Moving my sons to Costa Rica to escape the Bush military

I recently bought a condo in Costa Rica as a hedge against the rise of Republicanism in America. My two sons will be of draft age in a few years, and both of them (thankfully) are smart enough to refuse to participate in Bush's illegal and immoral wars for profit. If Republicans continue to steal elections and wage bogus wars, my sons plan to move to the condo in Costa Rica when they are 17, or before if necessary. I have already made immigration arrangements for them to be able to stay indefinitely if the need arises. I hate that it has come to this, but I will not send my sons to die for the evil whims of an evil man like George W. Bush or any of his kind. It is my responsibility to protect them from evil, and I have arranged to do exactly that.

Costa Rica has the added bonus of being beautiful and guaranteeing more personal freedoms than we enjoy in America today. I pray that I will be able to continue to live in the US and simply retire there and travel back and forth, but if the Republican party gets its way in this country, I will have no choice but to leave the land of my birth to seek freedom from a tyrannical and repressive government.

Gee, that sounds so familiar - where have I heard that before?

no defense spending means great medical care for all their citizens, good schools and a beautiful place to boot

to stay with family in canada

As long as we keep them safe from the evil of the Republican death machine, that's what counts.

really? wow... What about jobs?

because we have 4 boys and will not let them get drafted for "todays wars".

I have many sleepless nights worrying about their future. Many sleepless nights.

The Costa Rican government will not extradite Americans who seek asylum from the US draft, if it is reinstated. It's beautiful and they enjoy a stable, peaceful government. They're considering making ahcnges to the immigration laws, though, making it harder to get permanent residency. You may want to look into it.

What is it like economically? Is it affordable? Are there good jobs? Can you live a nice middle class lifestyle there?

I probably should know more, but I don't!

Jobs can be found, but it's a different culture, and you would need to have an appropriate skill. It would probably pay a bit less, but you'd need less. They do speak Spanish also, and to live there you'd need to know it. Crime is extremely low, especially outside of San Jose, which has mainly petty crime of the sort most major cities have. Outside San Jose, it is far safer than ANY American city. San Jose is safer tham most US towns, but I don't like San Jose or the Central Valley too much - "gringo gulch" as they call it.

It is affordable, but it's not like Mexico where everything is rock bottom. Gas is higher, but everything else is a good bit less.

You can definitely live a good lifestyle there. Much more laid back. It's not perfect, and it's different from the US, but there are 70,000 Americans living there and the northern Pacific coast is an unbelievably beautiful place.

Plus - monkeys come and hang out in your yard. THAT's cool.

himself!

You have made me excited! It feels good to have alternatives that sound so nice! It doesn't have to be gloom and doom after all!

Thanks for your insight. As a mother, I *really* appreciate it!

BTW,I wanted to read your post about going to F911 armed but it had been deleted...please tell what you said in that post.

Bottom line: I used to write a column for an Atlanta alternative newsweekly, and over the 5 years I wrote it, me and my family received more than 20 death threats from right wingers. So I got a concealed carry permit and I let it be known that I'm not worried about Freepers or other right wing retards protesting F911 for that reason. Apparently, they didn't like the idea of me making it known that I am prepared to protect my family from the Republican psychos who have threatened me, my wife, and my kids with death.

I sent Skip Huston of the Avon theater in Decatur, Illinois a thank you for showing the documentary. (BTW, Skip and my husband know each other fairly well). He emailed me back that he had received several death threats because of his decision to show the film.

My mom is nervous about going to see the film but it won't stop her from going.

WTF is wrong with people?

Why would DU censor that...I realize I'm reading the cleaned up version...did you go too far in your original post or were they overzealous in their censorship? How can anyone be blamed for protecting their family? I'm all for gun control and I do not own a gun but if I were in your shoes I would buy a gun as well.

I'm sure some of the responders did. I didn't threaten to commit any violent act, but I did mention that I had gotten a gun and a permit and I think that must have set off alarm bells or something. No big deal. I just let it go.

But keep them out of 'Gringo Gulch'.

Huh ...

About a previous post of mine.

"I hate that it has come to this, but I will not send my sons to die for the evil whims of an evil man like George W. Bush or any of his kind. It is my responsibility to protect them from evil, and I have arranged to do exactly that."

Isn't the very notion of "evil" an open-ended concept?

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will stay and fight the fascists. After we're finished, are you going to come back?

but I think one has to put family ahead of country.I dont begrudge people who have the money to do this.If I had the money I get my family the hell out of here too (and trust me,I'm so broke I can't even file for bankruptcy...I'm too poor to be poor lol).

You can buy a small house for $30,000. With a 10-year mortgage, that's a super cheap monthly payment.

can fight facism.

If it gets so bad that I have to go down there, it will be because they have won and we have lost. Don't think it cannot happen. I served my country honorably in the US Army and I never went absent from my unit like Bush. I got a REAL honorable discharge. I served my time and I'd fight again for freedom in our country. But we can't underestimate the Republican death machine. They are perfectly willing to start rounding up those of us who dissent and cremating us in ovens.

That's that's just a psycho rant?

Einstein warned that it would happen in Germany when he emigrated to the US in the 1930's, and a prominent academic told him he was brilliant, but delusional.

Turns out he was brilliant and correct.

It really is a paradise.

The only drawback is not a lot of job opportunity--if your sons are nearing their maturity this may be something to consider.

But I would retire there in a heartbeat.

Costa Rica is a paradise geographically and politically and has been on my short list of exile destinations for some time. Lately, I've begun to examine the list more closely, however.

How many days would San Jose stand againt BushCo if the regime decided to take it? "They're harboring terrorists and have contacts with Al Qaeda." I say less than three days. I'd wager Haliburton would have the detention facilities built inside a week.

Some friends are planning on going to New Zealand, which is a fantastic country, but the same problem exists.

I've begun to think that the European Union is the world's only hope for effectively resisting the Bush Doctrine should they steal another election. The EU has the strength to resist and resistance is in their best interests.

I don't think we can escape the negative influence of the regime in a country as small as CR. The regime has to be stopped. I think I'll stay in the US and fight as long as possible.

Costa Rica is the diplomatic capital of Latin America. No terrorists, no possibility of there being any, no way. Doesn't mean Bush wouldn't lie as you suggest, but factually, it would be like declaring the Pope to be the leader of al-Qaeda and launching cruise missles at St. Peter's. If Bush attacks Costa Rica, that proud nation (where most homes have a gun) will fight to the last man and woman, and I'll gladly fight alongside them.

I would give them HOURS at their stand against Bushco. :(

Crime is high though. You have to be careful. Never leave things in your car that can be seen....they will break a window to steal it. Use common sense wherever you go. We were scammed by the crooked cops. They look for rental cars, pull them over for no reason and wait for you to pay them some bribe money. That happened to us twice just outside of San Jose. Keep your doors locked at all times at home or in your hotel and NEVER leave things you don't want to be stolen in your hotel room.

Costa Rica was going to be our retirement paradise...but, Panama is looking pretty good. Costa Rica is now more expensive than Panama. Panama's cost of living is now like what Costa Rica's was 10-15 years ago. That's another option. Panama.

I talked a friend and her boyfriend into going to Costa Rica for a vacation and their car was broken into and all their personal belongings were stolen. So, just BE AWARE at all times. :hi:

Sorry that happened - I've never experienced anything like that in several months on the ground. But, past performance is no guarantee of future results.

Especially Colon and some Panama City neighborhoods. Colon's an especially tough place.

Chiriqui Province though is as close to paradise as it gets. So is the former Canal Zone. The real trick is finding employment, unless you're self sufficient or retiring there. Gone are the days when us gringos could hire on with the Panama Canal Commission.

We have not visited Panama yet. I've only read about it being the "new" Costa Rica.

some businesses fly Costa Rica flags along with American and Irish flags (we've got a lot of summertime IRish kids).

So Costa Rica will be filled with Americans taking their jobs (bizarre twist). Or Americans wealthy enough to afford stuff many Costa Ricans can't.

One wonders why parents with kids don't start moving towards establishing a record of Conscientous Objector.

Example, have kids go to demonstrations and take photos, write letters to editor, letters to Congress critters, speak with local clergy or guidance counselor.

Running away is not an anwer. What happens if Americans become targets in Central & South America? They'll be hogging all the good jobs and taking what little resources exist.

in Costa Rica that a Costa Rican can fill.

Other than opening a business, I don't know what
kinds of jobs an American could do that a Costa
Rican couldn't.

Oh, and another perk of living there that hasn't
been mentioned yet...the food is divine and so are
the people. I asked an offhand question to a waiter
about his mother's Arroz con Pollo and the next day
there was a written recipe waiting for me at his
restaurant.