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You make me blush… As we speak, I’m sweeping my toe across the floor and lowering my head…
We’re all poets here, thanks to our muse WLCR…
I agree, there will be repercussions…I’ve personally met 5 Costa Rican presidents and their families, some are currently more popular than others (and some I really dislike), but I can tell you that Carazo stood up to the IMF & World Bank when they demanded that he give up his education & healthcare programs–and the repercussions arrived at every grocery store. Inflation was so bad that the price of products went up every single day. Nonetheless, Costa Rica made it to become a better country, including economically, than before…The best way to predict future behavior in a person is by analyzing his past behavior–I will transfer that to this country I love so much and hope for the best….
Lets not forget the Billions we fork over to Eygpt, Pakistan and Israel in foriegn aide to buy their loyalty… That’s better than interest free…
If CR votes against TLC don’t be surprised if it gets painted with the ugly stick and joins the rest of the “nuevo axis of evil” a la Venezuela, Ecuador, Bolivia… Nica could be the new Tica… Mind you I’m against it. But, history tells us if you pick your head up it gets shot off… If we all pick our heads up at the same time? Who know maybe we have a chance…
“Fight the Power, stay Tico”
It was an earnest compliment because it’s always been a poet’s sensitivity that allows him or her to pen and dare to feel what most would hush for lack of timing, social or current political propriety. Costa Rica has long been one of my muses and who knows if Scott knew he would be providing such a muse for this audience, but he certainly has…. 🙂
Thank You, Reba… I won’t let it go to my head (or will I?).
Signed,
Your humble, carbon based sack of mostly water filled frustrated song writer…I’m fascinated with you having met 5 CR presidents… One of the things that’s always appealed to me about living in Latin America is how a relatively small fish can socialize with upper levels of government (Don’t misunderstand me, I’m not say you are a small fish). My wife’s family is from Ecuador, a few years ago I was invited to the home of the “Ministro de la Corte Suprema”, for lunch. What are the chances a small fry like myself would ever have lunch with the likes of Warren Burger.
Any who, maybe you can share with us your experiences with the ex presidents, someday… Discreetly of course…
Cheers
You’re absolutely right, only in Latin America could this Cuban/American kid get a chance to meet a president and much less five! Remember that I said I didn’t like some of them so I will recap how I met them and try not to get myself sued nor killed. 1) I met Don Rodrigo Carazo while I was staying at his sister-in-law’s house in Playa Chiquita, Limon. I swam in the ocean and spoke with him, his wife & son. 2) I met Monge’s family while helping the Golfito community and his gave me a ride back to SJ (that 8 hour drive is brutal),3,4,5) I used to go to Contravia (a San Pedro bar) to listen to GREAT live music from some of the best musicians CR has produced (people from Editus, Manuel Monestel…) with Alicia Fournier and when her father passed away and she asked me and my friend to come to his funeral. Her father had been very respected & loved in CR, especially in the area of Communications. Every newspaper, radio & TV program was covering this funeral. 3) Then Pres. Calderon came with his wife, this was his family, and he sat among us without any fanfare. I was impressed by his humbleness and we spoke. 4) Mr. Miguel A. Rodriguez was not humble at all and was giving political interviews inside the church, not only was his posturing annoying, but later a homeless woman had managed to get into the church and was asking for money. She pulled on his jacket a few times and when he could no longer ignore her, he proceeded to shove her off and I proceed to very quietly remind him to have respect for the grieving family and the woman he had just manhandled. 5) I first heard of Mr. Figueres (son not the father) when I joined a group of people from UCR who were investigating a gold scam perpetrated on some Canadians & some people said that the Figueres family had been involved. Also, they said that he had an unstable family member causing trouble in La Zona Sur (by Corcovado National Park). We took a small plane and landed on Carate to meet with Manuel X who had been a policeman in the area at the time of the scam, he gave the details of his story, showed us his collection of guns and introduced his bodyguard, he offered us lodging, but I was not about to stay at a miner’s camp with no locks on the doors and sleep with a friend and a male student in the same bed so Manuel carried me on his back and over the river and we walked to Corcovado Lodge. Manuel was later found dead with manure in his mouth after the presidential elections. When I saw Figueres at funeral, he was also giving interviews and he was a family friend so he should have known better! He came over and stretched his hand to greet me and I told him I would rather shake hands with a terciopelo. His wife gave me a very inquisitive look, years later when she left him, I realized why. I really can’t expand anymore in a public forum…but most Costa Ricans are much nicer than some of these ex-presidents…
You’re absolutely right, only in Latin America could this Cuban/American kid get a chance to meet a president and much less five! Remember that I said I didn’t like some of them so I will recap how I met them and try not to get myself sued nor killed. 1) I met Don Rodrigo Carazo while I was staying at his sister-in-law’s house in Playa Chiquita, Limon. I swam in the ocean and spoke with him, his wife & son. 2) I met Monge’s family while helping the Golfito community and his gave me a ride back to SJ (that 8 hour drive is brutal),3,4,5) I used to go to Contravia (a San Pedro bar) to listen to GREAT live music from some of the best musicians CR has produced (people from Editus, Manuel Monestel…) with Alicia Fournier and when her father passed away and she asked me and my friend to come to his funeral. Her father had been very respected & loved in CR, especially in the area of Communications. Every newspaper, radio & TV program was covering this funeral. 3) Then Pres. Calderon came with his wife, this was his family, and he sat among us without any fanfare. I was impressed by his humbleness and we spoke. 4) Mr. Miguel A. Rodriguez was not humble at all and was giving political interviews inside the church, not only was his posturing annoying, but later a homeless woman had managed to get into the church and was asking for money. She pulled on his jacket a few times and when he could no longer ignore her, he proceeded to shove her off and I proceed to very quietly remind him to have respect for the grieving family and the woman he had just manhandled. 5) I first heard of Mr. Figueres (son not the father) when I joined a group of people from UCR who were investigating a gold scam perpetrated on some Canadians & some people said that the Figueres family had been involved. Also, they said that he had an unstable family member causing trouble in La Zona Sur (by Corcovado National Park). We took a small plane and landed on Carate to meet with Manuel X who had been a policeman in the area at the time of the scam, he gave the details of his story, showed us his collection of guns and introduced his bodyguard, he offered us lodging, but I was not about to stay at a miner’s camp with no locks on the doors and sleep with a friend and a male student in the same bed so Manuel carried me on his back and over the river and we walked to Corcovado Lodge. Manuel was later found dead with manure in his mouth after the presidential elections. When I saw Figueres at funeral, he was also giving interviews and he was a family friend so he should have known better! He came over and stretched his hand to greet me and I told him I would rather shake hands with a terciopelo. His wife gave me a very inquisitive look, years later when she left him, I realized why. I really can’t expand anymore in a public forum…but most Costa Ricans are much nicer than some of these ex-presidents…
Wow…Pass on the book deal, this belongs on film.
Seriously an amazing story, It has it all, international intrigue, organized crime, romance(maybe) and Cuban girl rags to riches. Excellent…
If we could only throw in some gay cowboys and a car chase…
Great post… 🙂
UpeCity, You’re too funny! I’m sure there are gay cowboys in those areas, but all of those miners looked at us as if they hadn’t seen a woman in years (main reason I refused to stay ;-). There was a crazy truck ride on “la cuesta de la resbalosa” (the slippery hill which is red soapy mud all the way from Jimenez to Carate)which scared the dickens out of us when the truck slid and ended up driving on two side wheels–if that counts :-). Costa Rica living is about wonderful adventures and I have had an amazing time there. It’s really no wonder I love that place as much as I do. One day I’ll tell you about my swamp & crocodile adventures among others…Have a great night and I may just write that book! When I do, I’ll keep you in mind as an agent…(LOL) Be well and keep your song writing juices going! Buenas Noches, Rebeca
It was a nicely prepared speech drawing on a range of sources against free trade, but it has failed to take into consideration some important distinguishing factors.
1. Free trade is a market model in which trade in goods and services between or within countries flow unhindered by government-imposed restrictions. Restrictions to trade include taxes and other legislation, such as tariff and non-tariff trade barriers. The theory is that any voluntary trade must benefit both parties, otherwise it would not be made. More precisely, for a trade to occur both parties must expect a benefit (ex ante.). In short, as long as both parties know that there is demand for their products and services in the trading partner’s country, trade should occur naturally.
2. Sen. Sherrod Brown, similarly as most other opponents of free trade seem to be consistently failing to provide a reasoned argument against trade that would be based on relevant facts. It is unreasonable to compare NAFTA to CAFTA. Why? NAFTA sought to integrate three mammoth economies (United States with a GDP of $13.06 trillion (GDP 2006 est.), Canada with a GDP of $1.181 trillion (GDP 2006 est.) and Mexico with a GDP of $1.149 trillion (2006 est.). Prior to the enlargement of the European Union, NAFTA helped create the single largest free trade market in the world integrating economies with a total aggregated GDP of over $15.39 trillion. The actual effects of NAFTA on all three economies should not be evaluated without taking into consideration the policies (economic, social and environmental) that each of the signatory countries implemented following the implementation of the treaty.
3. The removal of barriers to trade naturally has effects on economies by correcting market distortions created by tariffs and subsidies in place prior to the implementation of the free trade agreement. While some jobs may be eliminated, others are created. It is the job of the government to facilitate the transition by providing training and other incentives programs for people to move from one sector to another normally following the principle of comparative advantage. Jobs are eliminated in sectors where the country’s comparative advantage is less than in the trading partner’s country. Similarly, jobs are created in sectors where the country has a comparative advantage. Lower taxes further incentivize economic activity. As economic activity grows and expands in both countries, government tax revenue increases supplying the funds necessary to further correct market distortions incl. training, environmental programs, etc.
4. In short, if there is evidence of growing poverty in certain geographic areas of Mexico, it should not be attributed to NAFTA but rather to inadequate government policies to ensure that free trade benefits all. Overall, the progress on work in Mexico towards the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals has been positive and generally government, World Bank and UN reports on the effectiveness of poverty reduction strategies seem to indicate Mexico is on the right track.
5. On the other hand, in Central America, where there are vast disparities between both the CA countries and the US but also vast disparities throughout the region, the effects of a free trade treaty may be much more unpredictable. While in CA there are countries that are already strongly integrated commercially with the US such as the case of say Costa Rica or Panama, others are lagging behind and might in fact find themselves in a position where they may not necessarily be able to benefit from free trade equally as adjustment policies in those countries may be simply too costly and too radical.
6. Costa Rica is an economy that is already highly diversified, focused principally on the services and technology sectors, with most external trade taking place with North America and Europe. CAFTA will only strengthen these trade relationships and will further assure current and future investors that in addition to long term political stability and a highly educated and qualified population, Costa Rica also belongs to one of the reasonable countries that understand the importance of trade for economic growth and investment.
7. If Costa Rica decides against CAFTA, the consequences may be grave with trade slowly but surely starting to divert towards the other Central American countries that are making important advances in areas where Costa Rica is strong — education, good governance, judicial security, public security, environmental issues, economic incentives to attract foreign investment and a lot more. Costa Rica may consider itself the Switzerland of Central America but this may not hold for much longer…
jankozak – Your post assumes that both parties are operating on a level playing field. If the subsidised U.S. farmers can export here with U.S. tax payers assistance how that be considered fair trade?
simondg – My response has two parts: I do not believe Costa Rica should continue investing much time into increasing efficiency in agricultural production. I firmly believe it should progressively modernize its economy and move as far away from agricultural exports as possible and move to high tech exports where potential for revenue and profits is much higher and global markets and demand are expanding. If the US government continues to subsidize US farmers, then the Costa Rican government has two options – Option A – Subsidize Costa Rican farmers that focus on producing for the domestic market consumption (this to ensure the country does not become overwhelmingly dependent on food imports from the US)(i believe subsidizing agricultural products for export would be big waste of money) or – Option B – Provide incentives programs for Costa Rican agricultural producers to move to a different sector. Again, the tax revenue generated by new investments in the services and manufacturing sectors should be enough to take care of this minority population.
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