Thoughts communism and socialism

There has always been an idea that left, communism and socialism is bad. It will change the government or start a new government order. I'm a big fan of latinamerica history specially in what I like to call the trembling years and the not so cold war, it wasn't cold at all and there are plenty examples through latinamerica but I will not enter in details here on who was the good or evil.

I would like to share some of the benefits that we earn from previous social fights and how can that relate to what it is happening in Venezuela, Nicaragua and some other examples. If you have been following my blog you might know that my wife was pregnant and that it got complicated a bit, and I will take advantage to explain a bit the social security and retirement funds management we have in Costa Rica, it is not perfect but it is still working so I guess it is somehow sustainable in the short/mid term and hopefully it will get better for long term sustainability(even tho its success has been at risky not because of the system but more because of lack of management by the Costa Rican government but that itself is a whole other post).

The health system, pension and aging and death is structure in the following way. No matter how much you earn you will be deducted a 9% (not its 9.something% I cannot recall) and your employer will pay 21% of your salary to the system, this funds will cover your sick licenses, maternity, surgeries and pretty much everything. Once you reach the retirement age you will be given your pension that will probably be around 60% of what you were used to get in the last 8 years of your active life and then the average will be used to calculate your pension. This one is called obligatory pension. You can start as many extra/optional or volunteer saving funds for retirement to supplement the amount.

How can you get into the system?

Once you start working legally you will be part of the system and there is nothing you have to do, in fact the one that has to do everything is your employer and if he refuses to do it, fees and other charges will apply. Once you are born and until you get your ID you are part of the system by your parents funds, if you keep on studying you will get the benefit to be in the system until you reach 25 years.

You belong to the State or government

Remember how I was talking about socialism, communism etc. Well this healthcare system was designed in a sort of lefty/socialist movement and it was then negotiated by the Catholic Church to be respected in the 1948 civil and last armed conflict in Costa Rica, the same year the winning side (right/liberal party) abolished the army/military or armed forces in Costa Rica. Every new born is treated as part of the State, is an asset of the government and it will try to make the best out of it and that is why they can actually take you away from your relatives if they are not doing a good job taking care of you. This is pretty communist/socialist and I'm ok with that, it is something that has also been built on our brains and we are comfortable with it.

It is not always bad

I remember talking with Cubans when I visited that beautiful country from where Costa Rica share a lot of common things and I'm so happy that it has stopped looking back in anger (The song: don't look back in anger came to mind) and now is moving forward showing good signs of getting a refreshment of their management structure and I really hope it will be for the best. I was asked once by a Cuban, how does it feel to live insecure? I was shocked by the answer and the fact that it has been one of the places I've felt the most secure in my whole life was really mind blowing. Sadly Costa Rica has became insecure and the crime rate is shocking high (...... but not as high compare to ... the idiots and mediocres comparison) but that is true, Cubans do not have to worry about being robbed or to get sick or to not have enough money to pay for healthcare. On the same conversation, the guys dream was to own an iPhone and have fast mobile internet.

It is possible to move forward

Seeing the whole problem in Venezuela and the news in Nicaragua seems so 80's or 90's. That should be over, I really hope the entities will try to make the process work and the best for the country will prevail no matter what they decide. Problem is not the left or right alignment is the power itself and the lack of commitment for the peoples common good. I'm not saying Costa Rica is better than any other country and we do suffer the new decease of mis use of money and high scale robbery in the elite that controls the power. New scandals usually link more than one country and the same old bastards that use to steal money from the people now steal money from the public funds, stealing not just the people but their future.

Anyways I need to go and I wish to be able to see brighter news in the coming days.

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