Ronald Reagan once said “freedom is always one generation from extinction”, and where is my freedom as a Brazilian, I wonder, if I’m forced to: or vote for those who should represent São Paulo, or to justify why I didn’t want to vote at all – try not to do one of those two things, the government can make your life a living hell.

Should I say that it is a good thing that I get to choose the candidate I’m voting for? And, that if I don’t want to vote for anyone, and invalidate my vote, that is an option too?

You should know that Brazilians can be as annoying as you can imagine in this time of elections, and speeches like “if you are not voting for anyone, you’re helping to give the country to (fill in here with the candidate you don’t approve)”.

As if any of these politicians would actually do anything to help who needs to be helped. People just don’t learn…

Today, on this beautiful Sunday of blue sky (feel my irony), I left to vote at 7:30 am, and it was already so hot outside (where did all the rain clouds go?). And, if being hot as hell was not enough, São Paulo also wanna be dry. So, if you are coming to São Paulo this week, make sure to drink a lot of water.

But don’t worry, this desert climate only lasts until Wednesday. For the political tensions, well, it seems it will last forever.

Anne Rios

amodafala@gmail.com