www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Anyone have any thoughts on this vote today? An interesting read.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071007/ap_ ... free_trade

1life2live

Interesting:

"It won't work for Costa Rica because to date things have been fine, we don't need change. The deal would only help the government, because the agricultural sector would be 100 percent affected because we can't compete," said strawberry farmer Luis Alfaro.

I just don't get this argument. With the exception of rice (Which is a big deal in CR), agricultural products are a lot cheaper in CR. I go to the farmers market and pay $1.50 for a large to-go tray full of strawberries.

Check out the link below



https://costaricaticas.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=19502

The TSE (Supreme Elections Tribunal) has promised to release preliminary results some time tonight. Final results might take 4 or 5 days to be tabulated. If the result is a close as the last presidential election it could take longer.

_________________
Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

Just Curious---If the vote is a RESOUNDING "NO" will that have any impact on the willingness of foreigners (not just Americans) to invest in property in Costa Rica, and in turn soften up the real estate market or will it all blow over in a few months and things will be business as usual?

UPDATE 2-Costa Ricans wait in line to vote on US trade deal

SAN JOSE, Costa Rica, Oct 7 (Reuters) - Costa Ricans stood in long lines to vote on a free-trade deal with the United States on Sunday in a referendum that has split the Central American nation like no other issue in decades.

Opponents fear the Central American Free Trade Agreement, or CAFTA, will weaken the country's prized welfare system, among the strongest in Latin America.

Supporters, led by Nobel peace laureate President Oscar Arias, say Costa Rica needs to open its economy more since it is a small country with few natural resources.

Cars with "yes" and "no" flags fluttering from their windows honked their horns as they drove by busy polling stations.

Lines of people waiting to vote reached 50 yards (45 metres) at some polling stations, suggesting strong turnout. In last year's presidential election, few Costa Ricans had to stand in line to vote.

"As a mother who has Ch*ldren, there are a lot of opportunities (with free trade), more possibilities for the country to grow," said Liliana Cespedes, owner of a small gym.

Polling stations were due to close at 6 p.m. local time (8 p.m. EDT) (0000 GMT). Continued... http://www.reuters.com/article/bondsNew ... geNumber=2
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"If I lived each day as if it were my last I would have been dead a long time ago." - Traylor Park

If someone has the time and inclination. The story on the rice production, consumption and how the US underwrites US farmers and it effect on the price of Costa Rican rice is and excellent read.


Basically the US pays US farmers to sell rice to Costa Rica and undercuts the Costa Rican farmer to the point that a few years ago the Costa Rican farmer couldn't even make a buck growing the largest domestically consumed farm item in the country...there's a lot more and worth a little internet searching

The Costa Rica gov. has controlled the retail price of rice, along with beans and a few other basic food items for years. The rice farmers have been price controlled by the gov. and not the imports. Tom

As of about 9:15 the vote is 51.6% si, 48.4 no. As far as I can understand it looks like this is with 85% of the votes counted. I wonder if they used Diebold machines?

Get ready for lots of farmer's daughters, fellow mongers.

_________________
"The only normal people are those you don't know very well." Joe Ancis

an interesting site


http://www.costaricapages.com/blog/cost ... esults/273



Reuters is also reporting as of 10:41 PM EST Cafta will pass

http://www.reuters.com/article/bondsNew ... 0620071008

A Tico Employee of mine that works in the US called and told me how happy he is that it passed. His sister built a small house in a neighborhood that does not receive cell phone signal is still waiting for a land line. Her son has a medical condition so she can not move in because she needs to be able to call an ambulance in an emergency. He thinks TLC passing will help. I really don't have a big opinion . I'm in CR to bang Chicas.

These numbers appear consistent with the polling results released last week, showing "Si" by a 2.5% margin. It was the margin of error that made it a crapshoot (3%).

Ciaociao

The early results are surprising. From what I read the early results would be heavily influenced by the vote from the central valley were the anti CAFTA voters (ICE, CAJA, INS, etc workers) had the most influence. The rural vote from Limon, Guancaste, etc which were less influenced by the government workers was expected to counted later and tend to more pro CAFTA.

If that analysis was accurate and the early vote shows a yes vote then it would seem that CAFTA passed. Then the battle will move to the legislative branch where the opposition has promised to try to stall and disrupt the passage of the necessary legislation to implement CAFTA. This in spite of it was the opposition to CAFTA who called for a binding referendum originally.

Got to love politicians What they said yesterday has no meaning today. Calling Senator Graig

_________________
Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

It looks like it passed. It again proves the truism that the candidate who spends the most money wins.

The Si campaign spent 15 times as much as the No side, or so I have read.

Money talks and public opinion can be influenced by wads of cash.

Better stock up on generic viagra because soon it will unavailible .