Comments on: CAFTA: Point of Disagreement in Costa Rica

By: Jay W.

Jay W. — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 18:15:13 +0000

I’ll answer your direct question briefly; it is what the signatory countries have to comply with in order to gain such ‘access’ to the consumerist markets… and the nations you site have little in the way of social and development achievements, unlike Costa Rica. as a Canadian, I witnessed the continual bullying by US Corporate interests all the way up to Congressional levels where they literally robbed Billions of dollars (illegally according to the international courts) from Canada in softwood lumber disputes.. they have big sticks and they never walk softly… what do you think would happen to disputes with piddly little countries which don’t have leverage or a standing army?? Free trade MIGHT be a good idea, IF it were truly free, but giving up your sovereignty for some vague idea of improved trade (especially for a sending market smaller than Groton Connecticut) is foolhardy to the extreme.. wait and see..

By: costa de valencia

costa de valencia — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 12:39:31 +0000

What is the fear keeping labor unions from supporting a deal with a country as consumerist as the United States, where, at the moment, Costa Rica already exports millions of dollars every year?

By: Violeta Duarte

Violeta Duarte — Fri, 02 Nov 2007 00:06:23 +0000

Despite the Cafta or Tlc passed due to all propaganda and milllion of
dollars spent by the Big corpotations, still the persecusion against the people who was against this treaty, you can read it everyday in the newspapers, is time to let it go, and try to put things together ,no more persecusion to the people who were against this bad treaaty. and the end who lost was the costarican people, the history will let us know soon.

By: Lorne

Lorne — Sun, 07 Oct 2007 20:53:54 +0000

There is a big reason why Costa Rica needs to vote YES!
Firstly i dont agree with many decisions the US government makes nor its media influence on the people. This does not mean Costa Rica will become the United States.
First, Costa Rica cell phone service sucks…telephones are very costly to purchase and the service is horrible. There is also ZERO customer service. Suprising??? No because there is no reason to service people when you own the industry!!
Second, gasoline, electronics, vehicles, parts and countless other products are way to expensive for the average Costa Rican. WHY??????? MMMM Maybe because they tax all imported good so much, that they are no longer affordable! MMMMM I wonder why there is such a split rich/poor status in Costa Rica.
Lastly, from Importing a vehicle, to the paying utility bills, banking, municiple laws, corrupt municipalities, construction approvals from Setena to the lack of water and electricity for development, MAIL?? $100 to send a package to the US!! Developers having to pay for roads and water and electricity trusts with zero movement from the municipalities after getting paid, POLICE..what police!!! Ambulance services…SORRY WE HAVE NO GAS!!!
The list goes on and on.. ALL these areas are PROBLEMATIC!!!! So wake up people, if the country is developing and the Government cannot keep up, do you think Costa Rica has a chance? Lets bring in some companies to improve all of this, lets have the customer service. ICE worried about losing jobs??? Who do you think Sprint or AT&T are going to hire when they open up shop?? What do you think General Motors will do for labor when an assembly plant may go into production..???MMMM maybe this will help will help getting people out of poverty and perhaps make a MIDDLE CLASS.
WHY IS COSTA RICA PROMOTING TOURISM WHEN THEY CANNOT KEEP UP WITH ALL SERVICES…ESPECIALLY MEDICAL AND SAFTEY AMONG BEACH TOWNS.
VOTE NO AND WATCH HOW QUICKLY PEOPLE RETIRE ELSEWHERE.
VOTE YES AND WATCH THIS COUNTRY PROSPER.

By: Maguil Cespedes

Maguil Cespedes — Sun, 07 Oct 2007 17:57:11 +0000

I will say today NO to BUSH and the Mega coorporations he repesent.

I am today like many others angry about the theart of Washinton and specially about the explicit interventionism deliver by them on their official anouncement.

I will vote against you not matther how much money you have. Shame on you.. shame because we have been good friends for many many years.

By: Monica

Monica — Sat, 06 Oct 2007 21:32:51 +0000

Some of us Costaricans are embarassed and ashamed of the ‘NO’ movement. Some of their organizers have planted hatred into the hearts of many Costaricans and made them believe this is a social-economic class war. They will be entirely to blame if there is some violence on Sunday. They have used nothing but lies and fear. Even in the debates they said “we are only talking to the middle and lower class”, Costa Rica is made up by all Costaricans, the wealthy too! Many Costaricans are tired of corruption and we do not approve nor embrace what this goverment did (with the memo scandal). But why hurt the workers and the 50,000 Costaricans who graduate every year and need a job? It is crytal clear business will head northward. The ‘NO’ movement is anti-patriotic, leftist and anti-globalization. They do not speak for all Costaricans. For our future, stability and for the 900,000 Costarican who live in poverty, vote yes!

By: CRH

CRH — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 16:47:01 +0000

Costa Rica, Ticos:

Vote your hearts, vote your heritage, vote your history, vote your independence, vote your sovereignty, vote your future and that of your children.

Hyper-capitalism that is good for the few, at the cost of all this?

No TLC

By: Robert Lanod

Robert Lanod — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 22:59:30 +0000

….. Everyone seems to have a crystal ball looking straight into the future of Costa Rica.
People of Costa Rica are so fortunate to be able bring about changes by simply getting out to vote.

How important is importance, will be decided Oct.7th. at the polls.
Moral:
Do your part, … just get out and vote, no matter what your fate for TLC dictates.

Roberto

By: Roy Rojas

Roy Rojas — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 20:55:31 +0000

This next 7 of October, we must vote, by our future, our economy, our exports, the country, our stability, our prosperity, by our children, vote Yes.

Vote Yes.

By: Violeta Duarte Fonseca

Violeta Duarte Fonseca — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 20:14:14 +0000

As far 3 days for the Referendum Tlc or Cafta,the Costa Rican people will go out and vote with a rotund No to this bad treaty bad negotiated and bad for the Costa Rican people.

By: Maguil Cespedes

Maguil Cespedes — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 19:29:39 +0000

It is time for equilibium , the time to deal directly with the idea that we Humans are no longer able to face future with fear about how much money we can make. In fact we should be aware that gobal warming is here and there are for. Those big deals with third parties in a traditional way is not longer afordable. I will vote NO To TLC with dignity, rejecting not the commerce but the type of commerce that the so call ” Washington Concensus Commerce” is offer.

By: Steve

Steve — Sun, 09 Sep 2007 14:34:30 +0000

I have been trying to sort out the + ‘ & -’s of the TLC, but what seems to be missing are the actual real facts, not the hundreds of interpretations. WHAT ARE THE REAL FACTS? I get the feeling that the TLC will benefit investors in CR were their products and services will see the profits headed North, free or minimal import fees to the US, but what about goods coming into CR from the US. The tariffs paid by the Ticos should be equally reduced.

Granted, competition can be a healthy commodity, if ICE has the best rates in town, they will continue to have them especially when competition would expect to be making a profit. What ICE needs to do is have a look at their customer service!

This writer spends a number of months every year in CR, spending $$$, supporting the economy, providing work, and being environmentally concerned. Costa Rica is our second home.

By: Cafta, punto de discordia : the news star

Cafta, punto de discordia : the news star — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 15:42:51 +0000

[...] Protesta, General | Este post ha sido publicado en el prestigioso blog Global Voices Online (CAFTA: Point of Disagreement in Costa Rica (Ing) [...]

By: Jared

Jared — Sat, 25 Aug 2007 17:08:44 +0000

“Have you been to Mexico lately?”. Sure, business is brisk. But have you actually spoken about this to the poor? Conditions are not improving for them. Mexico, as a nation, has never been so vulnerable.

A question one should ask is: How has the history of Costa Rica contributed to it being the most equitable, socially developed country in Central America? One will find that it is (in part) because they have always rejected these ‘free-trade’ agreements and maintained sovereignty over their nations, that they have done so well.

But the tables have started turning in Costa Rica: money for education is down, support for the poor is down, health improvements are down. Conversely, crime and social strife is up. The turn to unfettered capitalism is the cause and CAFTA will only accentuate this.

By: Robert Lanod

Robert Lanod — Sat, 25 Aug 2007 00:32:12 +0000

Seems like there are more people against TLC, then in favor, at the moment.
Have you been to Mexico lately?? Business is brisk, middle class have better living conditions, living conditions are improving for the underclass.
Let’s the ask citizen people of Mexico, … abolish NAFTA, turn the clock back to the good old days! .. I don’t think so!
Turning down CAFTA will certainly help decrease the population of Costa Rica, as the Nicaraguan Immigrants will be heading home for better jobs.
Those that choose to look like an osterich, better keep their heads in the sand.
Aug 24 Donaldo