by Jack Campitelli | September 7th, 2011
Journalists Flee Ecuador. August 28, 2011
That headline alone should give you pause for thought.
The Associated Press, as well as many other papers, are reporting this date that a reporter has fled Ecuador to Miami after the was sentenced to three years in prison for calling the president “a dictator.” Three other executives of the newspaper El Universo – the largest in the country – were also convicted and fined $42-million. It is a slippery slope from socialist reformer to fascist dictator as President Correa and the people of Ecuador are discovering. The problem is, and the problem always has been, that a poor electorate are quite susceptible to being enticed to vote for someone who promises that their lives will be better – that the new president will take from the rich and give to the poor. Correa’s problem is that his promises are many and his cash limited and no one’s lending. Ecuador’s currency is the U.S. dollar and Correa doesn’t have a printing press like Obama does. Me thinks this could come to a bad end. The only way Correa can keep the promises is to go off the dollar and if he does that, there will likely be a coup d’etat and if there’s not? Inflation will start to run at 20% a month until there is.
I have written a complete “boots on the ground” booklet on my experiences in Ecuador and why I wouldn’t wish them on ANYONE.
Go to http://www.ascolibooks.com/
It’s right there bottom right “The Ugly Truth about Ecuador”
If you are even THINKING about relocating to Ecuador PLEASE PLEASE do yourself a favor and read this first!!
The truth about Ecuador is that it really is NOT a great place to live.
I have been curious about Ecuador too. International Living magazine keeps saying how wonderful the place and pushes it hard (they are biased I reckon). I watched a DVD on it and wasn’t too impressed.
Care to share a few points why its not a good place to stay?
Hi, Bob –
That’s what the book’s about! Buy it. Enjoy it. And then write me and thank me for letting you know about it.
We’re leaving in 7 days after two years and,, call it $300,000 of loss.
Granted we tried to DO something here rather than veg. I’m a businessman and lawyer. This isn’t my first rodeo. When I say a place doesn’t work? It doesn’t work.
Oh wow, I didn’t realise you are in Ecuador right now Jack?
Are there any other places that you would recommend people avoid?
Glad to see someone tell it like it is!!