[davidd]

[quote=”Kwhite1″][quote=”costaricabill”][quote=”Scott”]It’s not just Gringos…. We have wealthy Venezuelan clients (thank God for the Venezolanos) who are paying the same amount to the CAJA and more …
[/quote]

That’s good for you, but I am confident that when the idea of new taxes comes up in the halls of government, more thoughts go toward getting the money Gringos than Venezolanos, or Columbianos, or Mexicanos, or ……….[/quote]

Sadly I don’t think the Costa Rican government is the only ones trying to figure out how to painfully extract as much money out of EVERYONE as possible. I have seen it in just about every country I have been to.

Here is a challenge, name a country (Besides places like Somalia and the like) that do not have the same goal of taking all of your money$$$$$$$$$.[/quote]

[davidd]

:roll::roll::roll::roll::roll::roll::roll::roll::roll::roll::roll::roll::roll::roll::roll::roll::roll::roll::roll::roll:

if I was in charge..:wink:

I would use all monies for product placements in movies.. since the american public.. believe people and choose them to be the most trusted people in america

people like tom hanks..and sandra bullock

http://www.rd.com/slideshows/readers-digest-trust-poll-the-100-most-trusted-people-in-america/

and they vote people into office because Arnold will be back..

then movies would be the way to go..

they should also leverage youtube and focus thier marketing on video and attempt to create viral videos..

they may hit 1 out of 10 but that one viral idea.. can generate lots of traffic if it went viral

much better bang for the buck

[davidd]

Scott

I think personally you would be better qualified to generate targeted people interested in tourism.

the knuckleheads that head the ICT spend their millions on unaccountable type of branding.

drill down for a second as an example.. lets use George Lindquist..

he is someone that specifically targets how to live in costa rica on social security..

he targets a group of people and leverages that benefit

in many ways the same could be done with various campaigns..

problem is that ICT is so disconnected with why people actually want to visit costa rica they rely on Branded advertising agency’s.. and throw money at it.

then they themselves fudge the numbers by including everyone that comes to this country and labels them as tourists.. so all those PT’s that come and go every 90 days are tourists.. etc :roll::roll::roll:

the true measure as always are the businesses that either stay open or they close..

Do you want to know what tourist sector that stays consistant with an increase positive trend??

the sex tourism industry.

go check out the hotels downtown in gringo gulch and ask

The sportsmens lodge
del rey
mona lisa
amistad
scores
zona 2

etc and see if they are doing good.. :P:P:P:P

[davidd]

costaricabill

VERY WELL said!! to each his own is very true..

I don’t know why all of a sudden this song came to my mind.. as it looks like it has nothing to do with this post lol

what sense can you make of it 🙂

[davidd]

this is a cute video.. and has very interesting points

http://youtu.be/b-SHZxplMmM

just to be clear I dont believe any sides or labels.. or any one savoir .. but the principles are correct

[davidd]

Imxploring

your right about caja and its idiosyncrasy’s.. I respect the law because it makes sense and is fair.. the problem is like anywhere you have laws

are the inconsistent applications of laws.. here and everywhere else.

I have observed in my 52 years of living that many times following the letter of the law actually hurts you..

I can cite so many instances but it would take too much space.

and another trusim.. is this.. once you pay.. getting money back from any costa rican government entity.. especially here..:shock::shock::shock: is like getting 4 molars extracted at the same time 😀

I would love to hear an example of someone actually getting back monies owed to them in Costa Rica.

[quote=”Imxploring”][quote=”jreeves”]If a legal resident wants to drop CAJA without repercussions, you have to formally renounce your residency status by filing with Migracion, then wait for it to be approved (similar process to applying for residency). Once you have the resolution where your residency is cancelled, you can legally unsubscribe from CAJA. Until then, you are liable for whatever CAJA payment accumulates monthly & penalties if you are behind on payments. Once you have the resolution that confirms your residency status is cancelled, you can apply to have a refund of the money you had to deposit that would buy your ticket back home if you were ever expelled from the country. If you are not up to date on your CAJA premiums, my understanding is that you can be denied re-entry to Costa Rica until the premiums are paid in full.

I have a friend going through the process right now. I don’t think it is a quick process.

The CAJA amounts I posted are for new enrollees at this point. We joined CAJA on our own, not through a group plan, & are permanent residents. Our monthly payment is just a little under what the “new” amounts are for permanent residents. However, we’ve seen some pretty hefty increases the last 2 years that occurred in January so I’m expecting another increase in January 2015 that might bring us in line with the “new” premiums.

Jessica[/quote]

Great info! But much like the new tax on corporations there will be many folks that don’t go about resolving or dissolving their affiliation with CAJA the correct way due to cost, ignorance, or the effort involved. For those people the bill will continue to run up leaving them with a debt that CR will seek to collect somehow. So I’m sure they will be put on a watch list at immigration should they go the PT route. It’s also a good bet even those formerly enrolled in CAJA that do separate properly and attempt the PT route will be subject to some type of action.

I’m sure the process of exiting CAJA will take quite a while…. why not… the meter is running and you’re still being forced to pay for a service you no longer want. And even if you stop paying… they don’t care… it’s just a debt they will use as the reason to squeeze you should you exit the country and attempt to return. I’m not sure if I’d describe it as being held hostage or being extorted… neither strikes me as enjoyable or the conduct a progressive government should be engaged in.

A recent experience at immigration tells me they’re looking. Traveling to CR several times a year for the last 9 years has left my passport quite colorful with entry stamps… even thou I have never stayed anywhere near the 90 days I’m permitted. But on quick inspection it looks like I’m a PT…. so it didn’t come as a surprise when the official at the desk asked how long I was staying and only gave me 15 days rather than the normal 90.

CAJA will become a big issue for expats… and the ability to screw with you at immigration will become the hammer to take your money. Besides the recent and future increases this is something anyone considering applying for residency should keep in mind. Once on the radar and paying into CAJA the folks in CR are going to be quite resistant to letting you opt out without there being other ramifications.[/quote]

[davidd]

[quote=”jreeves”]I forgot to add…

The new CAJA amount for rentista residency is $442 a month if under age 55 and $252 a month if over age 55.

Jessica[/quote]

wow!!! :shock::shock::shock: I am glad I got in when I did as I pay $40 bucks a month for my family

[davidd]

Lyncota

thank you for your input.. its very well appreciated and I love to listen to all points of views.. even though I may disagree does not mean I discourage or would say something to offend or argue with you.

personally.. I find i am at my best when I keep an open mind and listen to all points of views which gives me perspective because in the end its all about our own individual decisions that we will follow anyway.

One thing i will agree with you.. the caja “Obamacare” is indeed the future whether I like it or not.. 🙂

watch out for those melon frogs :D:D

[quote=”lyncota”]Greetings from the Caribbean coast!
@sweikert925: Like the views and the persona. Maybe lacking in the style points!
Actually, I have felt for quite a while that the opinions voiced on this site were way too conservative for me. Unlike many of the folks that post here, I am leaving the States not because I disagree with the current state of affairs there, I just want to be someplace warm that’s not Florida. And on the Caribbean coast, there is little need for air conditioning. Just a ceiling fan once in a while. And the Caja…..glad the US in going in that direction. It’s the future, whether you like it or not.[/quote]

[davidd]

Costaricabill

holy smokes.. I am one of those

“central valley-ites” :D:D

anything above 80 and I get a little bothered. where I live it never goes above 80 and the evenings are never below 60..

the mountains of heredia.. a real paradise.

but to each his own.. as they say

I spent some time in tamarindo and jaco, herradura, quepos Manuel antonio, santa theresa.. and its too hot for me..

the heat is what gives me pause to try out Nicaragua

the frogs are the size of small melons and everything seems to grow triple in those areas.. pesky mosquitos

and personally.. those damn monkeys pooping and throwing poop is not too nice. 🙂

and no damn KITKATS..:x:x:x

a buddy has a nice home in jaco.. we left a few days and forgot to activate his air conditioners and when we returned mold already started growing on the ceilings from the humidity

[quote=”costaricabill”][quote=”Scott”]It all depends on the location, a serious problem can be lack of water in some areas.

This is NOT always due to a lack of rain – although Guanacaste does get less – it’s often due to bad water management.

And if you are one of those Gringos that can’t live without air conditioning, you will pay a steep price to be comfortable in Guanacaste.

Hope that helps.

Scott

[/quote]

KW
Scott is spot on with his water comments. A lot of Asadas have plenty of water but they lack the infrastructure to deliver it to all areas under their control.
Perhaps if you were a bit more specific about what area(s) you are considering, someone may have real experience to share with you.
Scott’s AC comment is subject to additional conversation and analysis. At face value, he is correct “if you are one of those Gringos that can’t live without air conditioning”.
However if your home is located in a area where it gets a good breeze, especially a good ocean breeze, then it is possible to learn to live without. Before moving to CR I lived my entire life in Houston and Tampa, definitely two of the areas where AC is needed. My wife and i returned from the US on 2-November last year and as I sit writing this, 500 meters from the beach in Samara, we have yet to turn on one of our AC units since we arrived back home. Think about that, we went the entire “summer season” without any AC, day or night.
So you can learn to do without if you have the advantage of a good breeze. And one more advantage is I sleep so much better with fresh air!
I always get a chuckle from the “central valley-ites” that immediately and perpetually harp on the need for AC at the beach. It really would be better if they just said their preference is the cooler altitudes and locations, based on their lifestyles and experience.
[/quote]

[davidd]

[quote=”pixframe”][quote=”davidd”]

this was a great move on Roosevelt who I believe enacted this law.. I could be wrong. 😀 [/quote]

Davidd, I think you’ll find this interesting: “Another important feature of the income tax that changed was the return to income tax withholding as had been done during the Civil War. This greatly eased the collection of the tax for both the taxpayer and the Bureau of Internal Revenue. However, it also greatly reduced the taxpayer’s awareness of the amount of tax being collected, i.e. it reduced the transparency of the tax, which made it easier to raise taxes in the future.”
http://web.archive.org/web/20101204034946/http://www.treasury.gov/education/fact-sheets/taxes/ustax.shtml

The Internet Archive is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that was founded to build an Internet library. Its purposes include offering permanent access for researchers, historians, scholars, people with disabilities, and the general public to historical collections that exist in digital format.

[/quote]

excellent read.. thank you for that…

[davidd]

[quote=”sweikert925″]So in a contest between the US government and the Cuban government and another between the US government and the Russian government you guys are siding with the Cubans and the Russians? Really??[/quote]

sweikert

I do not understand your post.. are you saying you agree with this behavior. and we should take sides because its cuba or russia or whoever..??

so just because your an american you think its ok for the U.S. to engage in this type of behavior.. and using Costa Rica as a base to deploy this??

for what

FREEDOM!!! the american way???

this comment actually reveals your ignorance and at this point you lost all credibility.

incredible..

[davidd]

is this true??? interesting I was not aware of this..

so technically you only need the U.S. passport for rentry to the U.S.

which makes sense .. I remember the days I used to come to costar rica.. only with my U.S. drivers license.

I think you will still need it to fly out of the U.S.

[quote=”Jerry”]Now, correct me if I am wrong (as I am sure someone will), but the US passport is NOT for entry to any foreign country. Any country can allow or disallow entry to anyone for whatever reason, passport or not. Except that a passport (valid of course) bearing US citizen cannot be refused reentry. The passports purpose is to validate your right to enter as a US citizen. The older passports even had a statement saying it was not for ID, but for US entry only. My answer to this post is to obtain CR citizenship, which I initiated some time ago… before the “crisis” OR any banking BS.[/quote]

[davidd]

Sweikert

of course you agree with that statement.. you are a big government kind of guy.. more of a collective society type of guy.

but the problem with that is

it does NOT WORK and the ones that get harmed are the productive working middle class..

Sweikert.. let me make this statement

You fall under the category of a W-2 meaning your employer tales the money out of your paycheck. I am sure this has been happening all your adult life..

so your accustomed to having 30% of your money taken from you.. and squandered.. around the world.. ( I think the U.S. recently donated 1 million dollars to Costa Rica.. thank you for that )

then the remaining net you pay more taxes for goods and services..

But I would speculate.. if you had access to 100% of your money.. and you had to cut a check every paycheck to the government.. week in and week out.. you would change your tune a little.

this was a great move on Roosevelt who I believe enacted this law.. I could be wrong.

😀

[quote=”sweikert925″][quote=”fishrman”]Big corporations…are wiping out unions and subjecting workers to near indentured servant working conditions and always threatening them with layoffs or plant closure to drive down wages so the CEO’s and other executives can continue to raise their own salaries. [/quote]
Now there’s something we can agree on.

As for the history of Intel and the CR government, unless you know the precise details of the negotiations it’s hard to assess whether the CR government tried hard enough to keep Intel. My guess is, probably not. But that’s just a guess.

Say you rent an apartment from someone on a month to month lease. Every month you go in and demand the landlord reduce the rent and he or she complies. But eventually the landlord decides “the heck with this extortion” and says adios. Who is at fault there?[/quote]

[davidd]

fishrman

that is actually a GREAT idea.. fire them all.. sadly this is more of a dream.. a nice dream 🙂

actually it would really not be necessary to go to this extreme. as the founding fathers always have said with regards to Government..

“Limiting Government” keep it small

the Federal government has just become this monster that needs to be constantly fed with tax payers monies..

that is whats great about Costa Rica.. the government is small enough that you can really minimize your interactions with the bureaucracy

[quote=”sweikert925″][quote=”fishrman”]There does that offer a solution,and thus stay w/in the guidelines? [/quote]

[i]By popular demand we ask that you refrain from straying into U.S. politics except where it directly affects Costa Rica or people living in Costa Rica.*[/i]

And how is your comment above in keeping with “not straying into U.S. politics” and how does your “sensible solution” affect Costa Rica or people living in Costa Rica?

I suppose in your plan to wake the masses the first step is to insult them by calling them sleeping masses and “sheeple”. Excellent plan![/quote]

[davidd]

[size=200]TOUCHÉ[/size] :roll::roll::roll:

[quote=”sweikert925″]From the message board guidelines:
[i]
This site is called WeLoveCostaRica.com and 99% of us do love living here so if you just want to whine, complain and post negative comments in the Forum without offering sensible solutions, don’t bother posting!

By popular demand we ask that you refrain from straying into U.S. politics except where it directly affects Costa Rica or people living in Costa Rica.*[/i]

* Unless you want to whine, complain and post negative comments about anything to do with government, in which case go right ahead![/quote]

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