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[quote=”sweikert925″]I hate to keep sounding like a Pollyanna but I do seem to need to point out that whomever is elected president may not have a majority in the Costa Rican Congress and thereby rather limited in what he can do. Even if he did have a majority, the pattern is that the president is replaced after one term in office. (Arias served twice, but those terms were 16 years apart). So whomever is elected will most likely be gone in 4 years.
By most accounts few will be sad to see Chinchilla go, so that seems to be an added bonus.[/quote]
Political change comes in small steps most of the time. It’s just important that you’re on the right path. Barring some major upheaval in the world the damage done by a one term president will not be that great. Part of the reason the constitution is written as such. The problem is if there is a major black swan event we may see tremendous changes. Just look at what happened after 9/11 and suddenly the log jam in politics was eliminated and all kinds of new laws, secret rules, and “programs” were launched… many of which we have only found out about years later.
Crisis leads to changes one once thought impossible…but it’s not always for the best!
Steve, Please start another thread about your trip south, if I’m reading the information right in that other thread you went on a tour? I’d love to hear about it, your observations, and any questions.
[quote=”sweikert925″][quote=”Imxploring”]I’d love to hear about it, your observations, and any questions.[/quote]
Thanks for asking. I went into a fair bit of detail about it on [url=https://www.welovecostarica.com/members/cfmbb/messages.cfm?messageid=47FFF102-24E8-5ED2-F1F8936BC8D93D01#47FFF102-24E8-5ED2-F1F8936BC8D93D01]this thread.[/url][/quote]
Next trip come a little further north to the Lake Arenal area, You might really enjoy it! Lots to do and see, beautiful scenery, a great and growing mixed expat community, and some wonderful Ticos!
[quote=”sweikert925″]I hate to keep sounding like a Pollyanna but I do seem to need to point out that whomever is elected president may not have a majority in the Costa Rican Congress and thereby rather limited in what he can do.
Even if he did have a majority, the pattern is that the president is replaced after one term in office. (Arias served twice, but those terms were 16 years apart). So whomever is elected will most likely be gone in 4 years.
By most accounts few will be sad to see Chinchilla go, so that seems to be an added bonus.
The current front runner seems to be someone named [url=http://www.ticotimes.net/More-news/News-Briefs/University-of-Costa-Rica-presidential-poll-shows-virtual-tie-between-Araya-and-Villalta_Wednesday-December-11-2013]”Don’t Know”[/url].[/quote]
I didn’t know anything about the Frente Amplio candidate when I started this thread.
Now that I read La Nacion every day, I can see where the majority of the people are rather disappointed with the Chinchilla presidency, and where they are looking for “change we can believe in” type of a president.
Where have we heard that before?
Unfortunately, I think Costa Ricans are being set up to vote for either Villalta of the Frente Amplio, or the Liberacion Nacional candidate Johnny Araya, who Scott has given us some hints about.
I personally like the Libertarian candidate. In any event, I hope in the event of a runoff between Villalta and Araya, Costa Ricans will elect the former.
A vote for a socialist with Marxist tendencies would be fatal blow to a small nation like Costa Rica. We only have to look at the damage that Danny and Maduro have done to nations like Nicaragua and Venezuela.
I’m very much aware, and wait anxiously for this presidential election.
[quote=”sweikert925″]
The idea that there is a vast dependent class of Americans is a hugely exaggerated myth. The numbers of people drawing various government assistance (i.e., not Social Security) is tiny – as you can see [url=http://www.statisticbrain.com/welfare-statistics/]here[/url]. The total on food stamps is available [url=http://www.fns.usda.gov/pd/snapsummary.htm]here.[/url]
Well, I clicked “here” and got the stats. So – do the numbers of ‘people’ getting welfare or food stamps….are those individuals or families? If, 46,000,000 get aid, how many children are they supporting on that aid?
I wonder how much damage any politician can do in CR which has no armed forces. In the other nations cited, there has been an army to back up the politician’s actions.
It seems to me that the damage done by Communist leaders of other countries in Central and South America has been caused in large part because they had an army they could control and with which they could exert considerable pressure on legislators. Would anyone like to comment?
[quote=”sweikert925″]
…… If this Villalta fellow does win the presidential election next year he won’t have an army available to maintain power – but lucky for him neither will there be an ambitious right-wing general or colonel around to topple him.[/quote]Sweikert – if Villalta does win and he does turn out to be a communist or a socialist, would you still plan on moving here?
[quote=”sweikert925″][quote=”costaricabill”]Sweikert – if Villalta does win and he does turn out to be a communist or a socialist, would you still plan on moving here?[/quote]
Of course! For one thing he can’t do much harm if he doesn’t also have support of a majority of the Costa Rican legislature (which seems unlikely) and for another he will be out of office by the time I get there.Would you leave if he did?[/quote]
Be careful Steve…. not that I see it happening in CR, but the same assumptions were made by a lot of people in Venezuela when Hugo took over and was “elected”. Then the institutions that restrained and limited his power were disbanded or eviscerated allowing him to take total control. Granted he had oil money and an army to make his move. We see where that has now taken Venezuela…. it’s a mess! Zelaya in Honduras tried the same stunt but the folks there learned from what happened in Venezuela and took action.
Change can happen quickly when things get bad. This next election in CR is an important one for many of us. It may very well set the path if we start to see CR shift more to a socialist “Communism Lite” where foreigners and those with assets are looked at as cash cows and milked to fuel the programs promised to the underclass.
You may very well live a long time once you relocate to CR…. major shifts over time WILL impact you.
[quote=”sweikert925″]I’m not quite sure what I have to be careful about. The Costa Ricans will pick a new president and whom they do is solely their business.
My goodness! This Villalta chap isn’t even in office yet and you already have him turning into a combination of Stalin and Mao (but with less charm), singlehandedly turning Costa Rica into another North Korea and having himself declared dictator for life. Tranquilo mi amigo!
His policies from what I have read don’t seem all that different than any other left-leaning politician. And as I KEEP having to point out he can only do what he can convince a majority of the Costa Rican legislature to sign off on.
[url=http://www.ticotimes.net/More-news/News-Briefs/Candidate-Villalta-says-nationalization-is-not-part-of-his-plan-for-Costa-Rica_Thursday-December-05-2013]Here[/url] are some of the ideas he has in mind. Doesn’t seem all that scary to me. I certainly hope he does something about electricity rates and better infrastructure (assuming he is even elected) and happy to see that those issues are being discussed by the candidates, but we shall see.
What is it with conservatives that they are always in hair-on-fire mode about some impending catastrophe? Sharia law! Death panels! One world government! Black helicopters! They’re acomin’ fer our guns! War on Christmas! Marxist-Fascist-Communist-Muslim-Kenyan in the White House! Fluoridated water! It’s a little hard to take seriously people who keep insisting that the sky is falling when the sky never seems to actually get around to falling.[/quote]
The problem is they never show their true colors or intentions when they’re attempting to get elected. We can only judge them on their past and the ideology they’ve chosen to expose. History shows us that many madman and dictators were, at one time…. elected… elected by the people. Hitler didn’t wake up one morning as the Fuhrer…killing millions and ravaging Europe… the good folks of Germany elected him. And history shows us what he did then. Hugo pulled the same game. Once in power you look to eliminate the checks and balances that exist to keep you from taking complete control. Daniel is doing the same in a softer way up north having found that the hard-line program didn’t work.
While I don’t fear a complete shift in CR in the near term, there are always concerns that during trying times that leaders step forward with promises used to get elected that result in changes that no one foresees. Should we see a hard line Socialist elected and then a major financial collapse in the world economy (I feel that’s a real possibility, but that’s a topic for another thread) you might very well see a major change in CR. No one in the US would have DREAMED of giving up the rights that were taken away by the Patriot Act post to 9/11, nor allow the wholesale spying the NSA is conducting on the American people!
Sure… lower electric rates and better roads…. sounds wonderful… what could be wrong with that! So did all those photo ops with Hitler surrounded by children and kissing babies. But how many people did he ultimately send to their deaths? How much pain and destruction did he cause? Look at Venezuela right now and see what Hugo’s actions did to their country and it’s economy!
WE THE PEOPLE have to be diligent in our watch over those we chose to govern our society. Even as an Expat in CR you need to be aware of the possible changes that will impact your life, livelihood, and future.
As for the sky falling… perhaps not today… but it might be worth having an umbrella ready just in case.
[quote=”sweikert925″][quote=”Imxploring”]Hitler didn’t wake up one morning as the Fuhrer…killing millions and ravaging Europe… the good folks of Germany elected him. [/quote]
The good people of Germany weren’t all that good (and I say that as someone of German descent myself). Most of them shared his utter hatred of Jews and fully believed that Jews were responsible for Germany’s loss in WWI and the worldwide depression. Hitler’s odious attitudes on race and determination to wield power as a dictator were on full display well before he won election as chancellor. He was NO wolf in sheep’s clothing. Germans wanted a dictator and they got one.[quote=”Imxploring”]As for the sky falling… perhaps not today… but it might be worth having an umbrella ready just in case.[/quote]
Nothing wrong with being prudent. But I find it odd that you automatically assume any leftist politician is a possible dictator but don’t seem to feel the same about any who is on the right side of the spectrum. Dictators come in all shapes and sizes.[quote=”Imxploring”]No one in the US would have DREAMED of giving up the rights that were taken away by the Patriot Act post to 9/11, nor allow the wholesale spying the NSA is conducting on the American people![/quote]
A comment which proves the point I just made above. Was it a socialist dictator who pushed through the Patriot Act or was it a couple of guys named Bush and Cheney?[/quote]The point is that should CR see a new president elected that is able to make major policy shifts to the current direction of the country by taking advantage of a black swan event we might all be in for some unwelcome changes. Those changes might very well impact your stay or even your ability to relocate to CR.
Hitler played on people’s distrust and dissatisfaction with their economy and spun it up to create a following. The jews were one of many targets he distracted his people with while he advanced his real agenda. He used the same “I’m protecting you” line when he disarmed his population and slowly removed their rights and the institutions that would have restrained his power. Hugo told his people for years that the US was on the verge of attacking Venezuela while he did the same thing. An attack that never came. But creating the “bad guy” that he was protecting the people from gave him the cover he needed to advance his agenda.
We’re seeing the same thing in the US as we are now giving up our freedom, liberty, and rights all to protect us from terrorist! Consider this…. More people died last month from cigarette smoking than ALL the people that have EVER died in the US from the acts of terrorist… yet you can buy a pack of cigarettes on every corner. And to boot…. the same government so intent on protecting us is making the majority of the profit on every pack of cigarettes sold! Cigarette smoking is a larger danger to the health, welfare, and safety of the American people than terrorism ever was… and yet the governments (Fed,State,and Local) all are distracting you with terrorism fears while profiting from the sale of a product that kills people every day!
Since a good amount of CR’s economy is dependent on the US… should there be a major economic meltdown worldwide it would be easy for a president in CR to place the blame on the US (can’t say I’d disagree with all the Fed is doing that will ultimately have worldwide consequences) and make expats an easy target and the victim of changes in policy. We’ve already witnessed some taxation changes that have impacted expats more than others.
While youth maybe an advantage in your mind Steve…. the problem that I see is that much of today’s youth are quite uneducated when it comes to history. And as we know, if you don’t learn from history you are doomed to repeat it!
[quote=”sweikert925″][quote=”Imxploring”]The point is that should CR see a new president elected that is able to make major policy shifts to the current direction of the country by taking advantage of a black swan event we might all be in for some unwelcome changes. [/quote]
OK, I’ll buy that – but that applies to ANY president of ANY political persuasion.[quote=”Imxploring”]Hugo told his people for years that the US was on the verge of attacking Venezuela while he did the same thing. [/quote]
Which they were more than willing to believe due to the long sad history of US meddling in South and Central America, not to mention the attempted US overthrow of Castro during the Bay of Pigs fiasco.[quote=”Imxploring”]Cigarette smoking is a larger danger to the health, welfare, and safety of the American people than terrorism ever was… and yet the governments (Fed,State,and Local) all are distracting you with terrorism fears while profiting from the sale of a product that kills people every day![/quote]
So you’ll be voting Democrat now since Dems are in favor of tighter regulation of tobacco and less intrusive NSA activity?[quote=”Imxploring”]While youth maybe an advantage in your mind Steve….![/quote]
I think you misread my comment. I said that it was Villalta’s youth that I considered a good reason [b]NOT[/b] to vote for him.[/quote]Hugo was a master at manipulation. Playing the “boogy man” is out to get us is popular with a lot of the political types.
I vote for people, not parties. Shame is that my view currently is anyone running for office these days is either delusional or a liar… or as is often the case… BOTH!
Hey Steve, sorry I did misread your view on youth! I guess we agree there!
Just saw the mini debate on Teletica website between Villalta, Araya and Guevara, and I think both Araya and Guevara came out alright. Villalta was a little, oops, did I say a little bit pushy and desperate, mainly due to his lack of finesse and may I say youth. Interesting in that Guevara questioned Villalta’s communism, which Villalta did not deny. Your thoughts are welcome, specially since you guys will be affected most living in Tiquicia.
Here in Southern California the weather is almost summer like, while the rest of the country is freezing! Happy New Year!![quote=”Imxploring”][quote=”sweikert925″][quote=”Imxploring”]I’d love to hear about it, your observations, and any questions.[/quote]
Thanks for asking. I went into a fair bit of detail about it on [url=https://www.welovecostarica.com/members/cfmbb/messages.cfm?messageid=47FFF102-24E8-5ED2-F1F8936BC8D93D01#47FFF102-24E8-5ED2-F1F8936BC8D93D01]this thread.[/url][/quote]
Next trip come a little further north to the Lake Arenal area, You might really enjoy it! Lots to do and see, beautiful scenery, a great and growing mixed expat community, and some wonderful Ticos![/quote]
Just make sure and not bring anything of value.:roll:
I’ve got two prison guard buddies in Nicoya that well know the notoriety of the Lake Arenal area.
Thieves per capita it’s a tie with Limon ![quote=”Doug Ward”][quote=”Imxploring”][quote=”sweikert925″][quote=”Imxploring”]I’d love to hear about it, your observations, and any questions.[/quote]
Thanks for asking. I went into a fair bit of detail about it on [url=https://www.welovecostarica.com/members/cfmbb/messages.cfm?messageid=47FFF102-24E8-5ED2-F1F8936BC8D93D01#47FFF102-24E8-5ED2-F1F8936BC8D93D01]this thread.[/url][/quote]
Next trip come a little further north to the Lake Arenal area, You might really enjoy it! Lots to do and see, beautiful scenery, a great and growing mixed expat community, and some wonderful Ticos![/quote]
Just make sure and not bring anything of value.:roll:
I’ve got two prison guard buddies in Nicoya that well know the notoriety of the Lake Arenal area.
Thieves per capita it’s a tie with Limon ![/quote]We like to spread that information in the prisons… keeps the bad guys thinking that the area has been picked clean so when they get out they look elsewhere for their next big score! All part of a reverse marketing scheme the locals came up with. 🙂
I have to assume if the prison guards have this information it’s because the bad guys are getting caught and sent to the house of many door and few keys.
We did have some cattle rustlers from Guatuso hit the area a while back. The locals blocked the roads, stopped them, and wanted to burn their truck and “extract” some punishment before the police arrived… can’t say I would have stopped them!
Speak for yourself Steve
The rest of us will be mildly interested in who wins
[/b]quote=”sweikert925″]Well today is election day in Costa Rica. So some of you who have expressed the fear that Villalta may win better be prepared for the stock market to crash, the sun to stop shining, milk to curdle and crops to fail.
The rest of us will be mildly interested in who wins.
Costa Rica seems to [url=http://www.ticotimes.net/2014/01/31/6-things-you-should-know-about-sundays-elections-in-costa-rica]go about electing officials much more sensibly than we Americans do.[/url]
I especially like the idea of the campaigns being only 4 months long, the bulk of the campaign expenditures being publicly financed, and – best of all – term limits for officeholders so that consecutive terms aren’t allowed.[/quote]
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