José Mujica, currently the president of Uruguay, is know for being a rarity among powerful politicians, as he chooses to donate around 90% of his $12,000 monthly salary to charities that benefit poor people and small entrepreneurs.
A guerrilla fighter for Tupamaros ( a “Robin hood” organization that stole from the rich and gave to the poor) he was imprisoned twice, kept in horrible conditions, escaped once, and was only apprehended after being shot six times by the police. He was released fourteen years later when a constitutional democracy was restored.
Although this beautiful palace with 42 staff members is available to him he instead lives on a small farm a few minutes from the capital.
He drives a 1987 Volkswagen Beetle, and is a part time farmer, growing chrysanthemums for sale at a nearby markets. He lives in a small house with his wife, who was also an imprisoned guerrilla fighter and member of Tupamaros, who is now a Uruguayan senator.
His only protection are two guards positioned on his road (required by the government) and his three legged dog Manjula . Under his presidency Uruguay has legalized marijuana and same-sex marriage, while also enacting one of the region’s most sweeping abortion rights laws and sharply boosting the use of renewable energy sources like wind and biomass. He does not liked to be called the worlds poorest president, stating that “It is not the man who has too little, but the man who craves more, who is poor.”
Instead of acting like he is better than everybody else, the president of a country wholeheartedly believes that he IS like everybody else. In a time when it seems that rich politicians rule the world, learning about Jose is truly refreshing
The post We Need More World Leaders Like This In The World appeared first on Caveman Circus.