What you idiots need to understand is that you can’t walk around in other countries with your uppity American attitude and culture and not make yourself a target. The Jackass who wrote this article needs to go back home and park it on the couch where he can eat his nice, safe, pesticide free TV dinner and shop at Walmart. Catching Geraldo on TV is about as close to Latin America as that wingnut needs to get.

To the Jackass: How dare you malign this beautiful country and wonderful people. Glad you’re gone dude and good riddance. Your bitter whiney little ass is not missed here and BTW…it’s wankers like you that give us “gringos ‘ a bad name.

Anyway, I myself am married to a Tica (a very sultry wench indeed) but have only been to CR once. While there, my wife stressed the importance of vigilant security and as we drove around (during the school day no less) we had young ragamuffins approach her automobile supplicating for coins. Indeed, there are many shotgun toting guards at the banks and it was slightly surprising to see the policia cruising on motorcycles with Uzis strapped to their backs. However, me having the adventurous spirit and always craving excitement, I thoroughly enjoyed my visit and am looking forward to going back. As far as utilizing vigilant security, that is just my own personal manner of living no matter where I am located so for me the lurking danger did not concern me. I doubt we will ever live there or anywhere outside the U.S. With all the shit going on in the world, I consider the good old U.S. of A the safest of countries in which to live, one only needs to select the right area in which to reside and insure that Mr. Colt 1911 and Mr. Remington VERSA MAX Tactical are always locked and loaded for home defense. While on the go I have bring Mr. Glock 21 (don’t leave home without it) for “carry” defense (with mandatory carry permit, naturally). By consistently utilizing my Number 1, rule: “Avoid trouble at ALL times”, I like to think that I have so far successfully not been a victim of crime and I hope it stays that way.

When I returned three years ago there was little left of the Costa Rica I remembered as a child.

They truly gave the Circus to the clowns… !

Lazy, parasitic and spineless is the new social norm.

And I have tried given my "people" the benefit of the doubt.

NO EXCUSE !

Sadly Panama is going down the toilet, lived there too, all of my Panamanian friends have had encounters with crime, including me.

The problems in most SA countries is cultural. Tell a Colombian that the crime rate is high and you will get 3 hours of excuses for the criminals. In the end there are 2 real problems 1 that nobody will take action. "I didn't see anything!" Not surprising given the fact that witnesses tend to get murdered along with lawyers. 2 They aren't harsh enough when they do get a conviction. No capitol punishment and short prison sentences. Add to that the corruption and you have most, if not all, of Central and South America.

Compare them to other really poor places I've lived like China. There you can walk down the street with an expensive camera hanging on your neck even in poor areas of big cities. Your can flag a taxi at 4am without a second thought. Why? Because someone sees everything and the system is very harsh on criminals. Their arrest and conviction rate is much higher than even the US. Hence very little crime even with a population of 1.3 Billion. If it weren't for the crappy weather and the language I would still live in China.