Costa Rica

Costa Rica’s Nicaragua Problem

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This cartoon originally ran in The Costa Rica Star on August 3, 2018.

The violence in Nicaragua, which isn’t a civil war, is sending thousands of refugees into Costa Rica. Costa Rica is accepting them.

At the beginning of the month, over 23,000 refugees from Nicaragua were seeking asylum in Costa Rica. They’re not being turned away but the nation is being overwhelmed. Still, no baby jails or families being torn apart. No comments from the president about not wanting anyone from “shithole countries.” No howls about changing demographics and culture. No accusations about gangs sneaking in, or that the opposing political party supports crime by welcoming refugees. Basically, Costa Rica is being very compassionate and humane.

I can think of another president who can learn a lot from Costa Rica about how to respond to a humanitarian crisis.

Your support in the form of donations is appreciated. I am fully independent as I’m not employed by a newspaper or with a major syndicate (leaving one to be independent). It does take a lot of work to provide you with cartoons, columns, and videos almost every day (more than any other political cartoonist), and I don’t charge my clients much at all. If you can, please consider making a financial contribution to keep the fun flowing, or purchase a signed print for $40. Whether you can help support, can’t, or just choose not to, please continue to enjoy and keep reading my work. Thank you!!!

Watch me draw.

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Costa Rica Bitcoin

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This cartoon was published July 27, 2018, in The Costa Rica Star.

Your support in the form of donations is appreciated. I am fully independent as I’m not employed by a newspaper or with a major syndicate (leaving one to be independent). It does take a lot of work to provide you with cartoons, columns, and videos almost every day (more than any other political cartoonist), and I don’t charge my clients much at all. If you can, please consider making a financial contribution to keep the fun flowing, or purchase a signed print for $40. Whether you can help support, can’t, or just choose not to, please continue to enjoy and keep reading my work. Thank you!!!

Watch me draw.

 

 

Gringo Prices

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This cartoon was published July 21, 2018, in The Costa Rica Star.

According to the people I talk to in Costa Rica, there are different prices for “Gringos” than there are for “Ticos.” It doesn’t seem as much of a racial thing (though some may claim it is) as much as it’s a “you’re not from here so it’ll be easy to take advantage of you” thing.

My editor has the opinion that Ticos believe every Gringo has a lot of money. Everyone I talk to who has moved to Costa Rica, or planning it, or dreams about it, talks about how they’ll save money and live cheaper, so Gringos definitely aren’t all wealthy. But, maybe the locals still see the newcomers as walking ATMs. There are a lot of comments at the link above with opinions on the matter.

Here’s the video.

Clean Energy In Costa Rica

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This cartoon originally ran July 13, 2018, in The Costa Rica Star.

Costa Rica has run almost entirely on clean energy for the past four years. The goal is not to use any fossil fuels at all in the future. This would really infuriate conservatives in the U.S.

Thank you for your support. Reader contributions really do help and are appreciated in a time of dwindling revenue for political cartoonists. You will also be supporting free speech and the First Amendment, and independent journalism while those in power are doing all they can to suppress it. You can also support by purchasing a signed print for $40.00. Just look at the right of this page and click the PayPal button, or you can email and make other arrangements. Thank you!

Watch me draw.

Costa Rica Protests

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I apologize for not posting this one earlier. It was originally published June 6, 2018, in The Costa Rica Star.

There was a protest against Uber on the same day as Americans were protesting at the American embassy in Costa Rica. Taxi drivers were protesting against Uber, which is illegal in Costa Rica, and they were blocking roads. The Americans were protesting against Trump’s policy of separating families and creating baby prisons.

Including “Democrats Abroad” in the speech balloon was my editor’s editing. I didn’t really care as I didn’t think that detracted from the cartoon. I think he wanted it there as he’s a Trump supporter. Yes. A Canadian Trump supporter in Costa Rica who runs a newspaper. Go figure.

Thank you for your support. Reader contributions really do help and are appreciated in a time of dwindling revenue for political cartoonists. You will also be supporting free speech and the First Amendment, and independent journalism while those in power are doing all they can to suppress it. You can also support by purchasing a signed print for $40.00. Just look at the right of this page and click the PayPal button, or you can email and make other arrangements. Thank you!

Watch me draw.

Crocky Costa Rican Chompers

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For last week’s cartoon for The Costa Rica Star, we decided to take a short break from politics and get a little goofy.

Did you know there’s tourism dentistry in Costa Rica? A lot of people from the U.S. will combine their vacation with getting some dental work and save a few bucks. It might be a good idea, but you will want to research and read reviews to check out the type of dentist you’ve made a schedule with.

Check out this week’s cartoon for The Star, which I’ll post here next Sunday (if I remember).

Watch me draw.

Thank you for your support. Reader contributions really do help and are appreciated in a time of dwindling revenue for political cartoonists. You will also be supporting free speech and the First Amendment, and independent journalism while those in power are doing all they can to suppress it. You can also support by purchasing a signed print for $40.00. Just look at the right of this page and click the PayPal button, or you can email and make other arrangements. Thank you!

Costa Rica Border Defense

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This cartoon was published June 22, 2018, in The Costa Rica Star.

There’s a huge crisis happening in Nicaragua, a nation that borders Costa Rica. There is not a civil war going on, but a civic uprising where the president’s goons have killed more people than the dictator has in Venezuela.

The protests started over increased taxes and decreased benefits in the public pension system, it’s expanded to grievances over the amount of time Daniel Ortega has and will occupy the presidency, in addition to his wife being vice president. Ortega was elected (again) in 2007 and the constitution was amended in 2014 which allowed him to run for a third term in 2016, which he won. His current term ends in 2022.

Sanctions have been placed on Venezuela but the world has been silent over what’s happening in Nicaragua.

I think if you’re fleeing Nicaragua and the dictator posing as a democratically-elected president, then you’re not going to want to cross into another country run by a wannabe dictator.

Watch me draw.