José Mujica, the charismatic former guerrilla fighter who later went on to lead Uruguay and became known as "the world's poorest president" for his austere lifestyle, has died at 89.
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That works in a country where systems are setup for making people's lives better. In USA, the systems are setup for betterment of rich and corporations. For over a century, all the USA does is steal from poor people at home/topple foreign govs and steal from poor people there to enrich rich here.
Their system was certainly not set up to make peoples’ lives better, which is why he joined an armed rebel group that landed him in jail for many years. Upon release, the country had become a democracy, and he had done quite a bit of personal growth before he ran for presidency.
Well Uruguay was a prosperos and left leaning democratic country till early 70s. Thanks to Kissinger/CIA/Pinochet it descended into dictatorship, which they did overcome to become a democratic country again in 1985. kissinger is responsible for hundreds of millions of deaths around the world.
The world's poorest president was Arturo Illia, never forget, and never forgive those who tried to bury him. He died 100% honest, without a penny in his pocket. He wasn't a bank robber/revolutionary turned politician, he was a physician, and one of the best democrats the world has ever seen.
I remember looking up water drinkability maps and out popped Uruguay as a bright spot and I got sucked down a bit of a rabbithole trying to find out why. The science program down there sounded great. While people were fighting about creationism in the USA, they were wondering who'd fall for that.
It's my #1 destination to retire to, flee to, remotely work and live in, etc., etc. Montevideo is a dream. The whole country is. It's one of the most progressive governments and people I've encountered—as a tourist it looks and feels like decency is just how it is instead of some political thing.
I had the pleasure of visiting Montevideo during an especially strong mid-summer heatwave in Feb 2023. 39C in the city and coast, 40's almost everywhere else. I will be back to visit again. Hopefully sooner than later, and hopefully not during a heatwave so I can experience Uruguay's interior. 🍷
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I happened to be in Uruguay when he ended his turn… it was amazing to see all the people of Uruguay expressing they love to him. He was the kind of politician we (humans) need.
O fluxo do amor não morre.
É feito de memória viva,
que resiste no tempo,
que floresce nas ausências,
que vive como sementes escondidas sob a terra silenciosa.
O fluxo do amor é subversivo:
foge das cercas,
escapa das grades,
atravessa as mortes impostas.
I did not vote for him, but I am so proud that he was my country's president. Many in Uruguay were embarrassed because he looked and lived like a poor man, but he was the most honest, most patriotic president (alas, not the most executive one 😅). May he rest in peace.
Beautifully said, Alicia. It’s rare to find leaders who value integrity and humility over appearances or power. He truly left a legacy of honesty and service that many of us deeply admire. May his memory continue to inspire future generations.
What a fantastic human being he was. This brought tears to my eyes, he reminds me of my father that we lost five years ago. -he was also from Uruguay and held many of the same values.
It’s true he used to drive himself to work in his Volkswagen. A friend, stopped at a light, glanced at the car beside his and there was Pepe. He was what all politicians should be.
Pepe Mujica lived socialism like few others. He chose poverty not as victimhood or virtue-signaling, but in solidarity with most of the human race that is poor. In liberation theology, we call his stance "evangelical poverty." He was one of the best of his generation.
Wish we had leaders with such integrity and empathy. USA politicians are ONLY in it for the money. They do not care about working FOR the people. At all.
Yes, not surprising that NPR would promote a communist. So he stayed poor, how does that impact on his Marxist-Leninist position.
Apparently, Hitler also died quite poor.
Only heard of him last month from a post comparing him to Trump (he won by a landslide obv as a honest man with humility). He is the type of leader every country needs. A great loss.
Richest US people & companies should be the only people in USA paying taxes. The French nobility i.e. Marie Antoinette lived for centuries by ONLY taxing the poor, so the opposite strategy works equally well.
The top 30% richest companies & people should pay taxes generating $5 Trillion.
José Mujica, el carismático ex guerrillero que luego dirigió #Uruguay y llegó a ser conocido como "el presidente más pobre del mundo" por su austero estilo de vida, murió a los 89 años.
"... the good are not willing to rule either for the sake of money or of honor... to seek office oneself and not await compulsion is thought disgraceful. But the chief penalty is to be governed by someone worse if a man will not himself hold office and rule." [Plato, Republic, 347b-c]
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A great role model
🖤
Carolina De Robertis wrote a wonderful adaption of his life. The President and the Frog
You deserve to rest now...see you on the other side José...
Makaveli meets King ZEE Calvin Album ($7.99 Download)
Link 👉🏿 https://zeecalvin.bandcamp.com/album/makaveli-meets-king-zee-calvin-2pac-x-zee-calvin
Rest Well.
RIP
É feito de memória viva,
que resiste no tempo,
que floresce nas ausências,
que vive como sementes escondidas sob a terra silenciosa.
O fluxo do amor é subversivo:
foge das cercas,
escapa das grades,
atravessa as mortes impostas.
Gigante Pepe Mujica! Eterno.
He was a true socialist at least
I was diagnosed with lymphoma last month. I will start treatment in a week or two.
I live in America so the bills have already started piling up.
If anyone is able to donate or even just share this with your friends and family, I would be forever grateful! 🥹
https://gofund.me/94a0402b
https://youtu.be/4GX6a2WEA1Q?si=jRXN4KvtZ10bocWG
His only good, that blue car:
https://bsky.app/profile/gato-loco.bsky.social/post/3lp3am6rwak2f
Rest in peace
A real one.
Apparently, Hitler also died quite poor.
Uruguay is such a stunningly hospitable, highly developed small outlier in no small thanks to Mujica.
The top 30% richest companies & people should pay taxes generating $5 Trillion.
RIP 🕊️