Post: #1

"How's this as a man of the people: The president of Uruguay, José Mujica, has earned a nickname, "el presidente mas pobre" (translation: "poorest president").

The 77-year-old recently admitted to the Spanish newspaper El Mundo that he donates almost all of his presidential salary, making him the poorest, or, as Univision pointed out, most generous president, in the world.

El presidente explained he receives $12,500 a month but keeps only $1,250. The public servant told the newspaper, "I do fine with that amount; I have to do fine because there are many Uruguayans who live with much less."

He and his wife—a senator who also donates part of her salary—live in a farmhouse in Montevideo. His biggest expense is his Volkswagen Beetle, valued at $1,945.

Perhaps not surprisingly, under the former guerrilla fighter, who was elected in 2010 as a member of the left-wing coalition, the Broad Front, the country has become known for being one of the least corrupt on the continent.

Mujica has no bank accounts and no debt, and he enjoys one thing money can't buy: the companionship of his dog, Manuela.

The Uruguayan is not the first president to donate his salary. U.S. President John F. Kennedy, who came from wealth, donated his salary when in office, as did President Herbert Hoover. Hoover, who grew up poor, decided to never accept money for public service, so he could not be accused of corruption."
http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/lookout/poor...25869.html


Not sure if i should give him props..is this beta or alpha? Dude could be fucking all those hot uruguayan women and he decides to live on average income while donating most of his money. People who donate most of their money tend not to have interesting personalities.

Note: I dont believe in running a corrupt political system but when you become a president, fucking take advantage of that position.

Post: #2

Very admirable. Of course, this is no guarantee that his government isn't bad or corrupt in other ways, but I like the idea.

Post: #3

hes president. if he was fucking all those hot uruguayan women he 1) wouldn't be elected in the first place 2) wouldn't stay president for very long. 3) while women are undoubtedly attracted to him due to his power...he can't act on it otherwise bye bye presidency. We've already seen this with Clinton. He was caught with a mediocre chick.

This is the problem with being too much in the public eye in a job that judges you by your every move. Some guy who isn't watched like a hawk with less power would do far better.

Post: #4

Lavidaloca think Fidel de Castro. In those countries is way easier to get away with fucking lots of women if you are a president. You just need to make sure word of mouth dont spread around.

But i probably didnt say it right when i said he could be fucking lots of women, but i am sure he could be enjoying life more if he was spending more of his money on himself.

To you guys saying very admirable, would you do the same?

Post: #5

I wouldn't do the same. I think its silly. He should take every dollar he gets because he deserves it. I think you get what you put in to life. It's great that he does it from a PR perspective. But lifestyle he deserves a better existence. I'm sure he works his nuts off and hes damn well worth his entire salary.

Post: #6

More money more problems, at 77 he doesn't need all the issues revolving around money.

Also it is probably politically astute:
- It's an upfront f-off to anyone who wants to manipulate him with ca$h.
- If someone is ticked off with him because he refused a bribe, his heroic stature amongst the poor will serve as a shield. He's too popular to safely remove.

Looking at South Africa's politicians, some of them get trapped in the system - everyone is used to giving bribes to do business, those who refuse to take bribes are considered dangerous, and are either assassinated or sidelined. Some politicians take bribes because they are too scared of the repercussions if they don't.

Giving your salary away is very much putting your cards on the table. The guy does have physical courage (he was a guerrila) but now he has public sentiment with him as well. If someone kills him because he is unbribeable/difficult to manipulate (If he's that into anti-corruption, there will be vested interests out to get him), there will be a mighty backlash as the public bays for blood.

I'm not really familiar with Uruguayan politics but those are the first thoughts that came into my head. Corruption is always accompanied by violence.

Or he could be just on of those guys who have their 'Soul in the Game,' as NN Taleb would say.

Post: #7

For the exceptics, that's where and how he lives:





He is a socialist and he lives according to his mindset, nothing to say against it. Then you see how other so called gauche caviar in Europe, preaching socialism from their Mercedes. At least Mujica is consistant and lives according to what he preaches.

Post: #8

Uruguay seems like a very tight knit country, they really are patriotic.

Post: #9

(04-21-2013 05:42 AM)MattC Wrote:  Uruguay seems like a very tight knit country, they really are patriotic.

Yes,and it does not feel exactly great when people ask -But why aren't you part of Argentina?

Post: #10

(04-21-2013 04:50 AM)Don Juan Tenorio Wrote:  For the exceptics, that's where and how he lives:





He is a socialist and he lives according to his mindset, nothing to say against it. Then you see how other so called gauche caviar in Europe, preaching socialism from their Mercedes. At least Mujica is consistant and lives according to what he preaches.

Word, your paragraph just says it enough, credit to him for being an actual socialist who lives like a socialist. Guy isn't far from death and seems happy with what he has.

Post: #11

He values power, influence, and status much more than he does money. That's all that's going on here. It doesn't make him a "great" guy, although he may very well be.