QCOSTARICA BLOGS – There is no doubt in my mind, that Costa Rica has chosen a track toward becoming a First World Country, from its current status of a Developing Country.
This is clear both politically and socially speaking.
There is minimal isolationist/protectionist legislation “on the Books” and Free Trade Agreements with other countries abound. Global trade is here to stay.
Enlightened and educated Costa Ricans all crave for a “Costa Rica Dream”, to be somewhat similar to the “American Dream” (as it once was), with open floor plan housing in gated communities offering all services, new cars to drive, and an endless stream of consumer “goodies” to purchase.
It is not a matter of liking, or not liking this evolution that is taking place, or whether it is good, or bad, it is a fact of evolution globally in such Developing countries (North Korea being a dark exception).
Of course, some of you reading this blog will say that Costa Rica is better-off without any of this transition taking place, but I don’t believe that that is a realistic position to be maintained.
The question is, “How best can Costa Rica achieve this transition?” In my last blog, “Does the Costa Rican Government Have The Right Stuff?”
I discussed a three point plan to improve the current economic situation in Costa Rica. Although there would be some short-term hardship in implementing the economic plan proposals for some Costa Ricans as is discussed in the previous blog, I firmly believe that to follow this economic course of action would be in Costa Rica’s best interests for the Country as a whole.
As a Canadian, Naturalized as a Costa Rican, which, of course, includes the right to vote, still leaves me in the foreigner category in the eyes of a majority of native Costa Ricans. I accept this lot in life, knowing that whatever I would propose as a solution for any issue in Costa Rica, would be tempered by the fact that I am a foreigner and that my views should be ranked accordingly.
Americans, and I’m told by Costa Ricans, Canadians even more-so, are looked to as coming from societies to be aspired to by Costa Ricans. Accordingly, those of us from those Societies and living in Costa Rica can be influential in this great evolution taking place from Developing to First World Country status.
In my opinion, the best way that that can be accomplished, having regard to the handicaps faced by foreigners being taken seriously by Costa Ricans, is through an approach of facilitating this transition through blogging, or other points of input in the media structure, to make progressive views known and leading by example.
Pursuing a more production oriented work ethic is one of the more important “lead by example” issues that I can think of. Certainly, Multinational Companies backed by foreign investment, such as Intel, have made great strides in this area in the past and I would advocate that to continue such methods of fostering such societal development in the future, would be very healthy for the Country as a whole, both economically and socially.
However, I would certainly exclude what has become known as the “Ugly American” approach, of providing dictatorial views and making unsubstantiated general criticisms of the Society at large, as being in anyway supportive.
Overtime, I believe that this pending transition of country status will be achieved and with less hardship being suffered by the population, through the adoption of First World Country principles in this facilitating fashion.
