Elections

Here in Costa Rica they had city and local elections today, December 3. The first interesting thing about this to me is that it is a Sunday. Maybe they figure that more people will come out and vote if its not a regular work day. Or maybe it works better for them to organize since they use schools and such as polling places as well. What’s more is that for election weekend they don’t sell alcohol. From midnight on Friday night until Tuesday morning the sale of alcohol is restricted by law. Trying to keep people safe and sober for their voting decision and celebration (or defeat) but it ends up that people prepare themselves and just stock up in excess on Friday. The political parties here have different colors so all around you see flags and balloons and streamers of red and black or blue and white or green and white and the like. This morning I went running and the street was blocked off to cars in front of one school and there were folks set up with tables and coffee and balloons and brochures and paraphernalia, trying to round up the votes of any folks that were still on the fence, I am guessing. When my brother and I were in Nicaragua they were also preparing for elections (held in November), and it was much worse. Every telephone pole and street sign and concrete wall was painted according to their party or candidate and every where you turned there were signs, posters, and billboards with photos of the proud candidates. I think they must have had about 12 or more different parties because everyone had a number. So you could say “Vote for Joe” or “Vote for the #6”…. My favorite was a candidate whose slogan was “El feo que quiere una Nicaragua linda”…. which is to say “The ugly one that wants a beautiful Nicaragua.” Ha! Imagine that headline – “Vote for Ugle Joe because he wants America the Beautiful!”