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Gloria is also a wonderful person. Arenal is lucky to have such a caring person in the neighborhood. I spent an afternoon at her beautiful home after dropping off some supplies she needed. She was such a joy to sit and talk with, the afternoon was suddenly evening and we still had so much to talk about! She’s not only intelligent, she’s so very excited about her work and was thrilled to share her experiences. She talked to my son about snakes for hours.
“fiscal responsibility”…. Easter Bunny… Tooth Fairy… Personal Responsibility… Nelly of Loch Ness… Big Foot… Tax Reform…
Just add it to the long list of things folks like to talk about that don’t exist!
Edited on Apr 08, 2009 15:16
Yet more people die each DAY from smoking related issues than are murdered annually by these folks…. and you can still buy cigarettes on any corner…. go figure!
As for the medication issue… Scott is quite correct. Many of these folks that go out murdering several people are (or have been) on some type of psych/mood medication. But it’s your classic chicken or the egg argument. Which came first, the mental defect that caused the desire the kill and thus the medication, or did the medication cause the subject to manifest this deadly desire.
No doubt a GOOD precentage of the public is over medicated… and many of these psych medications have questionable side effects and clinical studies supporting them… but medical science, and more importantly the drug companies don’t make money curing people… they make money maintaining them.
Edited on Apr 07, 2009 07:04
So Scott…. are you willing to share that list? Feel free to cherry pick the good stuff… but leave the rest of us some crumbs! 😉
Very good points! In my mind (and in my case) the whole tax haven issue is moot when it comes to Costa Rica. I’m not looking at CR as a place to set up hidden accounts or stashing ill gotten gains. I’m not looking to avoid taxes nor am I looking to hide “money” offshore. As such whether CR complies or not…. my plan remains the same. Hard assets are the way to go at the moment…
Money (currency) is a funny beast… and in the future I see the ability of governments to keep people believing that the paper they hold in their pockets as something of value will be seriously questioned. And that’s ignoring the hyperinflation we’ll see when, and if, this flood of “new” money comes into the economy or if it’s just sucked into the black hole the US government seems intent on filling.
Recent monetary moves by all the worlds governments has started this idea in motion. “Creating” money to bailout failing banks and industries only weakens the “value” of the very currency they’re using to achieve these goals. It also reminds us how easily it is “created” and how equally easy it can vanish. And let’s not forget that the holders of so many US dollars (China/Middle East) are already suffering at home and have expressed concerns about the “value” of their holdings that are dollar denominated. Should we see a major shift in that market (not only from the debt buyers angle)and folks see the dollars as not having the “value” that’s always been attached to it… we’re in for BIG trouble!
It’s not a pretty world out there right now as every level of government seeks “new” revenue to keep the party going. The last few years were an out of control house party… today it’s time for the hangover and the clean up! Some of us left the party early before it got crazy and turned in for a good nights sleep… prepared for the new day… and for the life of me I have no idea why some folks think we should be held responsible for the mess and the cost of the clean up!
“The Haves and the Have-Nots are at odds these days. The governments, for the first time, are moving to the defense of the the Have-Nots and the infrastructure and now I read advice which recommends taking the money and running before you are forced to pay your fair shares for the salvaging of the economies from which the wealth was extracted.”
Sprirt…. What alternate reality are you living in? The Have-nots are on the unemployment line losing their homes… and government’s answer is to throw TRILLIONS of dollars at banks and other financial businesses that have stolen America’s future. Had Obama and the boys taken that money and used it to directly help those in need I don’t think most of us would have a problem. But then again the social spending that has taken the US to where it is today is a BIG part of the problem! And with the agenda we see in Washington these days… that will only get worse! If I’m not mistaken the US is looking at a $3.6 Trillion budget…. $1.2 Trillion of which is deficit spending…. and that’s apart from all the other “free” money they’re tossing around these days!
The “bailouts” are cop-outs, rewarding RICH folks (the HAVES) that got rich creating this mess… and now are not being held responsible for their own misdeeds! The “Stimulus” is nothing more than free drinks while the ship sinks. Keeping the folks calm while their future is determined in a backroom by the HAVES!
At some point the “answers” ($$$$) to this mess will have to be paid back! THAT’S where the real PAIN starts! But remember… the same folks making all these moves to fix the economy are the same HAVES that couldn’t even figure out (or chose not to) how to properly pay THEIR taxes! So who’s calling the kettle black my friend? Is this how good government levels the playing field?
Many of us see where this mess is going… and have known for some time… and much like the first folks on the lifeboats of a sinking ship, that see the warning signs, are prepared, gathered what is important… we’ll survive… those who refuse to acknowledge that something once so big and powerful can sink… or believe rescue is on the way and there’s no need to take action will slip below the waves to a dark and painful end.
I for one have always paid my fair share… and will continue to do so… but I refuse to pay for the binge of a crackhead out of control! I’m not rewarding poor choices and a lack of self discipline and determination! Man was created with free will… but there’s nothing that says I have to clean up the mess when he makes the same mistakes over and over again!
Edited on Apr 06, 2009 17:31
Not only are the Feds going to doing it… my home state of NY has already gone and added additional higher tax rates for high income earners to the “new” state budget. In addition to adding tons of new “fees” that they’ll pass off as non-tax revenue streams! It’s getting bad, and those smart enough to see the writing on the wall know it!
Government now hits you from so many alternate angles for revenue that raising “taxes” isn’t even the real issue anymore! They still can stand in front of a crowd at election time touting that they didn’t raise taxes… in the meanwhile every facet of your daily life will be impacted by some type of “fee” that drains your wallet!
When I’ve joked about bartering and investing in tuna in the future… it wasn’t far from the reality I see coming very soon! In the next few months hundreds of thousands (yes that is correct) of folks will exhaust their unemployment benefits… even after all the extensions… and will have NO income in an economy that’s not generating jobs… and it’s going to get only worse!
My plan was quite simple…. leverage everything in the US and purchase assets off shore which I own outright… no complex banking, no paper trail, no hiding cash in a bank somewhere… leave the debts in the states… and hold the free and clear assets somewhere that they respect one’s right to own something for which they don’t have to pay an unreasonable fee to keep! While Uncle Sam believes he has the right to tax you on your money to any degree he wishes… he hasn’t yet figured out a way to tax you on real estate you own in another country… it’s all quite simple and completely legal… and a plan that I’m quite comfortable with.
As for the tax/banking issue… Costa Rica should be quite proud of being black listed and respecting the rights of folks to defend themselves from a US government gone on a crack binge! Because much like a crackhead… they’ll do anything to keep it going… no matter who they hurt or how many bad choices they make!
Edited on Apr 05, 2009 21:30
And is there really a problem with these good folks black listing Costa Rica…. declining to become part of the new world order that seeks to track every dollar law abiding citizens spend? Let them do their thing…. perhaps they should instead spend some time figuring out where the 8 TRILLION dollars went that the banks and the US government has made disappear in the last 6 months!
So Sprite… So where might this “unbiased” source of information be that backs your views of Cuba up? Please mention it so those of us with a different view from yours can simply dismiss it with the same vigor that you do to any source others mention when making their point.
As for Bush… why did Daddy have to give up the helm to Billy boy for 8 years if handing off the top stop was as simple as you would make it out to be?
I have no idea how a visit 30 years ago by yourself to Cuba somehow makes you the expert on their government and social policy… especially since nearly 50 years of a dictatorship fly in the face of every position you take… but you might want to remember this… the exchange and difference of opinions we’re all expressing would not exist in the very country you claim is so open and free…
I say we ask Oscar to stay president as long as he likes… and the great thing is that he has a brother in reserve to take his place when he gets too old and sick to lead! Who needs elections and political debate…. it’s sooo over rated! Just ask the folks in Cuba!
One would have to guess that the true “test” of how happy they are, and how functional their government is will happen when the brothers are gone… which I’m sure will be marked with great happiness and sadness.
keviyon…. don’t waste your breath… Cuba is a wonderful place with happy people that enjoy a free and open society with a balanced political system that encourages debate and views from all it’s people… even those that don’t agree with the current leaders… they’re more than happy to wait and engage in the democratic election process to make the changes they feel are needed and to replace their leaders as public opinion dictates. They’re also blessed with a free press and media that are unhindered by the government and thus are well informed when making their choices. They also enjoy unlimited access to the internet and are encouraged to seek information that (by some stroke of bad luck) might not be available to them from the open and free press/media and their government.
Before you engage in a debate about Cuba… I thought you might want to have this VALUABLE information available to you!!! 🙂
Edited on Mar 27, 2009 02:09
grifz77…Come on… don’t tease us… give us all a clue… where might we find those “bigger yields” you mentioned? 🙂 I’m sure there’s quite a few folks here that would love to recover some of the 40% beating they’ve taken! LOL
No doubt the last 5 years have been a very “unique” period that won’t happen again for some time… but history has a nasty habit of repeating itself… so I’ve learned to never say never! It’s going to take some time for things to settle out before ANYONE can give a real view of where things are headed.
That being said I’m a lot more comfortable with my holdings in CR than in the states right now… and with the lower cost to carry them (taxes/insurance/utilities/maintenance) it makes sense that being able to ride out this market is less of a burden with the properties I have in CR. There might be other RE markets out there that may perform better in the short-term due to them not having been overpriced with the big run-up of the last few years… but on balance the properties I have purchased in CR were well priced and not inflated to the point that I have, or will lose. Besides… I get to enjoy them, which as you point out has a value.
I agree with your views… most of us are on the same page… and I for one have always looked at my CR real estate investments as an asset that I can enjoy and share with friends and family… unlike any other investment I’ve ever owned!
Edited on Mar 26, 2009 16:38
Wasn’t a “time out” really needed anyway? And when I say “time out” I don’t mean the freefall we’re seeing in real estate in the states. For those of us that have purchased properties and have been looking for others… things were getting a bit out of control. I don’t want to see anyone hurt with this market, but things were well out of hand. Crazy prices that seemed to increase when you showed the slightest interest… net listings… sellers that were dreamers….and so on!
Money is tight right now for those looking to leverage… so that in itself will moderate the market and give us a good idea as to real value. Investors/buyers with hard cash will do well now. Even with the world economic problems CR real estate still has real value from an investment standpoint, but also has the advantage of being a vacation/retirement play as well. There’s not too many places that can make that claim these days.
Now is the time to take a deep breath and see how things settle out. There are bargans… and there are still sellers that are dreamers. The good thing is that those looking to buy should have an easier time telling the difference.
Edited on Mar 25, 2009 12:30
Spirit… by “law abiding Cubans” do you mean those that keep their mouths shut and not dare speak out against the policy and leadership of their government?
So Ed… do you have an opinion as to Oscars actions? Good or bad? Not that he’ll be listening… or that it really matters… I only ask if you have an idea… or a view as to the topic… nothing more. There’s noting to be afraid of… other than a president that seems to stand for personal freedoms and yet engages governments that don’t.
I have no desire to “humble” the Cubans… other than perhaps the Castro brothers… as I said I admire the Cuban people… and only wish the best for them in the future when the current leadership is nothing more than a bad memory. As for China, I think we can all figure out that Oscar’s motivation was all about the Benjamins… and nothing more.
Perhaps you might have an opinion you’d like to share as to why we’re seeing this shift… and if you believe it’s good or bad?
Edited on Mar 23, 2009 19:24
