Many Costa Ricans Still Favour CAFTA [opposition up!]

[arcos]

Source: Angus Reid

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Many adults in Costa Rica would like to ratify a pending commerce deal, according to a poll by CID-Gallup. 44 per cent of respondents would vote in favour of ratifying the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) in this year’s referendum.

Conversely, 38 per cent of respondents would vote against the agreement—up six points since April—and 18 per cent are either undecided or would not take part in the plebiscite.

<snip>

On Jul. 25, opposition leader Ottón Solis of the Citizens’ Action Party (PAC) said he wants to renegotiate the deal before ratifying it. Solís claimed that current rules in the agreement would give foreign investors access to independent tribunals, allow imports of subsidized U.S. farm goods that would push local farmers out of work, and hamper existing environmental legislation. Solís referred to the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)—which includes Canada, the U.S. and Mexico—declaring, "If NAFTA has been such a success, then why is the U.S. building a wall along the border with Mexico?"

<snip>

How would you vote in the referendum on the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA)?



Jul. 2007 Apr. 2007

In favour
Jul. 2007 44%
Apr. 2007 45%

Against
Jul. 2007 38%
Apr. 2007 32%

Other / Not sure
Jul. 2007 18%
Apr. 2007 23%

Read more: http://www.angus-reid.com/polls/index.cfm/fuseaction/viewItem/itemID/16682

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It is obviously a very misleading title... Yes, many Costa Ricans still favor CAFTA, but the opposition is gaining ground very quickly. And considering this poll's 3% margin of error, it is a statistical dead heat.

Tomorrow another new poll is coming out, with apparently very positive results for the opposition.

We are being outspent probably 100 to 1 and yet they only keep losing ground. We will defeat CAFTA next October 7!

[Selatius]

1. If they only spent 2 to 1 against the opposition, the pro-CAFTA crowd would be 20 percent at best

Perhaps even worse. The only greater power than corporate power is the people, but the people must marshal themselves awake to deal with it.

[arcos]

2. Exactly!

They're extremely worried, and they don't realize that big money and overspending makes most people get turned off at them... the funny thing is that that's exactly what they do when they're desperate.

Hopefully we are not "peaking too soon"... we still have got 2 months left until the referendum.

[Flanker]

3. Nice for the ticos

nm

[CRH]

5. I have had thoughts of the other side of that coin, ...

with no funding, a part of the No on TLC faction has taken to spray painting on many abandoned buildings, bus shelters, over passes, etc. ; No TLC.

I am a bit afraid this might have a negative impact on some, as there is markedly less of the spray paint mania in this country.

[CRH]

4. Hope you are right ARCOS, ...

every night on channel 7 I see the pro TLC add but never a no/tlc add. I hope this will change as the polling date gets closer.

I talk with a couple of school teachers who are in the door to door campaign of enlightenment, and they say their contacts often change votes. The goal is to visit every house before the referendum.

One can hope it will be enough.

[arcos]

8. This probably will not change...

There's a slight chance a limited run of TV spots will be bought in the next few weeks, but it is still up in the air. It is much too expensive compared to other pressing issues that the campaign has... the grassroots is our strong point, but it also means it is a very decentralized campaign, which can become a weakness.

The good thing as you say, is that the personal contact does change minds, hearts and votes. And the SI doesn't have the thousands of people that are working with the NO campaign.

:hi:

[roody]

6. pateo

[ConservativeDemocrat]

7. Keep dreaming...

Ticos have plenty of experience with Socialist "Paradises" like Nicaragua. How could they not?
All the Nicaraguans are in Costa Rica looking for work (when they're not busy assassinating Costa Rican leaders).

No, all this talk about a "statistical dead heat" is wishful thinking on your part. They're far too
smart to fall under the spell of dictator-wannabes like Chavez.

- C.D. Proud Member of the Reality Based Community

[arcos]

9. LOL!!

Who's talking about socialism?

If you knew anything about current Costa Rican politics you would know that Chávez is very unpopular among the vast majority of the left wing, and this "left wing" here is much more moderate than anywhere else in the continent.

In fact, the biggest opposition party has always supported free trade agreements, and they actually propose that this one should be renegotiated (or should have been, when it was still possible).

[Judi Lynn]

10. Better stop these guys before they give the country away to foreign interests!

Costa Ricans Fear CAFTA Water Costs

San Jose, Aug 1 (Prensa Latina) Environmentalist groups in Costa Rica hold that implementation of the free trade agreement among Central America, the Dominican Republic and the United States will bring about privatization of water in Costa Rica, making it merchandise.

Osvaldo Duran, director of Mundo Verde magazine, agreed with these groups that many communities will be left without water if the transnationals are finally authorized to exploit the supply sources with business objectives, each time more rapidly.

With the agreement, water will become merchandise like any other and will be subject to free market rules: any foreigner or national will be able to buy the lands containing springs and exploit them at will, he said.

The Costa Rican environmental legislation on this issue is not protected in the agreement, thus a foreign company will be able to sue the State in private arbitration if denied permits to settle in the country, the professor said.

~~~~ link ~~~~

[ProudDad]

11. Costa Rica is too nice a place

with too many nice people to get screwed by CAFTA or any other anti-worker crap like it...

Buena suerte, amigo!

[Judi Lynn]

12. Arcos, someone posted an article today concerning Congressional Democrats

turning COMPLETELY away from further Free Trade crap for the moment.

[Judi Lynn]

13. Did you see this article, yet? "As U.S. income stagnates, Democrats reject free trade."

It should be interesting to see if the new resolve in Congress to move away from the CAFTAs will have a large impact on the final choice in Costa Rica. Of course a lot can happen between now and the September referendum, but this just may help, you think?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

WASHINGTON — The Democratic-led Congress won’t give President Bush the special authority he needs to negotiate future free-trade deals. The Senate is moving on retaliatory trade legislation against China. The House of Representatives won’t approve deals with three small neighboring Latin American countries. Global trade talks are near collapse.
(snip/...)

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=2938436#2938473