The Bernstein Brief: Brazil In Chaos Ahead Of Olympics
By Dan Bernstein--
CBSChicago.com senior columnist
(CBS) So the Brazilian president just got impeached, perfect timing for a country sinking into economic and environmental turmoil just as it prepares to welcome the sporting world this summer at the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
Dilma Rousseff was ousted amid accusations of financial fraud and corruption, and now her supporters are threatening massive strikes and protests in response. The government has six months in which to bring her to trial, but she's now suspended from office.
Inflation, unemployment and violence are spiking in Brazil, the streets and waters flow with human waste and the ever-evolving Zika virus is ravaging Rio. An article in the Harvard Public Health Review just called for the Olympics to be postponed for public health reasons alone, and retired soccer great Rivaldo just warned the world too.
"Things are getting uglier here every day," Rivaldo said. "I advise everyone with plans to visit Brazil for the Olympics in Rio to stay home. You'll be putting your life at risk here. This is without even speaking about the state of public hospitals, and all the Brazilian political mess. Only God can change the situation in our Brazil."
Are we really going to do this?
Dan Bernstein is a co-host of 670 The Score's "Boers and Bernstein Show" in afternoon drive. You can follow him on Twitter @dan_bernstein and read more of his columns here.