Posted on 07/07/2009 5:52:29 AM PDT by central_va
But this Arias speech could be a hopeful sign. Let's give them another 50 years. Maybe, only maybe after the whole world has left them behind, totally immersed in their totally corrupt way of life, always blaming somebody else's for their own problems, maybe, only maybe then they will finally wake up.
Although still a lefty, Arias seems to be breaking new ground from the "blame America first crowd". Worth the read IMO.
Hmmm?
From what I hear about Costa Rica, the country coud have a fairly booming capitialist economy if they simply invested their resources in eco-tourism. I’ve heard the country is incredibly beautiful.
My wife and I were slated to go on a rainforrest cruise there a few years back, but there was a malaria outbreak, my wife was pregnant and we cancelled.
In a desperate search for a silver lining here in the US, I say: Perhaps if the richest, most powerful, most advanced country in the world decides to make a strong move toward Socialism — and if that effort falls apart and results in ruin and chaos, maybe — just MAYBE — people around the world will finally say, “Huh. Looks like socialism really doesn’t work after all.”
nah, there was coup 15 minutes later.
The author thinks their problem is that taxes are too low.
The problem they have is that the bulk of the military spending in Latin America is by countries like Venezuela and Nicaragua that want to extend Marxist rule over the continent. It is hard to divert funds from “defense” to social issues if your next government is going to be directed from Caracas (or Medillin, for that matter). The freedom-loving countries cannot do it without our help, and that help gives more ammo to the Chavez/Ortega types. I’m not sure there is a clear answer, but if the countries are willing to take responsibility for their past...
hh
Now we need some Arab/Muslim to say similar things.
I have a close relative who spent a few years in Costa Rica. He loved it, and is even considering moving his family back there.
I’ve spent time in Brasil. Right now, their economy is booming. You can easily get lost in the countryside, where nobody will bother you for your lifestyle choices, like homeschooling, preaching the gospel, home churches. While it’s a socialist country, the government does not have the resources of the US government to discover and punish all those who do not adhere to the socialistic regulations.
For the most part, the average government official has a live-and-let-live mentality. The people are mostly warm and friendly.
Of course, if you draw attention, the government will go after you, so you need to be careful.
I’ve often ranted about this region blowing it.
They have resources, manpower, location (including the canal) and beautiful geography. Each country in central and south America should be doing quite nicely. Some should be overflowing with wealth.
This speaker makes great observations, but I expect his speech will fall on deaf, communist ears. Most hate capitalism. They don’t trust a modern legal system to keep them in power, evidenced by the Honduran event.
Tricky choice of year? The Brazilian army wasn't pushed back to Rio de Janero by the North Korean army in 1950.
A proper modern legal system WON'T keep them in power. Term limits for presidents, voter approval for each and every elected seat's term, and checks-and-balances capable of removing criminals.
Dictatorship is fundamentally incompatable with democracy (republic or not) - and that's the point of democracy.
“The author thinks their problem is that taxes are too low.”
I don’t think that’s the main point of his speech. His comment about not taxing the rich more must be understood in the context of the socioeconomic structure of most Latin American countries. Their Spanish colonial heritage, with most of the land given to “noblemen” as Royal Land Grants, ensured they would continue to have feudalism. THAT’S what President Arias is alluding to.
One of the criticisms the Mexicans have about the Texas revolution is the “injustice” of the Texas Republic abolishing all those land grants, and opening up the land of Texas to everyone.
That was my point :)
Well, he does have an excuse. He says their schools aren’t all that sharp. He needs to learn a bit more about Laffer curves.
Does the Koran preach any particular macroeconomic theory?
Pragmatism is the answer? The end justifies the means?
As in, we have too many people. We need fewer people. Lets kill half of them.
You have a car. I need a car. I steal your car.
I am pregnant. I want to live my life unencumbered. Kill the baby.
I want to control you and squash you. I tell you lies and get you to vote me into office. I then control you and squash you.
Yeah, gotta love that pragmatism. It’s loaded with vitamins and minerals for a healthy society.
It is certainly refreshing to see a leader of a developing country take responsibility for their fate instead of blaming others. That being said, look around their neighborhood at Venezuela, Nicaragua, etc., and it’s clear that their military budget is going to have to skyrocket in coming years in order to survive.
Wow! Very enheartening.
Costa Rica has arguably the most stable government and democracy in Latin America, and Arias is one smart cookie.
yeah, i know. i just couldn’t pass up the opportunity to be a wise ass.
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