Comments on: The Cost of Being Poor: Costa Rica vs. the USA http://www.travelblogs.com/articles/the-cost-of-being-poor-costa-rica-vs-the-usa Stories, Advice and the Internet's Best Travel Blogs Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:40:09 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 By: SAM http://www.travelblogs.com/articles/the-cost-of-being-poor-costa-rica-vs-the-usa/comment-page-1#comment-67847 SAM Thu, 12 May 2011 18:31:38 +0000 #comment-67847 I agree with what was said above. For the person insulted on Nicaraguan illegal immigration I didn't see any type of prejudice in this article. The issue does exist and unfortunately there are some nicaraguans who come to commit crimes. This does not exclude Costa Ricans and other immigrants from other countries. Illegal immigration doesn't limit itself to nicaraguans. there is a neighborhood in downtown san jose which is dominated by Dominicans and you simply just don't walk in there. Safety is an issue but with a little street smarts I haven't had any issues ever. Never been mugged or hurt by anyone. The bus system is good and will get you anywhere you want to go for cheap. Unfortunately traffic can be a hassle but not unbearable. Life moves slower so you are not as stressed out as living in New York and getting stuck in traffic during rush hour when you still have a million more things to do. DRINKING TAP WATER IS GOOD EVERYWHERE. Someone mentioned above that not in people's homes or restaurants. Only very marginalized neighborhoods might have that problem but no one goes there unless you live there. I have drank tap water from almost everywhere i've been in Costa Rica and never had a problem. And most natural drinks are made with tap water unlike in Mexico where you won't find natural drinks at all for the same reason. There is a super large middle class and there definitely is an upper class in Costa Rica terms. The homelessness in Costa Rica is pretty much defined to those who gave in to binging or drugs and never got help. Costa Rica is the #1 country in latin america to invest money in welfare programs. Those who want to stay homeless do it because they want to. The streets... pretty much no excuse. Nicaragua is a lot poorer and they have awesome streets almost anywhere in the country. Their infrastructure is also better. Not to mention Guatemala's infrastructure who surpasses any other country in Central America. (Panama doesn't consider itself from Central America). And this I saved for last cuz it really pissed me off.... to those that say that large chains doesn't prey on the poor of course they do. And if you ever taken a business class at all or economics for that matter THERE WOULDN'T BE CAPITALISM IF THERE WASN'T A POOR LOWER CLASS! The system is made to make sure that there is little opportunity for the poor to escalate their socio-economic status. Not impossible but very difficult. The large chains cut out any small and medium business reduce competivity and then set the prices. A large chain brand in particular is not a monopoly but as a larger picture all the large chains together are a monopoly. This is how the system works in any type of field. Why do you think every country compares their currency to the dollar or do you think that by mere coincidence the dollar is just the standard point of comparison. Eventually we will see other markets emerge like China and they will set the prices for everything we know, cut out anyone selling rice as their main agriculture export product and who gets screwed???? The poor and the rich get richer.... otherwise we wouldn't have capitalism!!!!!!!!!! I agree with what was said above. For the person insulted on Nicaraguan illegal immigration I didn’t see any type of prejudice in this article. The issue does exist and unfortunately there are some nicaraguans who come to commit crimes. This does not exclude Costa Ricans and other immigrants from other countries. Illegal immigration doesn’t limit itself to nicaraguans. there is a neighborhood in downtown san jose which is dominated by Dominicans and you simply just don’t walk in there.
Safety is an issue but with a little street smarts I haven’t had any issues ever. Never been mugged or hurt by anyone.
The bus system is good and will get you anywhere you want to go for cheap. Unfortunately traffic can be a hassle but not unbearable. Life moves slower so you are not as stressed out as living in New York and getting stuck in traffic during rush hour when you still have a million more things to do.
DRINKING TAP WATER IS GOOD EVERYWHERE. Someone mentioned above that not in people’s homes or restaurants. Only very marginalized neighborhoods might have that problem but no one goes there unless you live there. I have drank tap water from almost everywhere i’ve been in Costa Rica and never had a problem. And most natural drinks are made with tap water unlike in Mexico where you won’t find natural drinks at all for the same reason.
There is a super large middle class and there definitely is an upper class in Costa Rica terms. The homelessness in Costa Rica is pretty much defined to those who gave in to binging or drugs and never got help. Costa Rica is the #1 country in latin america to invest money in welfare programs. Those who want to stay homeless do it because they want to.
The streets… pretty much no excuse. Nicaragua is a lot poorer and they have awesome streets almost anywhere in the country. Their infrastructure is also better. Not to mention Guatemala’s infrastructure who surpasses any other country in Central America. (Panama doesn’t consider itself from Central America).
And this I saved for last cuz it really pissed me off…. to those that say that large chains doesn’t prey on the poor of course they do. And if you ever taken a business class at all or economics for that matter THERE WOULDN’T BE CAPITALISM IF THERE WASN’T A POOR LOWER CLASS! The system is made to make sure that there is little opportunity for the poor to escalate their socio-economic status. Not impossible but very difficult. The large chains cut out any small and medium business reduce competivity and then set the prices. A large chain brand in particular is not a monopoly but as a larger picture all the large chains together are a monopoly. This is how the system works in any type of field. Why do you think every country compares their currency to the dollar or do you think that by mere coincidence the dollar is just the standard point of comparison. Eventually we will see other markets emerge like China and they will set the prices for everything we know, cut out anyone selling rice as their main agriculture export product and who gets screwed???? The poor and the rich get richer…. otherwise we wouldn’t have capitalism!!!!!!!!!!

]]> By: JimmyL http://www.travelblogs.com/articles/the-cost-of-being-poor-costa-rica-vs-the-usa/comment-page-1#comment-53583 JimmyL Thu, 13 Jan 2011 05:49:11 +0000 #comment-53583 Your article was interesting. I made it about halfway through before I gave up....on your grammar! Your article was interesting. I made it about halfway through before I gave up….on your grammar!

]]> By: Andy http://www.travelblogs.com/articles/the-cost-of-being-poor-costa-rica-vs-the-usa/comment-page-1#comment-50254 Andy Fri, 17 Dec 2010 15:49:19 +0000 #comment-50254 Josue, I totally agree with you. Leon 13 is no joke, nor is that area of Pavas you reference. There are many slums in Costa Rica, and while one can't ignore the ritzy tourist attractions and resorts, these areas need to be cleaned up and as Jay Man says, there are several steps that need to be taken to get Costa Rica to a first or second world country level. Josue, I totally agree with you. Leon 13 is no joke, nor is that area of Pavas you reference. There are many slums in Costa Rica, and while one can’t ignore the ritzy tourist attractions and resorts, these areas need to be cleaned up and as Jay Man says, there are several steps that need to be taken to get Costa Rica to a first or second world country level.

]]> By: tina http://www.travelblogs.com/articles/the-cost-of-being-poor-costa-rica-vs-the-usa/comment-page-1#comment-28152 tina Mon, 08 Feb 2010 15:48:49 +0000 #comment-28152 i know what poor is i was once so poor hhat we did not have food for days only water i have four childer and three grand i teach them how hard life is with no food and a place to sleep i know what poor is i was once so poor hhat we did not have food for days only water i have four childer and three grand i teach them how hard life is with no food and a place to sleep

]]> By: josue http://www.travelblogs.com/articles/the-cost-of-being-poor-costa-rica-vs-the-usa/comment-page-1#comment-25221 josue Mon, 28 Dec 2009 04:02:02 +0000 #comment-25221 to dl. you need to go and spend some serious time in san jose. appearently judging by your very much ignorant comment, you think that you have to spend hours trying to find pictures of children sleeping in the street. that is so common here at home that we don't even have to take pictures of it. you americans do because it's so "impressing." how about you go live in leon xiii and see what happens to people like you over there. no, seriously, next time you go to san jose please do me a favor and spend your time in leon XIII or perhaps la Carpio up in pavas. I'm from Pavas, and i know what im talking about. to dl. you need to go and spend some serious time in san jose. appearently judging by your very much ignorant comment, you think that you have to spend hours trying to find pictures of children sleeping in the street. that is so common here at home that we don’t even have to take pictures of it. you americans do because it’s so “impressing.” how about you go live in leon xiii and see what happens to people like you over there. no, seriously, next time you go to san jose please do me a favor and spend your time in leon XIII or perhaps la Carpio up in pavas. I’m from Pavas, and i know what im talking about.

]]> By: erick http://www.travelblogs.com/articles/the-cost-of-being-poor-costa-rica-vs-the-usa/comment-page-1#comment-23031 erick Wed, 02 Dec 2009 03:53:04 +0000 #comment-23031 que tal si comparamos las sociedades,nosotros los ticos ,tratamos de educar a nuestros hijos no se las damos a babysister,los llevamos a la iglesia todos los sabados y domingos,no los llevamos a chuckechesse.pagamos lo que tenemos y no vivimos teniendo todo lo que no hemos pagado siendo exclavos de uncle sam ,tenemos una cultura diganme cual es el nombre de la suya,miramos a la gente a los ojos al caminar por la calle,no bajamos la mirada,no miramos colores en las escuelas solo amiguitos de salon,no le tememos a nuestros policias pues todos somos iguales,no vemos a viejitos de 80 aun manejando para pagar impuestos,no tenemos que comprar hasta una acetaminofen en el cvs despues de pagar la visita al doctor,tratamos a los extranjeros con respeto y dignidad no preguntamos si son americanos o no pues siempre son bienvenidos,deberian de usar todos sus millones de dolares para educar a su sociedad y aprender un poquito de nuestra pobre pero educada costa rica,oh y si no me equivoco el que escribio el articulo es tan educado que nisiquiera habla este idioma y cientos de nosotros hablamos mas de tres. que tal si comparamos las sociedades,nosotros los ticos ,tratamos de educar a nuestros hijos no se las damos a babysister,los llevamos a la iglesia todos los sabados y domingos,no los llevamos a chuckechesse.pagamos lo que tenemos y no vivimos teniendo todo lo que no hemos pagado siendo exclavos de uncle sam ,tenemos una cultura diganme cual es el nombre de la suya,miramos a la gente a los ojos al caminar por la calle,no bajamos la mirada,no miramos colores en las escuelas solo amiguitos de salon,no le tememos a nuestros policias pues todos somos iguales,no vemos a viejitos de 80 aun manejando para pagar impuestos,no tenemos que comprar hasta una acetaminofen en el cvs despues de pagar la visita al doctor,tratamos a los extranjeros con respeto y dignidad no preguntamos si son americanos o no pues siempre son bienvenidos,deberian de usar todos sus millones de dolares para educar a su sociedad y aprender un poquito de nuestra pobre pero educada costa rica,oh y si no me equivoco el que escribio el articulo es tan educado que nisiquiera habla este idioma y cientos de nosotros hablamos mas de tres.

]]> By: Dwyane http://www.travelblogs.com/articles/the-cost-of-being-poor-costa-rica-vs-the-usa/comment-page-1#comment-22344 Dwyane Wed, 25 Nov 2009 21:44:23 +0000 #comment-22344 Well interesting column-Since I live here in the Us and am Disabled and I guess you might say on the poor side versis when I was able to work was rich-I like it here and the prices here as with every were go up and down snd \I'm not starving and do get a good steak once a week plus god health care. I've hit a pot hole or two on the roads but \i'd say there in good shapee overall. Nope No Crying here and I hope not for the rest of you folks as well. Be Coolllllllllllll DB Well interesting column-Since I live here in the Us and am Disabled and I guess you might say on the poor side versis when I was able to work was rich-I like it here and the prices here as with every were go up and down snd \I’m not starving and do get a good steak once a week plus god health care.
I’ve hit a pot hole or two on the roads but \i’d say there in good shapee overall.
Nope No Crying here and I hope not for the rest of you folks as well.
Be Coolllllllllllll
DB

]]> By: Jay Man http://www.travelblogs.com/articles/the-cost-of-being-poor-costa-rica-vs-the-usa/comment-page-1#comment-16973 Jay Man Thu, 27 Aug 2009 18:06:10 +0000 #comment-16973 For all you who think Costa Rica isn't a 3rd world country... My Wife is a Tica who lived in a two bedroom home, with the back yard converted into two more rooms. Wood palates for flooring, and random sheets of ply wood for a roof. More than 12 people lived in that home. Not all of Costa Rica is warm and sunny either... She lived in the mountains, were temperatures reach as low as 60 degrees (F) in winter months. I'm not trying to paint a "Woe is Me" picture " Lala72... The fact is, there are a lot of extremely low income families in Costa Rica, but I would take living in their culture any day of the week over our materialistic ideals... "DL"... There isn't one bit of truth to his comment... <strong>Moderator's note: Post edited to remove personal insults </strong> For all you who think Costa Rica isn’t a 3rd world country… My Wife is a Tica who lived in a two bedroom home, with the back yard converted into two more rooms. Wood palates for flooring, and random sheets of ply wood for a roof. More than 12 people lived in that home.

Not all of Costa Rica is warm and sunny either… She lived in the mountains, were temperatures reach as low as 60 degrees (F) in winter months.

I’m not trying to paint a “Woe is Me” picture ” Lala72… The fact is, there are a lot of extremely low income families in Costa Rica, but I would take living in their culture any day of the week over our materialistic ideals…

“DL”… There isn’t one bit of truth to his comment…

Moderator’s note: Post edited to remove personal insults

]]> By: wimora http://www.travelblogs.com/articles/the-cost-of-being-poor-costa-rica-vs-the-usa/comment-page-1#comment-16827 wimora Mon, 24 Aug 2009 06:48:24 +0000 #comment-16827 ja ja, los ticos ya ni siquiera necesitamos defendernos, de las burradas que nos inventan. Lo que no recuerdo es cuando fuimos a buscar trabajo a Nicaragua ja ja, los ticos ya ni siquiera necesitamos defendernos, de las burradas que nos inventan.

Lo que no recuerdo es cuando fuimos a buscar trabajo a Nicaragua

]]> By: Fanci Pantalones http://www.travelblogs.com/articles/the-cost-of-being-poor-costa-rica-vs-the-usa/comment-page-1#comment-14711 Fanci Pantalones Fri, 17 Jul 2009 19:05:06 +0000 #comment-14711 Thank you Daniel. I am so sick and tired of people just shooting off their mouths about Nicaraguans, before even researching the history of when most Costa Ricans immigrated to Nicaragua for better jobs. Many people have the habit of blaming the Nica's for everything before looking at the problems within Costa Rica. Thank you Daniel. I am so sick and tired of people just shooting off their mouths about Nicaraguans, before even researching the history of when most Costa Ricans immigrated to Nicaragua for better jobs. Many people have the habit of blaming the Nica’s for everything before looking at the problems within Costa Rica.

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