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PostPosted: Mon Jun 14, 2010 9:45 am 
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letter to the editor today's paper by resident gringo

Dear A.M. Costa Rica:

I would like to commend Manuel Avendaño Arce for his article "Life can still be a struggle even in this paradise." If anything, I think he understates the problem.

According to a paper published by the International Monetary Fund, “The informal economy comprises those economic activities that circumvent the costs and are excluded from the benefits and rights incorporated in the laws and administrative rules covering property relationships, commercial licensing, labor contracts, torts, financial credit and social systems.”

The same paper estimates that in the early 2000s, Costa Rica's “informal” economy comprised around 42 percent of gross domestic product. You don't have to be a genius to see the "informal" economy here. You need anything? How about some genuine fake Ray-Ban sunglasses? How about some nearly-authentic, nearly-Cuban Cohiba cigars? Look at the price of those Rolex watches! Need socks? Prepaid telephone cards? Feel like buying some original black velvet artwork? Chiclets? How about the latest release on DVD? The latest hits on CD? Some Michael Jackson? All that and more is available on the streets. If you can get half a block without seeing a street vendor, it only means you are in a deserted neighborhood.

The government's response to this problem is about what it's always been. They commission a study, employ some relatives, overpay them, then do a few PR moves and retreat to their mansions, behind the razor wire and private armed guards. The truth is that the oligarchy here is quite happy with lots of unemployed people . . . keeps the cost of labor down. They just don't want bad PR. The number of people who never got past the sixth grade is staggering, and it's because it costs about $300 for every Ch*ld in a family to start the new school year. Considering the average family size and average family income, it's a wonder they can keep the K*ds in school even to age 12.

There are, in theory, government programs to aid the poor, but the percentage of the poor that actually get any help is abysmal. I know a single mom who has been on the waiting list for three years to get aid paying for school expenses. Her K*ds will likely have dropped out before the program gets around to helping her, if it ever does. The 'social safety net' here is a joke, but those who prefer not to see the ugly face of poverty like to believe it works. It doesn't. Anybody who doubts the extent of poverty and unemployment here is invited to take a tour with me through a few of the slums. You might want to bring along a few armed guards.

Alejandro Martínez Coronado is just one of (many) hundreds of thousands living on the edge of economic disaster every day. It's not getting better. Costa Rica is not the worst place to be poor, since nobody is going to freeze to death at least. It's not paradise though, unless you chose the right parents.

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PostPosted: Tue Jun 15, 2010 3:14 am 
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Honest question here--What is the state of the middle-class/ middle-income folks here? Under continuous assault as it has been in the US for the last 30 years? What kept Spain a 2nd class backward nation for 500 years is because they successfully destroyed their middle class, principally by their ouster of the Moors (Muslims), the Inquisition which destroyed the Jewish middle-class and rampant theocracy. For 300 of those years they owned Latin America (except of course Brazil, which Portugal was no better at ruling) and inculcated all those aberrant values in Central/South America.
Bottom line: You can't having a dynamic, thriving country with an honest economy without a solid middle class.

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PostPosted: Wed Jun 16, 2010 10:31 am 
JazzboCR wrote:
Honest question here--What is the state of the middle-class/ middle-income folks here? Under continuous assault as it has been in the US for the last 30 years? What kept Spain a 2nd class backward nation for 500 years is because they successfully destroyed their middle class, principally by their ouster of the Moors (Muslims), the Inquisition which destroyed the Jewish middle-class and rampant theocracy. For 300 of those years they owned Latin America (except of course Brazil, which Portugal was no better at ruling) and inculcated all those aberrant values in Central/South America.
Bottom line: You can't having a dynamic, thriving country with an honest economy without a solid middle class.


I'll add that an open/transparent government with minimal corruption, and an economy open to foreign investment and free trade are critical. The USA would have gone nowhere had it not been for the massive investment by the English, Dutch and Germans.

For an interesting study (albeit too long and a little stuffy) of the Latin culture, read: Twisted Roots. A Look at the Historical and Cultural Influences that Shaped Latin America Into the Most Impoverished, Unstable, and Backward Region of the Western World by Carlos Alberto Montaner (http://www.hacer.org/pdf/Montaner08.pdf)


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PostPosted: Wed Jun 16, 2010 10:43 am 
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wow, what a great link.

(http://www.hacer.org/pdf/Montaner08.pdf)

i'm gonna try and wade thru it....it's a long read.

Thanks!

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(export version only, some restrictions may apply, some assembly required, not valid where the sun don't shine...

if you live in the states of Poverty, Darkness or anywhere outside of The Blessings of Civilization Trust, Inc...other rules may apply)


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PostPosted: Wed Jun 16, 2010 2:23 pm 
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JazzboCR wrote:
Honest question here--What is the state of the middle-class/ middle-income folks here? Under continuous assault as it has been in the US for the last 30 years? What kept Spain a 2nd class backward nation for 500 years is because they successfully destroyed their middle class, principally by their ouster of the Moors (Muslims),

I'm no historian, but I'm pretty sure that's supposed to be MOOPS. :wink:


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PostPosted: Wed Jun 16, 2010 3:20 pm 
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haha Very good Orange!


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PostPosted: Wed Jun 16, 2010 4:28 pm 
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I don't feel sorry for the "poor" here. There is opportunity here. How many people do you know that speak 3 languages and cant find work ? I know of several that did learn 2 languages other than spanish and have great jobs now.

The real poor are in countries like India, Africa, China etc. CR is an abundant place to live and as a matter of fact most are content to live "poor" rather than develop themselves.

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PostPosted: Wed Jun 16, 2010 5:00 pm 
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Icantstayaway wrote:
I don't feel sorry for the "poor" here. There is opportunity here. How many people do you know that speak 3 languages and cant find work ? I know of several that did learn 2 languages other than spanish and have great jobs now.

The real poor are in countries like India, Africa, China etc. CR is an abundant place to live and as a matter of fact most are content to live "poor" rather than develop themselves.
.....i think the story was more about being older,having family to support and being a low skilled person trying to get a job...........

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PostPosted: Thu Jun 17, 2010 12:06 am 
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Icantstayaway wrote:
I don't feel sorry for the "poor" here. There is opportunity here. How many people do you know that speak 3 languages and cant find work ? I know of several that did learn 2 languages other than spanish and have great jobs now.

The real poor are in countries like India, Africa, China etc. CR is an abundant place to live and as a matter of fact most are content to live "poor" rather than develop themselves.


Nobody has to feel sorry for anybody if they don't want to. But I totally disagree with the assertion that there is a lot of opportunity here. Have you been to the slums? Have you met people who speak 3 languages in Los Guidos or Leon XIII? I have been in the slums, and I know what kind of education you get in a public school here. If you aren't born into a family that can afford to send you to a private school, you aren't going to speak three languages. You will be lucky to be able to write a decent sentence in Spanish.

A few thousand call center jobs doesn't make up for a million unemployed or underemployed. Seeing a few help wanted signs doesn't mean that there are jobs for everybody. I have had this discussion many times and I know how futile it is to argue this point. I just do futile things sometimes.

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PostPosted: Thu Jun 17, 2010 2:13 am 
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Bilko wrote:
I just do futile things sometimes.

...But Brother Bilko you do them with a good heart and that's the difference...the only MEANINGFUL difference.

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PostPosted: Thu Jun 17, 2010 1:37 pm 
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Well there is a middle class here in CR. However, to us, they are just as poor, as THE poor. The only difference is they have jobs and a roof over their heads, a car and agua caliente. Our middle class is about 10x more wealthy.

I also live amongst wealthy Costa Ricans. Wealthy by any standard - US, Europe and LA. These guys could care less about the poor. They seem to be about as materialistic and snotty as anyone else.

Concerning change in CR - well they need more business and more jobs and it will take a long time to build a real and solid middle class. Compared to other countries in CA - CR has a much bigger opportunity.

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PostPosted: Thu Jun 17, 2010 2:15 pm 
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Icantstayaway wrote:
I don't feel sorry for the "poor" here. There is opportunity here. How many people do you know that speak 3 languages and cant find work ? I know of several that did learn 2 languages other than spanish and have great jobs now.

Who speaks 3 languages (or 2 for that matter) in CR? 1% of the poeple?

As for opportunity, there's none, unless you know somebody who knows somebody.


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PostPosted: Thu Jun 17, 2010 10:04 pm 
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Orange wrote:
Who speaks 3 languages (or 2 for that matter) in CR? 1% of the poeple?

And doubtless fully half of them are tour guides, call-center folks or peddling real estate. These days 2 of 3 of those categories are unemployed.

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PostPosted: Fri Jun 18, 2010 8:24 am 
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Don't agree with the assertion that there is no opportunity and that you have to know someone. I've been involved with several businesses in Costa Rica and Panama and can tell you for a fact that I've given opportunities to close to a dozen individuals to make excellent money and to have a chance at advancement with long term possibilities. Not one of them siezed the opportunity, between being late, unreliable or stealing they each destroyed any chances they had for something long term. I don't think it's in their nature to think long term in Latin America and that is what destroys them more than anything.

Haiti is tough for opportunity, Panama and Costa Rica are not, there is NO money in Haiti- In Panama and CR there are BILLIONS coming in and floating around. Yes, you need initiative, yes you may need to learn some English from an old book or off the internet if you don't have money for classes. But there are countless opportunities from starting a cleaning service to clean all the luxury buildings, to acting as a facilitator to help foriegn residents get done the many things necessary that they have no idea how to do. What about starting a company where you get various plumbers, electricians, builders, repair people etc. and then make sure they give the "local" price and don't rip off the foreigners, can you imagine how popular that service would be?. You charge $35 for the year to be a member for the clients and $5 on top of each job done from the client as well as $15 per year from the vendors. You'd make a killing and everyone would be happy. Put advertisement boards in bathrooms of tourist places and then sell the ads to tourism related businesses-casinos, bars, restaurants, tourism companies, cell phone companies. It would cost you $15 to start that company, just take a few fridays of from drinking beer and you'd have the money.

If you're not educated than you have to educate yourself. There are millions of people who made fortunes coming from poor backrounds with poor education. There does need to be money around though, and there is in these two countries.


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PostPosted: Fri Jun 18, 2010 2:30 pm 
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Jsmythe23 wrote:
But there are countless opportunities from starting a cleaning service to clean all the luxury buildings, to acting as a facilitator to help foriegn residents get done the many things necessary that they have no idea how to do. What about starting a company where you get various plumbers, electricians, builders, repair people etc. and then make sure they give the "local" price and don't rip off the foreigners, can you imagine how popular that service would be?. You charge $35 for the year to be a member for the clients and $5 on top of each job done from the client as well as $15 per year from the vendors. You'd make a killing and everyone would be happy. Put advertisement boards in bathrooms of tourist places and then sell the ads to tourism related businesses-casinos, bars, restaurants, tourism companies, cell phone companies. It would cost you $15 to start that company, just take a few fridays of from drinking beer and you'd have the money.

This is one of the funniest posts I've seen in a while. I think you and the rest of the thread are talking about 2 different groups of people. Your suggestion is to start a business??? You do realize we are talking about people with little or no education. It's not about initiative. Sounds like you're talking about a group of people that had some education or experience, and were presented with an opportunity, and they blew it. This thread is more about people who are broke (or barely keeping their heads above water).

How many people in the US would be able to start a small business like those you mentioned? I'd say 5% of the people, and probably less.


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