Seriously good comments on this article.

Yes, Moondoggy. Take care of Land, Earth. "She" is "momma", so take good care of "her".

And we don't need to own land to cultivate food. People can go out to fields of wild grasses not used by anyone, dig up some of that grass, and plant some crops. Not all municipalities would allow this, some will act like they're run by assh*oles and destroy the crops, but people can still try using such vacant land that's only growing wild grasses. That doesn't damage or destroy trees, bushes, ...; it's just grass fields.

The reader comments in this page are a bit of a confusing for info. or views on Costa Rica, though. peaceworker writes favourably of CR, but other people wrote unfavourably. peaceworker says he or she has been living in CR since 1994, so I tend to believe him or her over or more than the others; but are the others wholly mistaken about CR of today?

I am a retired US citizen living in Costa Rica for about 10 years. I first came here on a Peace Conference in 1994 and was impressed by the people we met in government, Quakers who had developed the cloud forest in Monteverde, and others, including a former president who came in his shirt sleeves and talked to us for 2 hours. The current president, Oscar Arias, comes to the salon I go to, without security, and gets his hair cut.

I have seen changes discussed by some of the other commenters, and agree that there are some areas which have gotten worse. But, in general, more of the roads are good, (and they are constantly working on them) the climate is very pleasant, the prices are still good (Ticos don't beg you to buy) and the people I have contact with are some of the most responsible and helpful I have ever met. I have had people go out of their way in so many ways, and only smile and say "Mucho gusto" which is their better way of saying "You're welcome" or "my pleasure" than De Nada, or "It was nothing".

The taxis here are very affordable and they don't charge by how many people ride. If you tip, they smile and act surprised, and the tips in restaurants are already added in, at 10% so if you get great service, you can add to it, but I have never had any waiter frown if I didn't or couldn't do it.

The fact that there is no military attracted me, since I spent years working as Director of the Dallas Peace center, and knew that I would be more accepted here than in Texas, as a general rule. They do have universal health care, and my maid is able to go to her clinic and was diagnosed with diabetes, and has numerous follow ups with medications, all covered under the small fee she pays a month. Being a gringa, I use a private hospital CIMA, which is a sister to Baylor in Dallas, and have had excellent care. The prices are so much more affordable (for instance, an MRI for $400) with new equipment, that I get reimbursed by my insurance, but could still afford it, comparing it with airfare and other expenses to go back to the States for every thing. When I broke my shoulder in the States, it didn't heal as is should, and my Dr. here said I should go back for another surgery, since he didn't do that extensive a procedure. He was honest, and I appreciated it, although I didn't want to go back. (I ended up with a total shoulder replacement)/

The main thing that has been hard to watch is the increased number of firearms which have made their way into the country. The marital spats that used to cause bruises, now often end up killing. The increased drug trafficking from Colombia to Mexico through Costa Rica is putting a strain on the police, who are not paid a lot, and don't always have the experience in dealing with this level of violence.
But the government is working on the problem, tightening the laws for gun possession and working with the police in the communities to have the local people feel more empowered.

I knows this sounds like a overblown opinion, but I am also aware of the trash problem, the potholes, the increase in armed robberies, the lack of money to equip every school with the latest technology, but the fact that there is no military budget helps to fund the social programs here that work. And, there IS still a cottage industry here, with many people who live behind their stores, or restaurants, or pharmacies, especially in the rural areas and on the roads, where you can get an excellent meal and fresh fruit all year.

When I consider that Costa Rica has had an immigration from Nicaragua of 1 million, after the Contra Wars, and increased the population of Costa Rica from 3 million to 4 million, I am amazed at how the social services, healthcare and education has stretched itself to incorporate these refugees who fled with no job, no skills and little hope. They are very hard working people, and do mostly menial work or act as security guards, but they fill a need and can support their families now. And their children are in school, giving the families a chance at a future.

Anyway, come and see what can be done with less money and more "Pura Vida"!

I'll go now and see what's on CNN.

I guess I'd better close now and see what's on CNN.

Costa Rica's lack of an army gives it big advantages in terms of social spending and environmental protection, while in the US the military takes up half of GDP when all support is factored in. With no military, CR has thrived as other militarized countries around it declined. These have recently taken a left turn to become less dependent on foreign capital while providing improved social conditions.

Growth dependent business and exports makes CR vulnerable. Green tourism, agricultural exports and increasing population growth are at odds with each other. Immigration rates per area there are probably higher than in the US.

However, education is the key to population stabilization and Costa Rica has plowed the money it saves on armies into education and other vital social needs like healthcare. Better educated countries like CR have better wealth and power distribution.

Jared Diamond's studies have shown that isolated ancient sustainable societies kept the population density within the carrying capacity of an area through inter-tribal warfare and infanticide.

Others like the Maya and Easter Islanders perished when their population density exceeded the carrying capacity of the land, in the end often resorting to cannibalism. Fortunately, today's humane birth control methods preclude these ancient means of population control.

America's oligarchs want to keep people ignorant, frightened, drunk, propagandized, fighting among themselves, making war on poorer countries and on the edge, working so hard to survive they will have no time for protesting their government or demanding social benefits and human rights. And like other fallen empires, America's imperialistic and growth obsessions including population growth for cheaper labor, will be it's downfall.

I'd be willing to bet people live longer in France, Sweden, and Germany than they do in the Netherlands with their newly privatized health care. With Costa Rica, it's doing well for a Third World country, but with the poverty common to Third World countries, that wouldn't make it all that livable. It's social safety net wouldn't come close to that of industrialized countries, and thus it would have a higher crime rate, and surely be a more dangerous country to live in similar to the USA, which has no excuse of poverty, but just prostituted politicians to blame for its mess.

The USA has a well built prostituteacracy. Those with the money are the pimps who buy off the politicians to get what they want.

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I all depends on what the definition of happiness is according to this group. I lived in Costa Rica for 2 years and made many "Tico" friends. The time I lived there which was in 73 & 74 things were much different that they are today. It reminds me of what happened to Hawaii in the 80's. Too much development and the locals were and are very resentful. The same thing is true with Costa Rica. The Government there likes to put a good face on for the rest of the world but there are many cracks in the facade. Tourism and overdevelopment can ruin any place over time.

THis makes me weant to look up the types of industry or production that exists in Costa Rica.
I had a friend back in the late eigthies early ninties that went there for some months at a time- brought me back the best coffee I ever had. He loved the climate and he wanted to go live there some day. I think he ended up in California.
Any way, if only we could adopt more cottage industry type situations. People would be working from home. You could have real communities, with what you needed in yours. If there was something lacking, you could go to the next door communities to find, it. Maybe bartering would come back.
Yeah, I know this sounds like i'm delusional. No, I don't have all the answers. But, this scenario should be part of what we ultimately come up with.

Yet, it doesn't look like we will, at least not in time.
the MIC will make sure of that, along with the monster corporations.

When I was young, I fell for the faster life. It seemed anathema to me to sit on a farm,(which I grew up on) and while, the days away,(that's what it would have felt like to me).
When more and more stores stayed open on Sunday, that was great too. Then I moved to Long island and would go to Manhattan quite a bit. This seemed right- reach for the golden ring. My life sped faster and faster. I, however never did go full force into "the madness" as some, not even close. I was just faster than the people I left.
I thought, it was the right thing to do. Be responsible.I was seeking an education and a better life. But we get brainwashed by the consumer culture, in so many ways.
When I see commercials, now, I am so sickened by the fake "caring. Many have adopted the current changes, such as Americans saving money instead of buying etc. and made cute little commercials. Another is the trying to convince us that oil is green and coal is clean. The banks,too have their new saying " a bank should know too, referring to how kids can through a scam. I see through these commercials so easy now. Of course, one always had a somewhat critical eye on them, but now you see even deeper into how they pick up on what the collective has figured out, the understating of the day and turn it back on us. They use even that to scam us with funny cutsie pie or "truthful" commercials.
I've been very nostalgic lately and even had a dream about the fields and the sun that shone on them in my childhood.
Maybe I'm rambling on here but.. I hope some of you can find a point here.

As it happens, I have just returned from a 10-day tour of Costa Rica, and my personal observations would only partially support the conclusions of Costa Rica as a "happiest" country. True, the "ecological footprint" is relatively small; one notices small but significant touches like hotels turning off most of their lobby lights at night when not being used. The country has no railroads, but it has few passable roads either, and automobiles are small and relatively rare and bus riders dominate in San Jose. "Free" education is supported and the country has a high literacy rate. It prides itself on having no military (the President says nothing like a Honduran military coup could happen in his country.)

Beside these indications, there are darker features of the human situation in CR. The gap between living standards of workers and middle class is great, and hovel-like housing is seen throughout the country. A predictable consequence of this gap, a high rate of property crimes, is reflected in the ubiquitous bars and barbed wire seen on nearly every house, business and parking lot in San Jose. Only 4% of the country's workers belong to unions, and unionization is staunchy opposed by the "solidarismo" organization at work places of supposed cooperation of workers and owners which amount to "company unions." As the Legislative Assembly debates alteration in the country's Labor Law in response to the International Labor Organization's condemnation of the labor system, businesses are pulling out at least as many stops to prevent any advancement of unions that one is seeing with business organization against the EFCA in the U.S.

One of our tour guides told us that most Costa Ricans are poor but satisfied with their stations in life, and perhaps this is true and for that they should be applauded and perhaps envied. As a local newspaper says about the popularity of solidarismo over unionism in CR, the rejection of union activism is based on the desire of Costa Ricans to "quedar bien" (get along.) It's a question, though, just how long this traditional attitude of putting solidarity over success can survive in a globalizing culture of acquisition and greed, especially as their country is exposed to these latter features of the life styles of the tourists who are now providing the "second largest industry" to this "quaint" country.

See! You take care of the land, and the people are happier! :)
Size really does matter!
Yeah, baby!