Comments on: Solis: Corruption is the cause of the country’s problems

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 12:33:47 +0000

This guy is one of them, and he just figured it out. A sad state…

By: Alvaro Sandoval Castro

Alvaro Sandoval Castro — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 23:18:37 +0000

what % of revenue collected does he believe goes into the “pockets” of government. all ticos believe politicos help themselves. I believe “taxarica” has had enough tax increases. just time all the money accounted for and where in society it’s distributed.

By: Richard Philps

Richard Philps — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 22:33:38 +0000

Corruption arises from the class structured society that exists in Costa Rica. Only the wealthy, or ruling class have the power and positions of authority in Government, or otherwise, which are allocated on a “Who you know”, and not “What you know” basis. This leads to the incompetence and inefficiency in decision making that we are experiencing with all Administrations in Costa Rica, the current one exceeding most. The lower classes in Costa Rican Society accept this class structure as a fact and their lot in life to be controlled by the upper class, with little, or no chance of themselves having upward mobility. The only way to break this chain of corruption is to have more qualified Naturalized Costa Ricans involved in Government and in positions of authority, that don’t have these inbred (family) class ties. Only then will there be a chance for fair, impartial, and competent decision making, free of corrupt practices linked to these historical class ties of native Costa Ricans.

By: Ken Morris

Ken Morris — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 20:48:42 +0000

Let’s not miss the elephant in the room, folks. Solis has alleged that some government ministers hold their positions through blackmail. Since they are aware of the crimes of the president or his/her party and can blow the whistle anytime, they demand cushy ministerial posts and then do (or not do) anything they want in them. This is a HUGE ALLEGATION that must not be ignored. If Solis is right, he has just explained why the top level of government so often appears to be a game of musical chairs in which the same people keep holding various top-level positions, despite being obviously unqualified and often incompetent. If he is wrong, he has just pulled a McCarthy stunt and should be run out of town on a rail. This charge needs to be thoroughly investigated.

By: William M. Nearhoff

William M. Nearhoff — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 18:33:37 +0000

I agree with most of what he says, but quick so much on still increasing taxes. Again they need to look at the high salaries and benefits that all government employees receive and start with that. Lower expenses not continue to spend like fools.

By: Marcel M. Pfister

Marcel M. Pfister — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 17:33:36 +0000

In all due respect to Otton Solis but he didn’t exactly present the country with a forward-looking vision. His view of Costa Rica is mainly an agrarian and self-sufficienty economy. This is hardly a blueprint for future success and in no way emulates countries the likes of the Republic of Korea. Corruption most definitely is a major problem in Costa Rica and most other Latin American countries but Costa Rica is also structurally deficient. Voters should be able to re-elect a successful president for another four year term, if they wish so. Limiting every administration to four years from the very onset simply creates a culture of short-termism. There is no clear system of checks and balances and the executive, legislative and judicial branches are not sufficiently separate in their liberties and actions. Furthermore the country needs a new constitution, cutting all formal ties with the Roman Catholic Church or, for that matter, any other religious organization.

By: Marcel M. Pfister

Marcel M. Pfister — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 17:33:35 +0000

Nonsense. Singapore’s success is the vision of a Confucian society based on the model developed by the country’s founder, Lee Kwan Yew. The flat tax was intoduced decades after Singapore had become a successful Asian Tiger Economy and an emerging market.

By: Dave Playfair

Dave Playfair — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 16:18:37 +0000

Classic politics is to point out the obvious infering that you have a solution, then do exactly what you were “against”. Neverending story.. I think the protests are going to get worse though…

By: Bill Nemecek

Bill Nemecek — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 16:03:34 +0000

Corruption in government? Really? It’s a problem?

By: Paradise Fractions

Paradise Fractions — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 16:03:34 +0000

And in other BREAKING NEWS. Water is WET and FIRE BURNS!