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Sprite, the handwriting may be on the wall, but let’s not throw our the baby with the bathwater. You seem to look at it like there are two US citizens groups here. We’re all in the same boat. Those who like myself, voted for Bush, and those who didn’t. We’re all still citizens of this republic, and to think those who voted for Bush were unenlightened, and will make another mistake by voting for McCain, smacks of elitist thinking.
Obama as a choice would be one of least vetted we could get. What has this man accomplished? Nada, zip, zero. He is being bandied about like a great world leader and savior of our country. He hasn’t done a thing, hasn’t been tested, and has not clearly stated most of his positions. Yet, millions are willing to trust a country , and their very lives to him. It doesn’t make sense.
McCain is an awful choice, but up against the opposition, he is the lesser of two evils, and certainly has a better grasp of how government operates. I wish we had better choices this time around, but it is what it is.
Sprite, not all the Germans got the guns. That’s the point! Either we all have the right, or we don’t. Including elitist elected officials.
In a perfect world, or Utopia, some of us might not see the need for firearms. This however, is unrealistic thinking. No way could you disarm everyone and eliminate crime and violence. This is an ever degenerating world, and moving to CR is NOT going to change that fact.
Most of us may be looking for a better way of life, and a safer one at that. But, as we move to a one world economic and social order, the bad will eventually infect the good. The law of entropy applies to everything. Delaying the inevitable might be possible, though. And, just maybe, we’ll all be dead by then. Still, to think you will escape humanity and all its warts, is not being intellectually honest.
My intention was not to pick on you or single you out. Just wanted to bring my argument to the table.
Bravo Scott and XavierTico!
Sprite, Governments are imperfect, as well as people and societies. As an individual, I would like the ability to decide for myself what is reasonable protection.
As an example of government imperfection; remember, Hitler confiscated all the guns in Germany, and we all know how that turned out.
Scott’s take on the situation is enlightening because he sees it from two perspectives. As a foreigner, and as a parent with children who are US citizens.
As a US citizen, and a parent myself, I have to agree that things do not look good as far as our future freedoms to travel abroad, and possibly within our own borders in the coming years. Fear has taken hold, and a reactionary government is taking it out on their own.
Individual freedom is the foundation the USA was built upon. And now the collective protection of its citizens is turning that principle on its head. We are exchanging security, for our former freedoms and privileges. When a government finds reason not to trust its own citizenry, something has gone horribly wrong.
The sky is not falling…..Yet! But, we have to be vigilent in our protection of our rights, privileges, privacy and freedoms, as well as our national security.
When we were on the Pacific coast in 2006, 6 people drowned in the surf in Jaco a week before we arrived. In Manuel Antonio, we saw the Cruz Roja fish a body out while our sons were still in the water. The owner of our hotel said it happens especially when people drink too much and go in the water.
Most hotel owners, and guides will tell you to not wade in past your hips. It is for good reason. A rip current is all but impossible to swim against. Just because you are on vacation, don’t think it could not happen.
In 9 days on the beach, we did only see one lifeguard. There are very few in CR, and you have to take your own precautions. Enjoy the water by all means, but use common sense.
Actually, they are a great device. The water clings to the chain, as long as there is not too much of a breeze, and they do not get clogged with leaves. I’ve never seen them in the states, but they are simplicity at its finest.
Tracy, Brilliant, observant and bullseye hitting accurate. I had to read it twice it was so good. The buffet line quip was the best.
In all seriousness, our minds have been dulled, and even the ones who have done the dulling are dulled themselves. They have bought into their own creation of a world as they see it. The sad part of this is that there is no turning back. Society is evolutionary, and we can’t recapture the glory days of our youth, when it was good and safe and a nice place to live. Costa Rica reminds me of 40 years or so ago, when the cares of the world seemed to be so minimal and family and friends had meaning. In another generation or two the Ticos may go the same way as we have. Sad to see that happen, but it probably will. By then most of us will be gone, but hopefully we can have a few decades of Pura Vida.
Maravilla, Welcome back to “reality”.lol Good to see you back on the board again. And do yourself a favor and throw the idiot box out the window!
Tracy, that was so well put, I could not agree with you more. The powers that be have divided us, and polarized us, by pitting one group against the other. They have succeded in allowing us to be labeled liberals, conservatives, republicans, or democrats, with no hope of uniting against the real enemy against democracy, our elected officials. We have been useful idiots by bestowing way too much power upon a government that is no longer representative of the people it was designed to serve.
I knew Ron Paul didn’t stand a chance with the combined forces of the media and the political machines bent on keeping their stranglehold on this nation. We have gotten to a two party system which neither represents its constituency, or the good of the nation. They are both only beholding to their corporate sponsors, and can give a hoot about us.
Nothing will change in this election, and we will be duped again into thinking there will be any meaningful results, no matter who wins in November. The fix is in when there are only two viable political parties, with no hope of an independent party being able to mount a campaign against them.
Our primary system is a joke. I much rather like Costa Rica’s method. Let multiple parties, as many as 14 in their last election, run on the same day, and the winning candidate must recieve 40% of the vote, or the top two candidates have a runoff. This seems to be a much more equitable system, and every group gets to compete with their ideas. Think we’ll ever get to that point? I don’t.
Good luck to us as we suffer through another election cycle.
Sprite, I think you may have us conservatives confused with the Neo-conservatives. They are a recent abberation, and quite frankly have little to do with conservatism in most cases.
Us old time conservatives believe in environmental responsibility, just like most left wingers (liberals,) but we choose not to worship the creation, just be good stewards of it. Also, we believe in the rights of individuals as granted by the constitution. This means equal rights, not special rights. We believe in the rule of law set down by our forefathers.
And most of us are not satisfied with the status quo, or the supposed conservative candidate we are being presented in this election. The root of the word conservative means to conserve, and not be an SUV driving glutononous idiot.
As a conservative, I enjoy Costa Rica and its natural and cultural beauty as much as anyone. I wish not to be painted with the broad brush of the “new conservative” as they are conservatives in name only.
In reality, I believe we share more core beliefs than we differ on.
I don’t know it this clears anything up, but I thought I’d supply my two cents.
Grb, I agree. We are being limited in how we can conduct our lives by our own government. Fear has been the biggest factor in people willing to give up their freedoms. A few more abridgements, and we’ll all be safe. NOT!
The airlines already have to submit your name to HS in order to find out if you are one of the persons able to leave the US. How will it be in 10 more years is anyone’s guess.
It will still be a while before my wife and I are able leave. I hope when that time comes, we still will have the opportunity.
Good luck to you!
GRB, I believe those crime stats are a bit erroneous for the US. In 2005, the crime rate was 469.2 per 100,00. It has actually fallen a few percent since. Using your numbers, this would give CR a rate of 120 per 100,000. The US is a little less than 4 times higher, and we can only guess which country has the more accurate reporting by victims, or by governmental agency.
I believe I know where you got your figures from. Here is where I got mine for the US. http://www.fbi.gov/ucr/05cius/data/table_01.html
There is crime everywhere, and Latin America as a whole, is deemed to be one of the higher crime ridden geographical areas in the Americas. That being said, Costa Rica is one of, if not the most safe.
As far as the US failing in its mission to educate our present generation to compete in the future, I fully agree. On our present course, it will take only a few more generations to bring us down to third world status in education and GDP. We need to take the ring out of our noses, and be resposible for the educating and rearing of our children, and not let the “nanny state” have the control it has had. Also, the amount of persons living off the national teat has contributed to this lazy “what, me worry?” attitude.
Unfortunately, I don’t see much hope for us either.
Edited on May 01, 2008 04:25
Scott, that’s why we turn to this website for information. Your honesty about the difference between what you can find on your own, and what a realtor is wiling to show, speaks to your integrity.
There is nothing wrong with a realtor making a profit, and deciding on which markets to specialize. Like most of us, they would like to earn a decent living… and are entitled to it.
There is no paradise! And if you think Europe is any better…think again.
One gentleman who worked for us, retired about 7 years ago and moved to Italy. He lives in a new home he built in Bari, with his wife. Last week he called and told us they had a family function to attend. We said great, look forward to seeing you then. He said, “no, I won’t be coming, just my wife will.” The reason was, he had to stay behind to mind his house. If he left it unoccupied for a week or more, it would be cleaned out by robbers.
I was relaying the story to my barber yesterday, who was born in Italy, He told me his wife’s cousin couldn’t attend a family function for the same reason. He said, “they live in Northern Italy, where you think it would be safer.”
The world has changed. Find paradise where you can, and enjoy it.
Well stated, Sprite.
I only have to see the morning news or read the paper to see the amount of increase in crime right here in the US. Like all countries, Costa Rica may not be what it was 20 years ago, but, the increase in crime seems to be a worldwide phenomenon.
You really have to assess the situation, and your own comfort factor when traveling or moving to any other place than what you call home. Crime might even be higher where you presently live, and because it is where you live, you make adjustments for your own safety, and may not consider it all that crime ridden.
You also have to realize you are dealing with a population in CR that considers everyone of us rich. And by comparison to them, we are. Just the fact you are not a native, and especially if you are from a wealthy country, may make you a mark to a criminal.
Learning how to behave, and how protect yourself and your belongings in any foreign country would go a long way toward reducing the possibility of you becoming a victim.
Sprite, The end might not be near, but, if the gov’t is relying on a real estate value increase, a recovery in value is far enough away that their efforts to save the dollar and improve the economy, is at best pure speculation. We may not see a recovery in home prices for longer than a year and a half. Nobody’s crystal ball seems to be working this time.
Last night overseas markets had taken a hit again. There is no stability in any of the markets.
It may be a long slow slide down. We are carrying way too much national debt, and the slowing economy is not helping the governments revenue any. I just don’t see a silver lining in the near future.
