If Costa Rica, the land of plenty and of nothing much is truly the backyard of the U.S., then this election for President does not leave us much to be optimistic about.
These are the same old pundits, born to make a living off politics, with the exception of one: Juan, Diego Castro who has been presented as CR’s answer to Donald Trump.
It is a sad state of mind when 40% of eligible people do not support a candidate and almost the same percentage who really are not going to vote.
Why?
For years, a decade or more, these same candidates have promised the same thing: No Corruption, government transparency, improve the infrastructure, reduce poverty and crime.
Nothing new and pretty much the eco of Donald Trump when running for office. Except we have yet to read “Costa Rica First”.
Over the years I have not heard much “nationalism” except during the “football” (soccer) season. Like our neighbor to the south, Panama, we have we lost our identity to catchphrases about democracy, no standing military: all is “Pura Vida”?
In reality, we are a country, a standalone nation whose sovereignty has been sold to the devil with extraordinary international government debt, crime and hi-unemployment for young people who find it impossible to purchase a home, live paycheck to paycheck?
The candidates all sound good on paper, but the truth is that the talk reflects three decades of little, if any social achievement.
We are as divided from America, Europe and I suppose that puts us in the first world. We strike for the right of taxis, we strike for health care but never for a more livable and affordable Costa Rica. Our strikes for people’s rights and that is a Friday or Monday to assure a long weekend.
Costa Ricans go to the polls on Sunday, February 4, 2018.
