title: Python: Please help me understand this scope issue
body: <p>Going from Javascript to Python really just means that scope is Satan reincarnated.</p>
  
  <p>With this code, everything is fine:</p>
  
  <pre><code>a = 10
  
  def elFunction():
      print a
      if (4 &gt; 2):
          print a
  
  elFunction()
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>With this code, I die a little inside</p>
  
  <pre><code>a = 10
  
  def elFunction():
      a += 1
      if (4 &gt; 2):
          print a
  
  elFunction()
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>Why does this code draw an error?</p>