Forum Replies Created
-
Posts
-
Artewards, It also means, the contractors were as corrupt as the gov’t.
We’re all bailing water on a sinking ship.Diego, My monitor thanks you, and believe it or not, I do as well. I knew somewhere in there was a softer side.
Scott, To you goes the highest praise, for allowing myself, and others, voice our opinions. This forum has given us the freedom to express our ideas and thoughts about Costa Rica, and many other things that are on our minds. I hope you continue to let us have the spirited discussions we have grown accustomed to.
Much continued success to you and this website.PS Diego, that actor guys name is, Fred Thompson.
Pura Vida,
AlDavid, That dust it off and bring it back out every election cycle, goes for the liberals as well. Healthcare reform will undoubtedly be a main topic this go around. And what will come of it? Nada. We can’t blame political parties for the mess we have. Ultimately it is “Us,” and our thinking that voting for the political party we love, will change anything. Conservatives and liberal politicians both accept campaign contributions from the same corporate entities. Until we have some campaign reform we will only get the government “They” want. Will we get campaign reform? I doubt it. Candidates from the independent, and other parties, cannot raise enough money to fund a good fight against the entrenched political hacks we have today.
There are most likely a hundred other reasons why we can’t seem to get politicians that are not always concerned about the next election and winning a popularity contest. The electorate, myself included, seems to blindly follow the party we have chosen long ago. New thinking unsettles some of us, and we refuse to change party affiliation, or look to new candidates to support. This election season seems to have started way too early, and seems to be more of the same old, same old. I don’t think we will ever see any meaningful change in the way we vote, or the officials we elect. I certainly do not want to be pessimistic. But what else can I be?
It is unfortunate to feel this way, but I do. The last local election, I stood home. In the upcoming presidential one, I may stay home, or hold my nose when I pull the lever.Roark, I read this and thought many of the point here are brought up in Anderson’s writings as well. He did not gloss over the fact that Che was as ruthless as can be when it came to executions. In fact he was very detailed, from Che’s first killing of a man, all the way to the courtyard executions. It was one of the things it is hard to reconcile with the man. Intelligence, being trained as a doctor, treating the indigenous in his travels as a youth, a prolific writer, and then killing without remorse. It does seem like a paradox.
The part about his living in a mansion I did find suspect. He moved out of his first home because he thought it too grand, and moved to simple surroundings. He would not pay to have his parents visit because on his salary, which he only drew military pay and not any public officials pay was very small. His wife was extremely annoyed that he would not use government funds to bring his own parents over. He said he would not use his position to take the peoples money. He also worked in the fields on weekends. He had communist principles and felt every person had to have an equal share and one was not better or more privileged than the other. Strange contrast to the violent side.
Castro was the architect behind the revolution. Che started out by just going along because he wanted change in Latin America. Towards the end he became a bit more distant from Castro and left Cuba and renounced his citizenship. He wanted to export revolution all over the world. He most assuredly hated the USA.
The actor Andy Garcia left Cuba in the same way as Fontova described. Bracelets were cut from his mothers wrists at the airport. He longs to return to Cuba, his homeland. I can understand the feelings towards Che and Castro.
Che’s iconic status was increased by martyring him. Had he lived, as the American government wanted him to do, his memory would have been quite different from what it is today? History always treats martyrs, whether deserved or not, better than their lives would have been had they lived to old age. There is something of a victim mentality in that.
The pop culture always looks for that bit of revolutionary, against the grain personality, to latch onto. Che, was that image for a culture so radically changed during the 1960’s. His timing was perfect for what was going on in the USA at that time.
I guess many of us need heroes. When we look at the world around us and feel powerless, the hero we seek, though flawed, can take many forms.Fontova’s points here are understandable, and when I read the entire story I might gain a new insight.
Thanks for posting this up here.
Roark, Fair enough. I accept the chastising. I shouldn’t have gotten all over you when I did ask for your opinion on Fontova’s book. Perhaps you are correct in that Che would have burned it before I read it. It is just that I thought you may have been dismissing Anderson’s book out of hand.
I don’t particularly like books by people who have an axe to grind because you know how it will turn out before you flip the first page. He does have a legitimate gripe however, after being forced out of his homeland with his life’s possesions being taken.
Now you have changed my mind and I’ll have to read the book. I’ll let you know what i think.
I have talked to second generation American/Cubans who’s families absolutely despise Fidel and Che. It is a matter of perspective for the reasons of one’s feelings toward the Cuban revolution. Because my family was not personally involved, I feel I can read a book for the historical sense of an era and person.
Now you have changed my mind, and I will read Fontova’s book and let you know what I think.Every single day this week another lender or two pops up on the list. We are just starting to see the tip of the iceberg. They are pumping money into this thing to avoid a major meltdown. How much they are willing to inject might determine if it stops in a week or two. Banks are going to be sitting with a lot of real estate they didn’t want to be holding. And they are not in the real estate management business, they are in the lending business.
History has the track record for the market going up over time. Now, not since the great depression, have there been so many homes in jeopardy. How will the market hold up if financial institutions hit the skids? No one knows. This is just one big financial blunder by hedge fund managers looking to provide great returns with high risk. They thought real estate would just keep climbing to the sky.
A couple of months ago one of our suppliers, AMF (American Machine and Foundry), had one of their divisions close up because the bank saw fit not to extend them any more credit. If the money dries up we could see more companies close their doors.
The big problem now, and I think Scott might agree, is that this has now become an international mess, and not just restricted to the US.
The S&L debacle, some years back, should have given the watchers some advance warning.Diego, My monitor can’t take much more. In spite of your not being such a bad egg either, sometimes you go over the top. Don’t you think Ticos rely on their government for things like national healthcare, water, telephone, social security and electricity? All of these things are government run. How many will sit still if they are not given these services?
I am inspired by your generosity, but you can’t take care of an entire nation. And there aren’t enough of you to do it.We are all free, and we are all slaves at the same time.
David, A great, eloquent, well thought out, and TRUE response. A little wake up call is all it takes for reality to set in. Diego is thought provoking, as he says he is, but he needs to think through his arguments.
As a person who has worked in the public sector, you are able to see what many of us cannot. Although government is not the answer to all our ills, it does provide necessary services for life and security. Sometimes, out of frustration, I find myself blaming the government for everything that goes wrong. And even though I consider myself in control and self sufficient, 911 would be the first number I would dial in an emergency.Well, It looks like some of you beat me to it and saved me the Google time. I was getting some needed rest after answering Diego, to try and lower my blood pressure.
I pulled out my copy of Anderson’s book and realized Roark was not looking all that deep for information. Aleida March, Che’s widow, was a tremendous contributor to his book. There are over three pages of acknowledgments, and over ten bibliography pages as well. Fontova sites Fidel as being the major contributor. I don’t think the evidence holds. Anderson is not all that complimentary to Fidel. He describes him as being conspicuously absent during most of the field engagements. Not a thing I would do to my “Major contributor.” He also points out Che’s dissatisfaction with some of Fidel’s thoughts about communism, and his dealings with the Soviets. Also, by looking at some of the Google results posted, I think Mr. Fontova indeed has an axe to grind.
Anderson’s book is a scholarly work, receiving the New York times “Notable book of the year” award, Newsday’s “Favorite book of the year” and many others. I think if Roark would read, rather than skim the book, he would find it a fascinating, historical read.
I was thinking about ordering this book tonight, but after seeing what you guys have posted, it can wait.Lotus, Thanks for the advice. I really think this is kind of a catharsis for me, though. I can get out a whole day’s angst in one post. I don’t take him too seriously….Most of the time!
You are right about stress leading to all sorts of negative things in our body. I’ll try to keep an eye on my stress level.
Thanks again for having the concern and interest that you do.Pura Vida to you too
Diego, Nice response, if it were only all true and possible. Again we agree on some points. Like money being used at the local level for local residents. Also, being creative and having some mavericks in the mix is a good thing.
If you really understood what I have said here, and in numerous other posts, about Ticos using our money, you would not have responded the way you did. I said, it is up to Costa Rica to do what they wish, how they wish, and when they wish with the money. I don’t want them to have to be beholding to anyone but themselves! Why the hell would I, or anybody, have the right to tell another country, whether or not I’m living there, what to do. You’ve got to get over this Columbus, European and gringo patriarchal feeling amigo.
Another thing, how many locals like their power outages? How many enjoy running out of water in the middle of the day? Or, car swallowing potholes and poorly maintained bridges? Not the majority, I’ll bet. So, I think a little cash might be something they would like.
Societies run under benevolent dictators can sometimes be workable for certain populations. The contradiction I find in your way of thinking, is that you would love it, as long as you were the “Dictator.” You can’t have it both ways my friend.
Diego, I think you love the shock value your remarks deliver. And they do. I love free speech and hope you continue to press on with your opinions. We will continue to agree and disagree on topics. Some of your posts will enlighten myself and others. A lot of them will keep me banging my fist on the monitor!Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to clean up the cowpies on the front lawn.
Roark, Have you read the book by Humberto Fontova? I know it has been recently published and I was curious about anyone’s thoughts on it.
Scott, If you haven’t already, get a copy of “Che Guevara, a revolutionary life” by Jon Lee Anderson. It is an exhaustive work of almost 800 pages and really gives you an insight to the man, while not being a politicized biography. It also covers most of the “Motorcycle diary” period as well. “Motorcycle diaries” is another great book, written by Che, which shows his amazing literary side.
in spite of what my compatriots might say of Che, he is a figure of history that has carved out his place in the world.Diego, I find myself banging the monitor once again. The temporary 10% income tax was to fund world war I. Once they start taxing and spending like the money will always be there, they can’t repeal it. It is the way government works. Like road tolls that are there to pay for the road and then become fixtures for life. With this I fully agree. Where we part company is on the fact that it seems like “No” government is the best form to you. People need a government, laws and structure. Even indigenous peoples have a system of leadership to organize their tribes.
What has happened is government has grown too large? We have voted it in to where it has become a self feeding monster. It has to be reined in. With the present list of candidates, that ain’t gonna happen. Limits on government spending will only come about when special interest groups and big corporations are stopped from lobbying and financing these politicians.
Most of the “Mavericks” that tried to call the IRS illegal and stopped paying taxes, are in the joint, doing hard time. The IRS may, or may not be, constitutionally legal, but it is treated like a legal entity. And as such has the power to collect taxes and imprison those who are not willing to pay. Plus, by not paying taxes they cheat the rest of us who are paying.
Not too many people like how the government spends our money. And many people don’t like how the boss pays them so little at work and makes so much for themselves. But this is the system we have, for better or worse. We have to try and do what we can while we are here to change it.
So, to live in a society without government would just be lunacy. The social fabric would be torn to pieces and anarchy would be the result. Can you imagine a society without police, a country without a rail and road system, or without an education system that at least provides basic teaching for our citizens. I can’t.
Government needs money in order to govern. Most likely less than what we give it. Still it needs capital.
The reasons I would like to see Costa Rica increase property taxes, are for it to benefit the Ticos that have allowed us to live there. And we benefit by it as well. Better roads, better healthcare, a real postal system, clean and available water, and consistent electricity service are just a few of the things that could be improved with more funds in the treasury. I don’t know if the extra income will go there, but it is up to the citizens of Costa Rica to express their wishes to their elected officials to get things done.
I don’t honestly know how every single Costa Rican feels about having foreigners buying up every piece of land on the shore. I would be a little p**sed off myself if it happened in the USA. Our driver said to me when I asked him this question, “We can’t afford to buy property on the beach.” And that was all he said. I was not going to press him any further, because I think he felt he did not want to offend me. With that, my feelings are that with an increase in property tax, you are still getting a bargain, and helping a developing country, develop.
