Brazilian politics

I watched a movie last night called Brazil, by Terry Gilliam. He also made 12 Monkeys and Time Bandits, and was one of the comedy troupe Monty Python. The movie is about government in the near future. It speaks of terrorism and bureaucracy, as well as government cover-ups and consumerism. It is a great movie and it makes me think. Bush is coming to Mainz tomorrow while touring Europe to reconnect with the EU, and I don't know exactly how I feel. I really hate his politics, and I hate his business practices and big business ties, but I recently heard a section of a taped conversation he had while fighting for the republican presidential nomination, and he says that he is afraid that the religious right won't back him because he won't bash gays. He says he would not "kick gays, because [he is] a sinner. How can [he] differentiate sin." Now don't get me wrong, I think that his policies have not been good for gays in America, but I am, more often than not, failed by politicians in my own party in that regard. I guess I was just struck by the fact that the mistakes he makes, and the people hurts might really have more to do with his religious beliefs and stupidity than actual malice or greed. On another note, I went to the movie with a friend of mine who is a professional anarchist. He is really different than me, and I like talking to him because it challenges me to look further to the left for inspiration and insight. I often did the opposite when I was at home in Minnesota: I would change my car radio from NPR to the Christian station for about a week at a time every two to three months. I encourage everyone to do stuff like this. It can give you a lot of good ideas.