Paraguay, a nation situated in the heart of the South American continent, currently holds the seemingly respectable title of an "investment grade" country. However, beneath this polished exterior lies the grim reality of a sick society, one that begs and suffers from leprosy. This is more than mere economic poverty; it is a total crisis where the dignity of the state and its people has collapsed.
The reckless policies of the current and previous governments have pushed Paraguay down a shameful path of beggary. The beggars aren't just those who ask for a few coins on the street. Everyone in this country who sells their vote, exchanges bribes, and subsists on debt is a Mendicante—a beggar. Even the elites, who should be leading the nation's economy, are apathetic to the country's corruption and scandals. Their submissive behavior, funding the very perpetrators of these crimes, starkly reveals how broken this society's pride has become.
At the same time, Paraguay is a society afflicted with leprosy. Just as a leprosy patient doesn't feel pain and allows wounds to fester, this nation feels no pain from the constant stream of corruption and scandals. In the face of leaked "Lalo" message chats, the assassination of Pecci, and internal government power struggles escalating into gunfights, civil society remains numb and silent. This is evidence of widespread spiritual, political, and social leprosy. The disease has paralyzed the nation's nerves, making it unable to distinguish right from wrong or what is harming it.
Symptoms of this sick society are evident everywhere. Accepting secondhand aircraft as donations from neighboring countries and begging for public funds in its relationship with Taiwan are prime examples of the nation's loss of self-respect. Even more critical is the endlessly increasing public debt. The previous government's debt of $3.5 billion has skyrocketed to $19 billion under the current administration, yet this massive sum has vanished into corruption and waste instead of boosting productivity. With power shortages even predicted for 2030, citizens still lack basic infrastructure like water, sanitation, education, and healthcare.
The low tax pressure rate (11.6% of GDP) is a core cause of this tragedy. The state has lost credibility because it contributes so little to the wealth of its citizens, and people are unwilling to pay taxes. As a result, state finances dry up and social investment decreases even further. This vicious cycle has turned Paraguay into a "low-cost" nation that only benefits the richest 20%. While they can solve everything within the private sector, the poorest 20% are abandoned with nothing. As Veronica Serafini pointed out, this nation is on a miserable path of paying off its debts by sacrificing health and education.
Yet, in this bleak reality, the people do not forget. Their only hope is football. Whenever there is a match, they cheer enthusiastically, trying to forget the pressures of their empty refrigerators and boiling pots, if only for a moment. Paraguay is a begging nation with an investment grade, a country of leprosy patients who feel no pain, but their cries are only heard in the roar of a football goal.
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