Perhaps to know anything about a country -cost of living, social services etc., try to google it or Bing or whatever search engine you use. Here is another route - look up the US Embassy in Nicaragua, as their web page will have information on the areas mentioned you are interested in. Good Luck

Jim you might try http://www.internationalliving.com that site has info on many South and Central American points of interest for possible expatriation. Personally I am leaning toward Panama or Ecuador. Good luck.

I have a cousin who has relocated to the Pacific coast of Ecuador. He lives it. He has had some medical issues which made him travel back to Houston for help. He says the sounds of the slamming waves wake him lots of nights.

I travel to Nicaragua nearly yearly - have so for the last 15 years. The exchange rate is running ~24 to 1 (24 cords for a dollar). So, overall, cost of living is cheaper (you can get a good meal in a nice restaurant for $7-$10, but you'll pay $5 or more for gal of gas). Although, in areas like San Juan del Sur, the prices are higher, as it caters to tourists and ex-pats. Having met with staffers at the US embassy in Managua, I wouldn't look to them for "real" information. My group was really sad and embarassed at their lack of knowledge of the country they were serving in. If you are interested - go for a visit! It is an amazingly beautiful country, that is heart-breakingly poor.

Everything is more affordable in Central and South America...but at what other costs? Please don't call the US Embassy and expect our troops to save you when all hello breaks out.

Rather sad commentary on the USA when people who helped grow this nation can not even afford to retire in their own country and some are now so broke they can not even afford to leave this country. perhaps when the GOP is running everything they will provide vouchers for the rest of us to leave. That way they can have it all.

cannot afford to retire? on a half mil a year job like one of the people had- pfft sounds to me more like the people who broke this nation don't want to lie in the bed they made. you boomers got to enjoy an idyllic childhood in the 50's and 60's, the prosperity of the later years and now that you broke it all you want to flee with your ill gotten gains to where you can live like the kings you feel you are. you certainly did my generation no favors. plus the whining about the cost of living- so i guess they think they are the only ones who should make a decent wage and the rest of us should be happy to be as dirt poor as the Nicaraguan people they are now exploiting. on a side i do understand those fleeing due to the political climate and passage and support by the american people of things like the patriot act, ndaa, tsa, toothless usda, fda, osha and refusal to enforce monopoly laws allowing 90% of our food to be controlled by monsanto, tyson and international beef packing . the great job killing free trade agreements and walmart. wars we did not approve of and wars we have demanded out of but yet are forced to hemmorage money to sustain

My mother is a retired teacher. With her teacher's pension she would have to continue to work living here. She moved to a remote village in Honduras. From her retirement check, I send her 600-1000 dollars a month. She lives very well. She owns her own house, but does not hire any natives. She does not own a car and walks everywhere she goes. She ended up marrying one of the natives there (He's only slightly younger haha)

I'm sure he doesn't mind being exploited. haha

She does not fly back to the US for medical care, but uses the hospitals there in the country. They take her money happily and she's treated very well. She has had no trouble with crime or anything else because she does not live a posh life that would attract attention.

Jim, my husband and I live on Ometepe Island in Nicaragua. We have lived here on and off for 8 years, the past two years permanently. We built our home and a guest house for our son on 2 beach-front acres. Our monthly expenses are $500. That includes: $50 electric, $10 water, $37 SKY satellite TV, $25 internet, $200 for food, $26 each for excellent health insurance at an expat hospital, $55 a year for a VPN for internet, $25 for gas for our motorcycle, and $30 a year for our motorcycle insurance. If you would like to take a peek at our lives on Ometepe Island, I have a popular little blog that I write explaining our daily lives and the importance of cultural immersion. Do a search for Rewired and Retired in Nicaragua.

I find it ironic that MOST of the people quoted in this article appeard to live in costly places in the US - namely california...and appeared to have worked decent jobs with good wages...

and yet, America is too expensive? Newsflash, there are PLENTY OF PLACES in america that arent...they just arent on the beautiful coastlines.

what these folks wants is to live like kings for practically nothing...and so they move to the most impoverished place they can manage to take full advantage of that.

here's another newsflash, the politics of america did NOTHING to cause greedy people who own property in desirable places in the US to charge and arm and a leg to live there, thats CAPITALISM 101.

so, are these people saying what they really hate is capitalism?

thats what it sounds like to me.

So, these guys did their thing over here to help ruin our lives and now they've taken their stolen riches to another poor country to turn it into their own little fiefdom, exploiting the Nicaraguans and ruining their countryside with immense mansions and such. I see why they don't like the politics over here. They're the ones who messed up everything in the first place. I hope they never come back and I wish they'd take more of their pals with them. Maybe then we could get our lives straightened out. Thanks for leaving. And don't call our government to come and help you when your conspicuous consumption attracts the attention of the pirates.....

"and now that you broke it all"

I hate to tell you officeworker, this country was on the slide down back in the early sixties, before many of the boomers really had a good start in life. Also, don't lay ALL of the blame on the boomers, there was a generation before them, and a couple after them that helped in this mess. But, yeah, that's right, it's better in your eyes to lay all of the blame on one generation than for any of the others to shoulder any of the responsibilities for it, as though those other generations were oh so innocent. In other words, you want a scape goat. Sorry, we're not buying your crap.

Well, I have only a few years to retirement and it scares me. I've seen my 401k dropping like an anchor, the equity in my house destroyed and the cost of living starting to spiral out of control. Now that my children have left home and are trying to start their own lives, I have tried to max out every penny towards my retirement accounts but projections by financial websites and advisers show a grim picture. They all show that I am only saving less than 25% of what I should be.

These projections are calculated and based on the very minimum it would take to live comfortably.

The sad thing is that I have saved more than 70% of Americans according to statistics.

Sebrown...we are not ALL like that. We are culturally immersed in a local community...no gated gringo compounds for us. All of my expat friends in Nicaragua are actively involved in helping and volunteering in a variety of unique projects. Yes, there definitely are expatriates that exploit the locals, but I find that they are a small part of the expat population. Go to my blog Rewired and Retired in Nicaragua and read my post "Expat Extremophiles".

There are bad apples everywhere in the world. How can you blame expats for ruining your life? Bizarre comment. Stolen riches? Get a life...a real life. You are welcome to come visit me anytime. I'll show you the real Nicaragua with compassionate and caring expats.

Since they don't like U.S. politics and President Obama, how about they refuse to accept Social Security and the pensions they could only have achieved living in the U.S.? The U.S. is too expensive? Maybe if you want to live on a yacht or acres of beach front.

Pack of selfish, whiny hypocrites.

"So, these guys did their thing over here to help ruin our lives and now they've taken their stolen riches to another poor country to turn it into their own little fiefdom"

Stolen riches? Wow, all I can say is, grow up little child. You up for a diaper change? Wanna cry us all a big ol river? I gather you live in a car or under a bridge, have no job at all, poverty stricken maybe? Or how about, your out hoeing in a field owned by the big bad king, living on the scrapes he throws you? Yep, your life is so ruined, and your in such poverty now aren't you? Go ahead, whine and cry a little more, better yet, how about a good old fashioned temper tantrum to add to the mix?

It's too bad people have to move to another country because we have some dumbazz in the White House incapable or unwilling to fix the problems here. But I guess that's to be expected from someone that spends most of his time blaming others for our economic woes!

First, CA in general is comprised of democrats especially in the SF area. HGTV has for YEARS had weekly programs showing thousands, if not millions of Americans permanently now, or with the expressed idea soon of leaving the US as soon as possible. Many do plant themselves in beach side communities such as in Italy, Greece, France, and Spain. For Americans with any money saved with a decent retirement package, knowing that much higher taxes are coming due to excessive promising with staggering spending are fleeing this country.

I am a very practical person and I do believe that there are many places in the US that are reasonably priced places to retire. However, those locations are shrinking. I do not live in such a place. My property taxes are nuts. I am getting practically nothing for the money we are taxed. I live rural and so almost zero city services. The school system is ranked average at best, although they like to say different.

The US is in a moral and financial decline. We have become a nanny state. Recently Sharpton told students to run up their school debt because the government would help bail them out later. Recently a city in CA took out 100 m to renovate schools not planning to pay that loan back for 20 years. The cost of that deferment will cost residents in the future 900 m. Warren Buffett is bailing from the muni bond arena. That means he knows that defaults are coming.

We are paying 500 b now on int on our debt each year. That will quickly rise has int rates will eventually go back to a more normal rate which will be twice at least the int rate now. So a trillion dollars will be the cost of each year to just service the debt.

We have borrowed for 3 years now to pay SS benefits. Up until 2009, SS was a piggy bank for the feds to raid. Now the feds are raising medicare to pay for Obamacare.

I really do understand the desire to pack up and leave. I have actually thought of it, but would need to find a country that is fiscally prudent which might prove hard to find.

"Since they don't like U.S. politics and President Obama, how about they refuse to accept Social Security and the pensions they could only have achieved living in the U.S.?"

So, they should refuse to collect something they themselves paid into all of their working lives? And, why SHOULD they like the politics or even the president here? It's their right not to like both. Oh, and when was there a rule made, that if a person doesn't like those things, they should refuse SS and their pensions? You sound like a whiny two year old.

Wow, you sure direct a lot of bitterness at people who have done nothing to you. Your life is ruined by them? How so? I sense a lot of anger at "boomers"...hmm, that would be me. My crime was to be born in a certain time frame...go into the Navy out of high school, come back and go to school and get a degree and start my own business..employing my self and my wife and one other person and make a meager living for 20 years until I finally sold the business and went to work for another company...at $250 a week. I've sure robbed a lot of poor schmucks like you getting to my ivory tower....stepped on a lot of heads along the way to build my fortune. I lost multiple tens of thousands of dollars when the market "slumped" on my small piece of land and house that you probably wouldn't even live in and yes, I've thought about going to some third world country (other than the US) and build me an "immense mansion" as you describe. I think that would be a grand idea and leave you and Obama here with a hoard of illegal foreign nationals to mop up after me. Don't worry, I won't call the Marines... I've been in several foreign countries during my Navy "pleasure cruise" and got along great with the locals. I'm guessing you couldn't leave your own yard with stirring up a mess.

That place looks like a commune of where smelly old Hippies go to live out their days.. No thanks.

flash8,

Really?

just seems to be a lot of jealousy about what these people are doing. They made their money, they are allowed to use it as they please. They aren't trying to hide it. Its no different than travelling the world in your later years.

All these people bitching about US people leaving the country and looking for a real life are missing the point.

Not to long ago a big article that the really rich 1% are leaving the country AND revoking their US citizenship because they see thing going to hell in the USA.

Just remember the USA has stirred up enough sh*t in sout america with the "school of the americas" in the Carolina's where they trained every dictator and death squad from south america.

Over time send troops over to those countries to support the death squads and dictators because the local did not go along with the idea of American democracy or corporate plunder in their countries.

So be glad that the people that moved there have been welcomed like that. YOU n the USA would not have done so in you had been treated like those people in south America

And don't call our government to come and help you when your conspicuous consumption attracts the attention of the pirates.....

Conspicuous consumption(and natural resources) attracts the attention of the US and sets the setting for an invasion from the US, especially if Bush II is in office. The only pirates they have to look out for are the ones in the US Military and Congress.

On the other hand with all the recent information about Nicaragua I would just wait for the next real estate balloon to happen down there and then go buy.

a huge exodus of Americans over 55 is taking place, it is reported that over 50 thousand a year are leaving to go live in central and south America; almost all are middle class Americans with a income from retirement and social security of under 50 thousand per year, but their living standards are much higher than here at home; America is being transformed into a rich and poor country, the middle class , which was the foundation of this country, is fast disappearing , no politicians are addressing the transformation, they are to concerned with really important issues, such as abortion, gay rights, prayer in school, and most of all getting re-elected.

I lived in The Bahamas and in Mexico as an expat. The Bahamas is grossly overpriced and customs charged me $500 for bringing my 10 y/o Labrador Retriever. There was always some government official looking for cash under the table. Mexico was more affordable and, back then, low crime and less corruption. If I want to see corrupt politicians in action, all I have to do is turn on CSpan.

cynical175

That really hurt reading you post. Please chck out some verry gud tools on cumputer, spel chck and gramer check. It will change the way peple veiw yuur postn.

I have been looking at Costa Rica for some time now and if the GOP somehow manages to steal the White House out from under us I will move out of the country. I'm 62 and will have my Social Security and my pension and my wife will have her SS. We've got money in our 401K's and it looks like we can live quite comfortably in Costa Rica. There is a Brit expat down there who conducts tours specifically for people who are thinking about relocating to Costa Rica. He shows you the good, the bad, and the ugly and tells you what you'll need to do to move there. He's well worth the money.

I know people who are going to Ecuador, it sounds very nice. It's South America and you can live in the cool and beautiful mountains.

I'm not sure about Nicaragua, I'll have to think about that. My wife is even warming up to the idea of living in the Southwest corner of Canada, across from Blaine, Washington. She went there recently to visit relatives and was very impressed by the area.

But one thing is for sure, if the GOP takes the White House, I won't stay here. I learned from the example of the Jews in Germany and I'm going to leave the US while I can.

Obama/Biden 2012

Probably one of the biggest threats to retirement income is property taxes (renting won't avoid it, the landlord will pass them on to you). Our's have escalated every year, even with assessments finally going down, our county and municipal government just keep increasing the tax rates applied to offset the assessment decreases (went from 7.75% to 8.42% last year). The local school district is like a hog at the trough, they have no concept of reality, their attitude is that if they want, they will get. Our county board chair person is being sued to giving raises to her friends in county management without proper approval, while people on fixed incomes get no raises. Unless something is done, seniors woun't have to worry about losing Medicare, they won't have enough money to buy food. Where is Dr. Kevorkian when you need him? By the way, our county and city are heavily, heavily GOP, the anti-tax crowd. To add insult to injury, our state government is heavily DEM. We can't win. My wife and I are trying to retire out of state (no, not out of country, we want to stay in America), hope we make it.

Jim, in the 90's I was looking to move to Costa Rica, I had the national newspaper mailed up to me from down there every week. Costa Rica was incredibly cheap to live in, you could buy a cafe on the pacific for $10,000, a 3 bedroom villa with an ocean view and a pool for $20,000, a 1000 acre Teak ranch for $60,000. But as more and more Americans migrated there the cost of living began to skyrocket, actually pricing many Costa Rican's out of their own land. Companies like Remax and Century 21 began to scarf up beach front property and then quadruple the price. There use to be dozens of book that claimed you could "live well in Central America on $5.00 a day" but now if you are trying to live on $5.00 a day you are starving to death and would probably be sneaking across the border to Texas to pick fruit for a living. The mass migration of "illegal" immigrants into this country in recent years is due to the globalization of American corporations that buy up all the prime land and increase the cost of living in Central and South America to the point that only Americans can afford to live there. Monsanto and the other ag giants have bribed greedy politicians in order to take control of land that use to be used for subsistance farming, it is now used to grow feed for our livestock and the people that use to grow food for their families and communities are now told to go shop at the new Walmarts for their food, but of course they have no money to shop at wally world so they come up here to "steal" the jobs lazy Americans wont do. We are our own worst nightmare, we ourselves have created the mess we are blaming on the rest of the world. I would be cautious about moving to south of the border because one day the orignal inhabitants are going to take their nations back, and rightfully so.

Hey Skip - Take Care! You and your wife have a nice, safe trip and please make sure to pay your taxes on the way out of our fine country. It seems rather clear to me from what you said about the election you WILL be moving out in about 70 or so days from now.

p.s. Don't let the door hit you in your ass on your way out...

I wonder if these people are illegal immigrants in Nicaragua...?

I think I am a fair person most of the time.

But I could not even get past this first picture without wanting to just close my browser....give the lady some dignity and remove that picture.

You liberals are really eat up with it. I bet it really made you mad when that one women criticized Obama. And by the way just exactly who has been in charge of this country for the last three years? When you re-elect Obam to a second term there will be more retires leaving.

Avg Joe please change your name you are not average. But you lean far right. Average is knowing that neither Party can change our nation in three years. Hell it took Bush two terms to put us into this mess. With two wars followed by TAX breaks. And then bailouts for the banking industry.

While I am no huge fan of Obama or where the democrats are headed. The current Republican party would have REAGAN turning in his grave. There is nothing Conservative about entering two wars without Raising taxes to pay for it. Remember even Reagan raised taxes.

Now for the article. If someone PAYS into SSI or SSDI and retires abroad no matter where they retire. They should get what they paid into. If they did not pay. Then no they should not. Its that simple. And if a person works and chooses to retire abroad. It is their choice more power to them. It does not make them any less patriotic than someone who retires in the states.

Anyone who thinks otherwise is just a coward who has been force fed crap. And is to afraid to see the world. I think the main point people are missing about these folks. Is they wanted a slower pace of life and found it elsewhere. Once again more power to them. And how awesome it is when anyone can live a DREAM. I have been looking at places to invest in. Down in Central and South America. Maybe it might even be a place to start some business's before I decide to retire there as well.

.....Skip....that's great news, my country will immediately benefit by you leaving ASAP....please take Obozo and Biden with you and all of America will celebrate.....

"Hey Skip - Take Care! You and your wife have a nice, safe trip and please make sure to pay your taxes on the way out of our fine country."

As though you have a hell of a lot say in what he can and can't do with his life. On your way now little boy, crawl out of your sandbox then grow up and get a life.

"It seems rather clear to me from what you said about the election you WILL be moving out in about 70 or so days from now."

Wow flash8, nobody can get anything past you, can they? Your just so clever and on the ball aren't you?

"p.s. Don't let the door hit you in your ass on your way out..."

It shouldn't, not with you there as the official door opener and closer to Obama's world, better known as the Corporate States of America.

Maybe Obama will move there and these people can come back home.

".....Skip....that's great news, my country will immediately benefit by you leaving ASAP....please take Obozo and Biden with you and all of America will celebrate....."

Yes, that should raise the amount of welfare your area will get. Your country? Will celebrate? HAHAHAHAHAHA, yep, your a New Yorker alright, you own this country, and will get drunk celebrating, right?

Ah Only... My satirical comment really struck a nerve? Well my boy it worked. It's people like you that are offended at every turn, bit are really just afraid of people like me who have the ability to strike at your core with nothing more than a statement.

Let's look at Obama's word shall we?: I hope you had your nappy and your tapioca...

Over 1 Trillion in deficet spending every year.

25 MILLION people out or work.

Un-Employment over 8% for 40 Straight Months

Almost HALF of the US Population now receiving some form of GOVERNMENT Entitlement now

Health-Care Bill that 75% of Americans HATE!

Stole $800 BILLION from MEDICARE and blames Paul Ryan - WTF?

Back Door Amenisty to ILLEGIAL ALIENS - Um the Election is comming fast so you know.

Obama's Job Council hasn't met in almost a year

Obama can't read anything without a teleprompter

Eric Holder in contempt of congress for not being cooperative - a Man was MURDERED by his decision

BHO has divided America not brought together

"You Didn't Build That" Again - WTF? Really? I can go on for hours on this moronic statement.

BHO thinks there is 57 States

Uncle Joe thinks the other side will "Put You In Chains"

Michelle Obama's extensive vacations on the tax payers dime

Obama is losing voters by the droves - blacks, women, latino's, white males, everyone....

So my little small minded, hate filled fellow American maybe you need to grow up just a bit...

Oh yes and I know that all my statements are George Bush's Fault... Oh or that I'm a Racist...

DelFairchild, maybe Obama will have room to take all politicians with him on that bus. That would be a great start at rebuilding this country.

"Ah Only... My satirical comment really struck a nerve? Well my boy it worked. It's people like you that are offended at every turn, bit are really just afraid of people like me who have the ability to strike at your core with nothing ore than fun statement."

The only thing I saw in what you stated was the egotistical arrogance that you spew. And I don't give a flying damn which parties boots you lick.

"So my little small minded, hate filled fellow American maybe you need to grow up just a bit..."

It's so easy to call someone else small minded while standing there with your little sand pale and shovel, isn't it? Is that what you use to do your talking with? The only hate I have, is for egotistical arrogant little people who don't have the authority to tell others what they can or can't do with their lives, and still think that they can.

"Oh yes and I know that all my statements are George Bush's Fault... Oh or that I'm a Racist..."

Nope, you don't need those as an excuse, you have enough egotistical arrogance to cover that whole area all by yourself.

I think these liberals need to send money back to California. They raise taxes through the roof and then move off to save money. Maybe they should stay in California so they can be taxed and pay their fair share that they scream so loudly that everyone else should do.

flash8:

I'll only start believing any of your (I mean, Fox News' - term used loosely) talking points when you learn how to spell. You are the absolute epitome (is that too big a word for you?) of everything wrong with this country:

1) Uneducated,

2) Illiterate, and

3) Easily brainwashed and swayed by those who BY NO STRETCH OF THE IMAGINATION have your best interests at heart. Their only goals are the consolidation of power and wealth.

Oh Robert another "genius" who carries Obama's bath water - I know left wing nut jobs such as yourself hate facts which is why you attempt to name call. Didn't your mommy teach you right from wrong? This is a classic liberal response to FACTS! Please get a tissue, wipe your eyes and blow your nose, it will be OK....

Robert the facts are the facts (above) which I know are not articulated by MSNBC oops I mean NBC News (Even MSN ran from this media organization) or the Huffington Post. Please feel free to refrudeieate my "Facts" above. I will be more than eager to see what your brilliant mind (which consist of nothing more than personal attacks) can come up with in your next post.

Liberals Hate Facts:

Over 1 Trillion in deficit spending every year.

25 MILLION people out or work.

Un-Employment over 8% for 40 Straight Months

Almost HALF of the US Population now receiving some form of GOVERNMENT Entitlement now

Health-Care Bill that 75% of Americans HATE!

Stole $800 BILLION from MEDICARE and blames Paul Ryan - WTF?

Back Door Amenisty to ILLEGIAL ALIENS - Um the Election is comming fast so you know.

Obama's Job Council hasn't met in almost a year

Obama can't read anything without a teleprompter

Eric Holder in contempt of congress for not being cooperative - a Man was MURDERED by his decision

BHO has divided America not brought together

"You Didn't Build That" Again - WTF? Really? I can go on for hours on this moronic statement.

BHO thinks there are 57 States

Uncle Joe thinks the other side will "Put You In Chains"

Michelle Obama's extensive vacations on the tax payers dime

Obama is losing voters by the droves - blacks, women, Latinos, white males, everyone....

Good, we didn't want these losers anyway! damn traitors!!

I hate to see this post degraded into political haggling. Let me tell you a little about living in Nicaragua. My husband and I are legal residents. It took about a year to apply for residency and the biggest hassles came from the U.S., not from Nicaragua. We are still and always will be U.S. citizens. We have a house in the states and continue to pay our property taxes every year. The main difference is that our property taxes in the U.S. are around $700 a year, compared to our property taxes in Nicaragua of $50 a year. We continue to pay the IRS every year and file absentee ballots to vote. We didn't move because we were dissatisfied with the political climate of the U.S. We are not political refugees, but if you want a name, we would probably be considered economic refugees. You see, we taught school for over 30 years. We were exhausted and wanted to find our place in the world where we could finally be in control of our own lives, a place where we could grow a large tropical garden, kayak and swim, and live a simple stress-free life, before old age took over our bodies. It was impossible to retire early in the states. We couldn't afford it. So, we took our little teaching pensions and ran...and I mean little...less than $1,000 a mo. On that meager pension, we built two houses, bought a kayak and a motorcycle, and still have plenty of money left over to volunteer in the schools, start a mobile lending library for the kids on my island, and provide college scholarships for some of the local students who would never be able to afford to go to college. Could I do that in the states??? Never. Soon, I'll be able to collect my hard-earned Social Security. With the extra bucks...just think what I can do to help others...plus I'm free to help in anyway I want without bureaucratic obstructions....like the ones I faced so often in the public school systems in the USA.

Flash8, it's people like you with your "my team at all costs" ideology, with your lies and easily debunked talking points that makes hard-working and formerly proud Americans want to leave this country. When you realize what a squat-hole you and yours have created, don't expect the welcome mat elsewhere.

And seriously, those lies and talking points?? Seriously?! Put the kool-aid down man, step away from the Noise Machine, and learn to live like a free thinker. You are your own worst enemy.

We fight so hard to keep these people out of our country and make it hard for them to become citizens, but they don't mind a bunch of old people coming there and trying to take over, probably hiring house servants and paying them with bananas to do their dirty work. This is horrible. How can they just go over there with a passport, buy some property and live-that's horrible. That country should not allow them to enter. Just like we try to keep them out. It's not fair. Using their country like that.

So guess its not a problem that these old people go there but if one of these people and their family wants to come here to enjoy the freedoms that they might be looking for, they are not allowed? This makes my stomach turn. Rich whites are ok, but "brown" 3rd world people are not treated the same.

They should not be allowed back to this country. Refuse their pass-ports.

Seewhat I mean188 you clearly have your own opinions about retirees and others leaving this country. I suspect that your opinion is also based upon a complete lack of information, understanding, and compassion. I am one of your "old people" at 68 years of age. I live on a fixed income that is a good deal less than what I would have received had I not been forced by circumstances to retire early at 62 to care for my dying wife and my dying parents. I have one left and as soon as she passes I am definitely planning to relocate to one of these areas.

My reasons are many not the least of which is the drastically reduced cost of living, the very inexpensive and high quality of medical care, and a climate that is nothing short of ideal. You mention freedoms being lost by moving there. Well at least there I am not faced with illegal search and seizure, prolonged detention with no charges, and many other "inconveniences" we Americans put up with in the name of Homeland Security and National Defense. My particular choice is a Socialist government but it is after all a democracy with free elections. So I miss nothing, sacrifice nothing, and gain a dignified life for my remaining years. Meanwhile I no longer have to call upon Medicare which will leave more in the kitty for you and others like you so you should be very pleased to see us off. LOL

Please understand that I do not particularly want to go through the agrivation of relocating and learning another language. The facts are that I am simply too old to recover by getting a job and recouping my former standard of living. No one will hire a man my age and I simply no longer have the physical stamina to be a very efficient employee. Consequently I am forced to live as well as I can within the means at my disposal. If you somehow feel that I am being unpatriotic in doing so well I forgive you your lack of compassion and understanding. There is no denying that quite a number of very wealthy people are taking advantage of these opportunities as well. They have done just that for years everytime there is an economic down turn here in the U.S.

What is different now is that common folks like me have a similar opportunity and the people and the local governments in these places welcome us with open arms. Why? Simple we bring money, demand for products and services that didn't exist before, and introduce the American dynamic that we had in the late 1940s and early 1950s. Basically America left the United States subsequent to the poorly conceived and even more poorly managed Free Trade Agreements. To re-discover it you have to go where it went. Now that means many places in South and Central America, Asia, various places in Europe and so on. It is sad and unfortunate but no one should have to apologize for doing what is, after all, their right. My chosen spot is filling up fast with Chinese, Canadians, and other Americans and most are like me. So please try not to simply condemn an action that you personally disagree with. Your situation is perhaps much better than most and if so I am truly glad for you. I wish you well in the upcoming upheaval. No matter who wins this Nov. we are far too along not to have a very difficult decade ahead in my opinion.

I have been itching to respond to some of those on here, but it has pretty much been done by others.

What I see here is what I see all over the place. Clueless Americans who live in a world with a very narrow vision of the world and who, likely, have never been anywhere in the world. Those who have (as tourists) seem to learn nothing of where they are/have been. They can't shed their prejudisms nor the belief that, no matter what, they are always right. It's their birthright as an American you know.

I really doubt anyone is retiring out of the country based on who is going to be president,either. If a person REALLY believes this it only makes my point that too many have a very, very narrow view of things.

Here's a clue, though: IT DOESN'T MATTER WHO IS PRESIDENT. CONGRESS IS THE REAL PROBLEM. And the party ultimately running congress doesn't matter either. Republcan, democrat. There really is no difference.

I have somethig to inflame the tiny minds and give reason to call me names. To the issue here, I am not retired yet but I do live and work outside the U.S. I am in China. Good ol' communist China. I will not speak to anything regarding the government, but I truly like the country and the people. I am not inclined to go back to the States.

When I do retire in 10 - 15 years it won't be here, however. I'm getting a place in the Carribean most likely. Though, who knows. In that period of time that may just be too close to the "United" States.

if they get sick they'll use the medical coverage they've paid for with the money they've earned. your ilk demanding more handouts don't have any idea what that's about.

loveit 6636295

I don't know if you are aware of it but Nicaragua has some of the best medical care in the Americas - inexpensive also. However, I do support your comment of

"they all made their money in US..."

I have a home in Costa Rica. Once I dislocated my shoulder, my total bill was $25, plus they drove me back up the mountain. Health care is very cheep. Plus I am a retired Vet. I can go to three hospitals with very little cost.

rich, do you draw veterans pension and social security? Why not forget about taking advantage of the benefits of you don't care for the US?

notsosmart,

That's a fitting name for you. They any pension he/she draws, he/she WORKED for. Any SS he/she draws, is due to the fact that he/she WORKED and payed into it. He/she have every right to take that money and spend it were ever he/she damn well pleases.

Let me guess, you believe in slavery?

I'm so sick of people like notsosmart who think SS and pensions are handouts. I've been paying in SS for 44 years and have worked hard for my retirement pension and have to listen to these greedy little bastards spout off because they don't want to live up to their part of that bargain. My wife and I are in the process of moving to Belize and can do it because of the inexpensive cost of living there. It's close so the grandkids can come visit and spend summers there. And they speak english in Belize (used to be British Honduras) so we don't have to learn a new language. We'll just sit back and watch people like notsosmart destroy this country and have another margherita. Cheers!

Wow, some of you people have no idea of life outside what used to be the greatest country in the world. Now it is one of the most despised. Politics, right and left, have gotten out of control. Greed and corruption are everywhere. We moved 3 years ago to Costa Rica. We do not have the finances of those mentioned in this article. My wife and I have an income of about $3500/month from our joint S.S.. We earned that paying in for over 40 years each. We live like a king here on the Pacific Ocean just south of Nicaragua. We have great, cheap medical care at American style hospitals. COntrary to a poster below we also have great water, great electric service. No empty spots in cellphone coverage etc. Costa Rica is not third world. We actually spend about $2k/month. We have cable TV, high speed internet, and rent a nice modern home by the ocean for $600. My unlimited cellphone is $10/month. Our president, Laura Chinchillla has her masters from Georgetown U. What's more important is the people. They are happy. They make enough money for a house and food. The culture is different. They enjoy life every day. They love American money and most like Americans. We have learned enough Spanish to get by and help teach English in the local school. Every day I open the news on the internet and read about the US shootings. Guess what? no one got shot here in the theatre or the school. These people don't own guns. They don't want to kill anybody or even break a window. Yes if you let your guard down and leave your car unlocked in the city, your camera will be missing. In the US the whole car would be missing and maybe your life. I will never return to my "homeland". The crooked politicians and the Sheeple who follow them can have it to themselves. What a mess they have made of it. As they say here "Pura Vida" Pure life.

People leave becaue it has become a piece of shi! country. Some of you talk about coming back to the US for medical care, come out of your hick trailers someday, lots and lots of countriies have so much better health care for the general population than we do here. Hell Costa Rica has better health care, people go there for vacations have work, dental, eye care boob jobs etc and then have a vacation on the beach with what they save. Stupid wal-mart republicans, look north dumb a$$ canada has better health care for the general population. Don't whine little hick about me coming back if I want to, I am not the top 10% that pays no taxes or the bottom 50% that pays no income tax I pay and have always paid. And if it all goes to hell, yes I expect the marines there, the same marines my uncle was in in WW2 for three landings in the pacific or the same marines my dad was in at the Chosin. Better me than spending the blood and treasure we have spent protecting oil companies and the defense industry. I paid just like I paid for crappy educations you punks got with ridiculous high property taxes so goverment employees could rape us for pensions I will never have. We lost this country, we lost it to the Klan/Teaparty, the religious republican taliban, the democrats that think the are "entitled", we lost it to the losers the parasites. You know speaking of my uncle he worked his behind off fought for this country and died poor, he would have lived better in more than half of the countries of the world than he did here. I have traveled all over the world for my work, lived in lots of other countries so all I can say to you stupid hicks keep bent over because you are getting totally screwed

I have been paying into SS for 42 years - I have earned every penny - IT IS MY MONEY. Why the H*ll would i not draw my own money back out when I retire? I have never taken handouts even when I was a single mother receiving no child support from my dead-beat ex-husband. I worked and put my children through college and did it all without any help from anyone other than my parents who let us live with them so I could afford to care for my children. I paid into SS and that is ALL I will have to live on when I retire because of the above-referenced. Be very careful when you presume to know that people are taking handouts and the definition of hand-out. Also, until you walk in my shoes do not sit in judgment of me and why I cannot afford to stay in the US. Do I want to move NO, do I have to YES! If I don't I WILL need those HANDOUTS you are talking about.

My husband and I are looking into moving because we are not going to be able to live here in the states on our retirement - period. We are getting some inheritance, but not enough to allow us to stay here and not even enough to allow us to live elsewhere without social security (which will be our only income if and when we retire). Florida has one of the highest healthcare costs because that is where we originally wanted to move. Not an option now. We will HAVE to leave if we want to live on our own and not with relatives or on assistance. I don't want that. I want my own place and to take care of ourselves. We are looking into Costa Rica and now I will check out Nicaragua. Sad when your own country has made it where the elderly cannot live in it. The US is just for the rich and young now. It did not used to be that way - so disappointed. I do not live in CA, I live in the Dallas metroplex because that is where my husband got a job. We didn't choose it - we would prefer somewhere else, but well, you go where you have to. We are exhausted from the "rat race" that has become the way of life in the US. We simply don't want to do it anymore - we are just tired.

I think if you leave America, you should forfeit SS and anything else you "had coming to you"...

Clearly, you dont like America...you should stop benefiting from all that makes america great.

and it's ironic that most people are fleeing to "socialist nations"...beyond ironic.

it's weird, I live in Michigan...and things really arent that expensive here.

perhaps, folks who left America are just making excuses about why they cant afford to stay here when the reality is, they want to live like slave owners...they want the "poor people of south america" to wait on them hand and foot like kings, because down there, their SS dollars buy everything,,,up here, they just get you by (as intended).

just be honest...it's not that you COULDNT afford to live a decent life in America, it's that you wanted to live like the very greedy aholes you are condeming up north...while feigning "i had no choice but to live in impoverished area's where people are so desperate they'll do work for basically nothing and I can take full advantage of it"

sorry folks, you arent great...you arent doing great things...you're american colonialists, believing YOU deserve everything and everyone deserves to wait on you hand and foot.

Jessica: Since you would appear to be incapable of reading (or comprehending)...I'll explain in small words. Social security is not a "handout." It's their money they put into the system during decades of working.

Regarding social security/handouts - specifically to the "It's my money - I paid into it and now I'm getting my money back" crowd.

Well - sort of, but not really. The truth is most (not all) people get back, over time, far more than they ever put in - why do you think the system is going broke? Do you think they had a nice little "This is J. Smith's money" account for you and all you are getting back is what you put in, nothing more? Of course not. Without current payers into the system, there would be no money for your check. This means that your check is funded - at least partially if not in whole - by other people's money - because yours is long gone.

Having said that - I believe in a good, stable social security system. We don't have that - and we don't have the guts or common sense to create one.

Jessica, you arrogant pompous little whor@. Don't tell me about being an American Imperialist if I want to live in another country when or if I can retire. Listen trailer trash, I was in the Peace Corp in Costa Rica long before it became "popular" as either a tourist destination or for retirees. I am going to move because I am sick and tired of narrow minded little know it alls like you. People who think you need a passport to go to North Dakota but think they know everything about everything. I have paid the 100% of Social Security these last 15 years, I am the one paying for parasites like you. Michigan huh, yeah I have paid for parasites like you. For so many of you when I read your posts, the thing I think is this, you were the ones that stayed behind, didn't have the stones to immigrate, the gutless ones that stayed in England, Ireland whatever country your ancestors came from. Maybe that is why the US has gone to he!! it is now made up of a lot of spineless, gutless wimps, like you Jessica, my last suggestion for you, push the barrel firmly against your forehead and pull the trigger.

I love how the people who would usually retort "If you don't like it then leave" come up with "Then you should forfeit your SS" for those who HAVE left! Classic!

One of those ex-Pats mentioned the "Propaganda in the media". Forfeit your SS? Perfect example of how those "news" outlets breed dumbed down people who have no real knowledge of things. That's why we have geniuses with signs that say "Hey government - hands off my Medicare". Why would/should anyone forfeit something that they've paid into all their working life? It's their money!

Once upon a time, people worked with the thought of retiring in relative comfort; not worrying about losing their homes, bankruptcy as a result of medical issues, etc. That hasn't been a reality for some time. Now, if these retirees seek that goal in another country, they're chastised for it. They've earned that right to spend their SS anywhere they want.

America isn't fueled by Capitalism anymore. It's fueled by greed. Greed is what has ruined things from A to Z in this country not generic politics as the "news" media would have us believe. Greed is NOT "Capitalism 101". Greed in this country is where the real exploitation is. It's the root of all our problems in America.

"Well, sort of, but not really" ....well, sort of but not really. My dad payed in for 40+ years and died without collecting a cent. Mom worked until she was nearly 80 and drew a few years...wow. My brother died after paying in for 25+ years and never collected a cent. Uh...I'm still working (since 1967), so how is mine "all gone"?? The system is going broke because the politicians keep robbing the funds. After all, you can't just have money sitting there. I've been paying in since 1967...think I'll use it all up if I can retire? Uh....what about all the interest these funds have been drawing....uh...it has been drawing interest...yes???? I hate a bunch of whiners. Let the old folks have what's theirs and meantime do what we did...without. I hear these whiners talking about what they don't have, how much does that cell phone cost a month? "Smart phone", correcto?? ....got internet?...got 500 tv channels?...movie channels?....how old is the car you're driving? I guess you cook all three of your meals daily? Hell, McDonald's is probably one of your biggest expenses. Most of the "younger" people that I and my wife work with buy all their meals out and wonder why they don't have any money. Yeah, and it's amazing how often they show up with a new car. Our last two we had for 11 and 14 years..wow, no car payment for several years. You probably waste more than it takes to live in one of the central American countries. Whine, whine, whine.

I agree that Social security and Medicare are not handouts if your PAID INTO IT! The problem is that too many people that did not contribute now qualify and draw it. Frauds are drawing disability or they could work but the standard is so low for disability they get it. If you earned it, find, if not you need to be kicked out unless you are truly disabled or retired.

No difference-3948708:

I think this might break it down so wvwn the simples of minds can understand.

Lets say you planted a garden to grow food to feed your family. Each and every day you would go out and tend to it, water it, pull the weads and work until darkness stopped you from seeing what you were doing.

All the while your neighbors were watching you and poking fun at you for all the "Fuss" you were putting into your work.

This goes on thru out the growing season and it has gotten to the point, the neighbors don't even bother to poke fun at you any more.

At harvest time, you look over your hard work and are so proud of the crop that you have grown and are content in the knowledge that the food you have toiled for will feed your family thru the winter months to come.

But wait, what's that, the Authorities are there and all the neighbors that laughed at you and called you names while they sat around doing nothing.

You are DIRECTED by the AUTHORITIES, that you MUST give each and eveyone of your 'Neighbor a 'Fair and EQUAL' Share of your labor of love and Life.

Just because you worked for it and spent all your time ensuring it grew does not mean that YOU get to KEEP IT YOURSELF.

So you grew 10 tomatoes and you end up able to KEEP ONE (1) because you had 9 neighbors that need to eat also. And thus it goes for all your crops. What you had planned on carring you thru the winter months.

Now instead of a complete harveest, you end up with a small percentage.

After all that is FAIR.

Don't forget, you Did Not Put the Dirt there, You Did Not Pipe the Water there, And may I ask, you do you think made the sun shine so your crops could grow.

NO YOU DID NOT GROW THAT GARDEN ON YOUR OWN. YOU HAD HELP.

This is just the begining. Now in as winter moves in you find that your food supply is so low, that you can no longer feed your own family. What are you to do?

I Know, go to the Authorities and tell them your plight and they will take you to someone who had grown a LARGER Garden then your own and force them to give you part of their Harvest.

And this cycle is repeated over and over again until NO ONE HAS ANY CROPS. Except the AUTHORITIES.

What will YOU and your NEIGHBORS do do then?

This all can change tho, if your NEIGHBORS grew their own Garden.

But there are too many that know they DON'T HAVE TO, the Authorities will make sure that they get part of your's so why bother?

Think About it, Equal Rations for Equal Work!

"From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs" (Marx).

I'm with ya on that!

What Planet you live on Derek???????? Ortega has been in power, he just won re-election!!!!

Yes, that would require Derek to type something other than faux news in his browser to learn about Nicaragua. What an idiot.

Yeah, think of all the we spent between 1979-1989 to keep Ortega out of power. Now, many Americans are flocking to Nicaragua because it is safer, cheaper(especially medical care) and more friendly than their own country which spent billions to keep a war going there and nearly destroyed it.

Dereck-3778187

You are not to bright are you.

Ortega got in because the USA supported the dictator Samoza and his death squads. Who were trained by the American government in the Carolina's "school of the Americas".

You are whofully ignorant of history. Go back to school will you.

I truly don't know what some of these people have in their heads instead of brains. They seem to have no clue about the protection the US provides. I wouldn't even go their on vacation let alone live there.

Because Ktlin-2021409 you don't have a spine. I have traveled and lived in most of these countries just for my job. I have never needed protection, you just take your head out of your a$$ and pay attention. Many US Companies have businesses all over the world. But you Ktlin wouldn't have the guts to do that, so just keep your walmart job. As for you telling me I didn't earn it, go to he!!. I have paid now for years at the 100% rate which you do if you earn at least 104K, which means I pay more than Romney. As for you Buffloes51 keep your damn religion out of that area, the Catholic church supported Somoza dumb A$$. I was working south of there a few years before you 82-85 building houses, and the last thing those people need are you churchy wimps coming to help the "poor natives". You religious garbage have screwed up this country enough, stay the hell out of other places. I am tired of paying for all of you parasites and that is why I am leaving.

Except you don't have the stones to move out of your mothers basement.

And you know this, how?

Was there for a conference. I wouldn't live there for FREE. Dirty, ugly, run down and miserable place.

Oh a conference, typical been there 3 days I am an expert now. People like you need to stay home, its dangerous out there.

Was there (Business} some real nice areas. most of Barranquilla is a ghetto. DON'T drink the water.

Don't wonder at night.

Sorry Obama, I am not working till I am 80

You can start by thanking Regan for the mess we are in not to mention he uped the retirement age first and I am sure when all is said and done Romney will up it to 90.

Lucky you. I am married to a Colombian woman as well. I have been there four times, each time better than the last. I've had no problems Then again, I don't have anything to do with drugs, my wife's family is all very nice, we only party at someone's house and don't go out at night much. I like Bogota, but you can't get everything you can in the U.S. and electronics are more expensive, so are cars. We may end up with an apt. there eventually. Like a summer or winter place. Traffic is a bitch and the roads are in poor condition is the only real negative I see. There are other problems as well but most minor considerations. I do speak fluent Spanish.

For anyone that has not tried it, I would recommend a trip down to look around. I have fallen in love with Latin America. They certainly live for the moment and enjoy life much more than Americans do and many have almost nothing. I personally do not like hot weather, so Nicaragua is off my radar. Costa Rica is a little too expensive. I absolutely love Colombia and the people there. The weather in Medellin is fantastic. The women are stunning. The people there are very welcoming and they DO like Americans.

Ecuador and Peru look very attractive, too.

ditto on Medellin!!

Don't worry Eddie,give this migration of expats about 5 or 6 years and they will have succeeded in turning it into an American enclave that is Nicaraguan only in the fact that they are inside it's borders. They will go down there and in no time flat will have turned it into nothing more than an American colony and will have re-established all the social and economic structures they claim to have been running from rather than actually incoporate themselves into the existing culture. There will be gated communities,shopping plaza's golf courses and resorts ,all thoughtfully arranged as to allow only the most benign and appealing aspects of that culture into their lives while outside their little temples the country will be what it always was and having recieved no true benefit from their presence there,other than some of the locals having been hired to add some safe cultural flavor. So give it some time...but by then,it will likely do you no good to move down there because they will have also established an economy exclusive to everyone, but themselves.

I've seen it a dozen times. They can't just go down there and live like a native,they have to bring everything they claim to despise about America with them,when they've completely disrupted the natural order of things there.They will claim it's become too commercial for them and move on to some other unsuspecting region of a country like a bunch of culture devouring locusts!!

WTH. I voted for Obama I don't get welfare, drink booze or do drugs. I own a small business, work out every day and try to live clean (clean unprocessed food, no alcohol or pharmaceuticals of ANY kind). Where does this stereotype come from?

The fellow liberals I know are educated, self sufficient people. The deadbeats on welfare and drugs could give a crap about elections they are um... otherwise engaged on election day. I'm for living wages and opportunity not handouts.

Southern State of Mind, don't bother. The ignorant illiterates like Trouble are allergic to facts. All they can do is speak in Fox News-inspired bumper stickers.

If you have to ask you can't afford it. But don't feel bad, I can't either.

My wife and I are NOT well off but we saved for our retirement. I don't know about Nicaragua, but in Belize a beachside house (1600 sq. ft.) costs $15 a year in property taxes. Anything you buy from in-country is cheap but importing is expensive. The food isn't pumped up with growth hormones, the fruit and veggies are fresh from the vine. The air isn't polluted and the politics are benign. You can get pretty much anywhere in a car or, in our case, a Polaris side by side. Temps are 85 - 90 by day and low 70's at night, year round. Hurricanes can be a problem though. But you just keep on believing that you're better off there and leave all this drudgery to us. We're really happier if you stay away. Really.

Why would they listen? They think that we work for them instead of them working for us.

They don't care Tommy. Their only objective is to get the Black man out off office. The GOP behavior would be considered a prosecutable criminal conspiracy if it were a corporation.

I already told my wife - if I could find a sponsor in Canada I'd take my whole family out of here. I dont care for the right wing zealots that think they need to impose their religion into my life on a constant basis on a broad range of topics from womens rights to health care.

Holiday, (You too Mike) A little comprehension would go a long way for you. He said 'congress' that's both parties. (Stupid libs).

Holiday

I do not usually go down the race track but...no matter what the color the man just needs to go. What makes you think that the red and the blue both are NOT corporations, or extensions of the BIG corporation. And not just red and blue but whatever shade of grey they may be. There is this line in a document, "Government of the People, by the People, for the People". When we have a government of COMMON people instead of bankers, lawyers, doctors, and corporate leaders then we will have government that serves The People. Until then...bend over for the BIG corporate interests no matter what color you are. It is not about race or color...it is about money...

And by the way...there is one guy in the mix right now that does line up closely with the common person thing. At least he is not a lawyer, doctor, banker, or coporate leader, and I do not believe he is ALL about money, though he has chosen a color. Guess who.

Have said it many times.

Your 2 party system where winner takes all does not work. It creates gridlock and a 1 party dictator ship.

Untill you get rid of your 2 party system you are DOOMED.

Hey Mike when you move to Canada let me know how that 12% sales tax works for you on goods and services. They have to pay for that free health care somehow.

Herb,

I did find that rather interesting that many of them were from California...isnt California where hard left liberals flock to?

Since Nicaragua is just a short jump away from them, it certainly makes it a quick, cheap and easy place to move to................just pack up the car and go.

Meooow!

Yes, many people dislike Obama....this is nothing new. Some even leave the U.S. because of him.

If you wanted to leave the U.S. because of the policies and actions of the U.S. president, you would have left during the disaster that was called G.W. Bush. We're still recovering, slowly, from that period of U.S. history.

T-REX... You see that thing that just flew over your head? That was zevon's point that the woman moved there TEN years ago because "Obama has ruined" this country. Just wondering how he did that TEN years ago?

stp

I heard a joke on yes, FOX, this morning. Gerry Brown and Obama just renamed the St Andreas Fault. They are calling it Bush's Fault. You are almost 4 years behind the times on this. The current bunch of idiots promised we would be out of this LAST summer. They lied and knew in 08 they were lying just to get YOU to vote for them. They are still lying, and you are still listening and insane if you are excepting the next 4 years will be any different. I would be ashamed to admit I am from WA but I am sure I have been here longer than you (the last REAL Governor we had was Dan Evans (R)) and you should really move to Cali or Nicaragua and live out the fantasy because I do not think you will like or next president either. Go Rob Mckenna!

It is why I am going to leave, worthless dumb garbage like you totherepublic It is Always always about politics. You know what look in the mirror, see scum right, well that is also both parties scum. I know I make more money than you, traveled a hell of a lot more than you, my kids are sucessful, paid a lot more taxes than you and I assume you are just one more Wal-mart republican that has never stepped foot out of the US. A no nothing, right wing garbage. I grew up not far from you, been gone a long time, Montana, I also shoot better than you, and can't think of a nicer thought than one right between your eyes.

And we all know that the current administration obtained the exclusive rights to lying in 2008. End sarcasm.

I heard a joke on yes, FOX, this morning. Gerry Brown and Obama just renamed the St Andreas Fault. They are calling it Bush's Fault. You are almost 4 years behind the times on this. The current bunch of idiots promised we would be out of this LAST summer. They lied and knew in 08 they were lying just to get YOU to vote for them.

Remarkable! I listen to FOX everyday for nothing but the jokes. They lied to us in 08 because things were handed off in such remarkably good shape. My favorite FOX joke was aired on Sept 29, 2008 I believe when Bush & Henry Paulson stood before the cameras and informed us all hell had broken loose with the economy. Paulson was a Bush advisor and former CEO of Goldman Sachs, one of the major collapsing dominoes which was clearly deteriorating under his watch. So, maybe Obama hasn't brought the economy back to where we would like it, but he wasn't President on Sept. 29, 2008 either. Frankly, I don't think Obama had a clue how bad things were in 2008. Why should he? The folks who caused it sure didn't.

Dan

And just how is it you KNOW all that about some one you do not even know. Oh yeh, I forgot , smear and fear. Just a couple. CSM USA (Retired). 23 countries and 48 states in about 27 years of service (including 8 years as an Airborne Infantry Sniper). Three campaigns; Nam, Granada, Desert Shield/Storm. I left home and joined the Army in 1972 at 17 and have been paying taxes all my adult life. I have a son that is a Company Commander in Afghan at this very minute and a daughter that is leading a research team on the coral reefs of the coast of Florida. If my wife was still alive I would have HER kick your worthless a-- because she has always handled my light work for me. So I guess if I am scum....thank you for your service.

Ralph

We ALL caused it. EVERYONE was running around with $$ in our eyes and looking for the easy ride provided by debt we could not pay. Now it is pay back and everyone is blaming everyone else. We are going to make it TOGETHER, united, or we are not. We are going to be RESPONSIBLE as a nation or fall...all of us. Obama can NOT unite this country and does not want to. Can Romney/Ryan? Who knows. I do know they WANT to try. I would rather go with the may be so than the defiantly NOT. It has nothing to do with party at this point because the party is almost over.

Ecuador is a great place! I spent several weeks there and have a friend who just ex~patted to Cuenca in the south earlier this month. They use the dollar, enjoy the good life without being so greed driven and grasping, have quality medical care and gasoline is under $2 a gallon (funny how THAT works, eh?).

As far as all of the whiners please go vote for R&R and you'll ALL be wishing you could get out of here. I have my place saved in Cuenca just in case cuz there will be mass destruction of the country if the Robot Mormon steals the election.

Check out Ecuador. Mountain living = 60-75 degrees every day, can get a 90 day visa just for showing up, have to prove $800 a month income plus additional $100 a month per dependent, so a couple can get permanent residence status on $900 a month income. And you probably won't spend that much living there. Check out Internationalliving.com.

Yes, Ecuador was one of my favorite choices. But I will most likely retire to live on a sailboat. I don't really have enough money to settle down overseas. I will get me a $20,000 live aboard yacht and move around in the Caribbean. That is really the cheapest retirement.

As long as your boat outlives you, and the sharks don't.

hey square dude, competiting is global now. The purpose of retirement is to finally be able to stop competiting. Some day, take a trip somewhere, go visit other countries, quit being such a hick. This is just another facet of globalization, countries will compete for retirees, it is the free market, watch out Sun City. Right wing dumb ass politics will hurt you in the market. I wouldn't live in Afghanastan with the Taliban, why would I live in the US with the Christian Taliban trying to shove their religion down my throat. Most people who will live outside of the US have already travelled, they know that European healthcare makes ours look like shi!. They don't listen to some dumb asZ on TV whether it is FOX or NBC. they have seen they have looked. Heard a term today, sheeple, the United States of Sheeply

If O BUM MA gets elected again, I will sell my and stuff and move to Nicaragua. Then all you lib's can fight over the slim pickings left like the Vultures you are. And I am Christian and I haven't shoved anything down your throat; BUT the founders of America did when they wrote the CONSTITUTION which you are apparently enjoying destroying!!!

You know you are dumber than a box of rocks. Just treat people decent and you are fine. My experience, Peace Corp Costa Rica in the early 80s and I haven't stopped travelling since for my job. Lived in Colombia, mexico and all over Europe and you CharlesXavier are a liar and I doubt if you have ever been out of the US.

Dan-1018744: Ever been to France??? Just about every travel magazine will tell you they "Don't Like Anyone Very Much!...

You got that right..............but why is it that I can drive anywhere I choose to in the USA with one license, but I can not fish anywhere I choose without separate state licenses? This is the UNITED STATES is it not?? And healthcare is not the same from state to state..........it appears we have 50 different little countries like Europe......something to think about.

DKL ,

i have always wondered why they don't offer a federal sports-mans license. Something that could be issued anywhere in the country and the appropriate revenue from it dispenced among the individual states DNR offices depending on what you did there. For example you go to Wyoming to hunt an Antelope check in at the Dnr have them stamp your license and then they could submit that reciept to the federal licensing office for reimbursement. They could load your license according to sport and state and off you go. It just seems like it would take a lot of hassle out of it for everyone concerned when you are going cross country to fish or hunt.