The government of Costa Rica is guilty of corruption on many counts.

Currently, the government is purposely gouging American tourists (and other tourists and residents) regarding the US dollar exchange. Tourists and residents who have income coming from the US are being treated totally unfairly, since, they have dropped the exchange unbelievably low in less than two months! How low? Since December the value of $100 US is a whopping $10 US less! That is totally unheard of. Bank tellers have agreed that the government is doing it purposely to get more from Americans and other tourists and residents who use the US dollar. If the CR government keeps this up it would be better to stay in the US all year round. The government needs a little slap on the wrist and a few words that indicate that Americans (and other tourists and residents) are not going to be abused without fighting back. Maybe warning people to not travel to CR due to the corruption would help the government to play fair?

ICE is another corrupt part of the government. They have stole from us on more than one occasion. We have been without internet and without phone, and they are making us pay, despite the fact that we filed complaints, and despite the fact that ICE repair people have come out and admitted that problems have occurred in San Jose. Yet, on their reports they have lied by saying that we have a computer problem. Well, the problem was fixed without their touching our computers. Both of our computers were fine.

Of course, the legal system is corrupt in Costa Rica, and anyone who has experienced it will verify that fact. Guilty people need only pay the government in most cases.

The government is taking so much money from imported goods, that the prices in stores are totally unbelievable! On a $12 item in Costa Rica, the exact same item can be purchased for $7 US. The inflation is incredible, and the government is subsequently at fault for the rise in crime rates.

Immigration laws have changed so that only very rich people can become residents and citizens. Their immigration system is based SOLELY on money. If you own a $300 000 home you can have your residency. If you have money to own a business, now you have to be in a “supervisory role” so that Costa Ricans can take part in the money. The entire immigration system bears the marks of corruption.

I want to mention that Costa Rica is not the “green” country that travel writers and others have promoted it to be. The people are filthy and throw garbage all over the streets, and my hundreds of Costa Rican friends admit it. They have no respect for the country at all. They have almost no recycling here. The country is in big trouble in the near future regarding air quality. The US has managed to make some type of agreement to ship down many new diesel pick-ups, vans, and cars. The country already has more than enough diesel with the large diesel trucks from Coca Cola and so forth, and with the very large number of buses to transport people. In the US we call diesel filthy gasoline. Why not sell it to Costa Rica and other countries because we do not want it in the US—is the attitude of the US government and the auto manufacturers.

Yes, they have some national parks, but that does not make them a “green” country, and especially when you consider everything else in the country. For those who disagree, I suggest that you live in Costa Rica and see what it is like. Not the rainforest, but live in Alajuela, live in San Jose, and live in Heredia.

This country is getting more dangerous every year. No Costa Rican will deny it.

The standard of living for many will improve, but not the poor. This is Costa Rica’s problem. Crimes will increase, and increase against non-Costa Ricans.