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The question being asked by almost everyone since the election here in Costa Rica this past Sunday is "ARE WE, THE TOURIST MONGERS, IN TROUBLE WITH LAURA CHINCHILLA AS PRESIDENT?? There are about as many opinions to that question as there are guys with an opinion (and everyone seems to have an opinion).

Truth is; THERE IS ONLY ONE PERSON THAT CAN ANSWER THAT QUESTION AT THE MOMENT! AND SO FAR SHE IS NOT SAYING ANYTHING!!! I personally am not sure she even knows for sure at this moment what she will or can do. I do know from talking with people who are her friends, who have worked closely with her in the government and in her campaign, and who feel the same way she does that if there is anything she (they) can do, SHE WILL)!! There is a large group of monied, old (aristicratic), powerful people in this country that WANT THE REPUTATION AND NAME OF THEIR "BEAUTIFUL" COUNTRY CLEANED UP.

These people obviously carry a lot of weight (they are a big part of the reason she won so easily). They do not look at the loss of tourist income as a problem. Mongering is said to only be 2 & 1/2% of the tourist $$$ in Costa Rica; and a big portion of that leaves the country-over 50% of the 'working chicas' are foreigners sending most of their income back home. They also have no concern for the chicas nor the "support" people working in the "business". There is virtually no social welfare system in this country so several thousand chicas out of work will cost them (individually) nothing. True, this is not really correct in that the (even small percent) loss of inflowing money to the economy and the trickle down effect will affect them at some point. BUT, they are more concerned with the name and appearance (internationally) of their country than the potiental of a small loss of income.

These people are not really concerned with the "TICO" prostitution (Tico MPs, Tico bars, Tico strip clubs). These are places that serve the locals and for the most part keep a very low profil. These people know they would have a very hard time ever outlawing prostitution in this country. What they do want stopped is the GRINGO flaunting his money, his ability to pluck the young chicas here, his being loud and obnoxious, his disregard for their customs and way of life, and their influnce on the high crime rate here!!! They are a proud people who love their country and hate the reputation it has as a "sex tourist destination".

She (they) also know that there are ways (and existing laws) to stop or at least greatly reduce the number of sex tourists from coming here (constant harrasment) without passing a single new law nor having a legislative mandate. Whether she will actually do anything or not is yet to be seen. She has not actually ever said much publically about what if anything she will attempt to do. She has, according to the above sources, stated, priviately and simi-priviately, many times her desire to "clean up" her country.

Again, in my opinion, for what ever that is worth, she is the only one who has the answer to the question and I personally am not sure she even knows at this point what if anything she will do! SHE is the only one who can answer the question, and there is not a thing that we (mongers) can do to change things. All we can do is continue to have fun, enjoy what we have here as long as it lasts (hopefully for ever), and maybe try to calm things down a little; and as DiegoC said, try to be a whole lot less noticeable and obnoxious.

For those that are concerned about their up coming trip to CR, I would not be overly concerned at this point--PURA VIDA--NOTHING MOVES FAST IN THIS COUNTRY AND ESPECIALLY "CHANGE"

The above is just the opinions I have and nothing more!!

When I talked to the ticas about Laura there faces lit up. One tica said "She are only hope"

She did not get the feminist vote because she is not a femiinist. Having fought feminists for quite a while I know one when I hear one. She is a religious fanatic, which means she is far more dangerous to our interests than any feminist.

Unfortunately some people like to call any woman they don't like a feminist.

If CR P4P is outlawed there will be no other place in the northern hemisphere that is relatively safe, clean, legal and cheap to find P4P after a fairly short plane ride. Tickets to CR are a little over $300 and the flight from Baltimore is just under 5 hours. I get on an early flight and I am at the Sportsman before 2pm! CR has fairly low AIDs and STD rates.

Rio is a very long flight and tickets down there are a thousand or more. Rio has one of the highest AIDs rates in the world.
Canada close but not legal and very pricey.
Mexico? Want to get killed?

Junky11: Then go to Medellin, Colombia. The Medillin Mansion-El Castillo double are like a quasi-Sportsmens-lite. I get a warm feeling when I fantasize about Medellin being overun by the Del Rey gringo mongers.