Woes: The Mirror of a Country in Crisis

    The Carnival festivity, with its brilliance and celebrations, is also a mirror that reflects the woes of Brazilian society. While samba schools parade with luxury and pomp, many communities around Brazil continue to suffer from a lack of basic sanitation, poor healthcare, inadequate education, and social inequality. 

    The spectacle that enchants tourists and the middle class, in turn, hides a reality of poverty and exclusion that is not visible on the samba avenue.

    While millions are spent to finance a fleeting celebration, public schools are overcrowded, hospitals lack basic equipment, and the streets are full of potholes. 

    Carnival becomes a symbol of how the country is capable of spending enormous sums on a short-term event, while its citizens continue to face structural problems that affect their quality of life permanently.

Cities That Chose to Invest in Well-Being Instead of Festivities: Examples Worth Following

    Some Brazilian cities have sought alternatives to the traditional Carnival, choosing to invest public resources in more effective actions for the population. A notable example is Ourinhos, which, instead of spending large amounts on parades and parties, redirected the budget to improve infrastructure, education, and healthcare. 

    The result was an increase in the quality of life for residents and the implementation of social projects that directly benefited the most vulnerable sectors of society.

    Another noteworthy example is [City Y], where the mayor decided to cut investments in large festivities to use the money to combat violence and build schools. Although this generated criticism from sectors of society that saw Carnival as a cultural pillar, the city saw significant progress in areas that truly matter to the well-being of its population.

Carnival: A Fleeting Celebration and Its Effects on the Nation

    Carnival, as a celebration, is fleeting. It lasts only a few days, but its impacts go beyond the immediate. On one side, there is the awe of revelers and tourists who get caught up in the festive spirit, while on the other, there is a deeper reflection on the social and economic cost this event brings. 

    The resources absorbed by Carnival are temporary, but the effects of this misdirected spending reverberate much longer, creating a cycle of neglect for essential areas that affect the nation’s development.

    The celebration that claims to honor Brazilian culture often ignores the deeper aspects of this culture, which include a history of struggle for social justice, equality, and the right to a dignified life for all. Carnival, as grand as it may be, becomes a reflection of a society that prefers to invest in fleeting parties rather than turning these celebrations into symbols of inclusion and real progress.

Conclusion: Rethinking Brazil’s Priorities

    Although Carnival is an intrinsic part of Brazilian identity, it is impossible to ignore the waste of public resources it represents, especially in a country with so many urgent needs. While the event is a celebration of popular culture, it also exposes the fragility of a system that prioritizes ephemeral entertainment over structural improvements that could truly transform the lives of millions of Brazilians.

    In a country with so many pressing needs, perhaps it is time to rethink the Carnival model and seek alternatives that could not only provide fun but also deliver concrete results for the population, with investments in areas that truly matter and contribute to the well-being of all.