As we head out to observe the voting on the CAFTA referendum, it seems appropriate to compare the state of democracy in the U.S. with that of Costa Rica.  We have only been here a short time, but we've received an intensive course in Costa Rican history and politics.  It has become obvious from this instruction that we in the U.S. have much to learn, if we are to prevent the complete dissolution of the few semblances of democracy which remain in our country.

            We quickly learned that the referendum campaign has included a permanent and massive campaign of fear mongering from the Costa Rican and U.S. governments and a large segment of the corporate sector here.  There are many examples of this operation. 

By Jessica Walker Beaumont, Alliance for Responsible Trade

October 6, 2007 - the eve before the first ever referendum on a trade agreement

    As the US-Peru Free Trade Agreement goes through Congress at a rapid pace with little resistance from the very same Democrats who so adamantly took a stand against the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA), I am honored to be in Costa Rica to witness a vivacious grassroots movement likely to stop CAFTA's ratification in tomorrow's referendum.  The US movement against CAFTA was not insignificant with a near defeat to the trade pact-passing by just two votes in July 2005.  However, the rapid rate at which it dissipated is an indicator that the effort failed to include grassroots groups in shaping a strategy that can be sustained by a broad spectrum of movements. 

            The scandal that broke yesterday around the funding of the campaign of President Arias provides yet another insight into what is at stake in the referendum on CAFTA.  In 1948 major reforms of the constitution created a system that guaranteed free, universal access to basic services; health care, education and social security.  Part of this reform includes the notion that access to a decent house, electric and telephone service should be considered basic human rights.  A widespread internalizing of these beliefs has preserved this system in the face of permanent efforts by powerful actors to dismantle the structures which are the base of the model.

            We headed out of the office at 7am, destination San Carlos, a city about 120 kilometers from San Jose. In addition to giving the delegation a splendid tour, the purpose was to take the latest flyers and stickers to offices there and around the province of Alejuela.  By the end of the day we would feel, up close, the energy of popular participation in this David and Goliath struggle. 

    Costa Rica is buzzing with ‘referendum fever.’  It is lit up almost as if there were a presidential election.  Because Costa Rica has relatively strong institutions, one of which is the Electoral Tribunal, it is possible to have some idea of which side of this life or death debate has had the most funding.  Of the $58,000,000. which has been spent on the campaign only about $4,000,000. has been spent by the people who oppose the referendum.  It is known that the U/S/ Embassy has poured generous quantities of money into the campaign for passing of the referendum.  (This is increasingly their notion of ‘foreign aid’)