If it seemed last year that every time you wanted to drive someplace, you were thwarted by another demonstration protest of this or that, State of the Nation researchers say you’re right.

Last year, there were 632 street demonstrations, nearly an average of two per day. The only time an administration has experienced more was during ex-President Jose Maria Figueres second year in office in 1995 when people took to the streets 755 times.

The national newspaper La Nacion reported that the protests ranged from urging indigenous people’s rights to the Caja strike of anesthesiologist that set back some 2,000 surgeries (and gained them nothing.)

Jorge Vargas, head of the research, told La Nacion that it shows Costa Ricans to be less conformists than before, more willing to stand up for their rights in the streets.

For Minister of the Presidency Carlos Ricardo Benavides, demonstration is: “substantial for a democratic regime” and defended the Administration in that “it has attempted to maintain an open dialogue and has achieved it.”

Analysis: Although we respect Benavides, we wonder that, if an open dialogue has been achieved, why people seem to think they have to block traffic and strive for civil disorder.

Vargas points out that “People, although they do not recognize leadership in civil society, continue to protest, but each group for itself.”

This seems to us to be the key. While the “every man for himself” approach may appeal to the independent side of Costa Rican culture and, incidentally, let off steam, it really doesn’t solve anything.

Some demonstrations are for selfish, short term benefits for the participants. Others are for more substantial, higher minded reasons. They both share the same characteristic — futility.

The quiet gathering of people for a referendum is more effective and conducive to public order than waving flags in the street. But it does not satisfy the venting of anger nor the “look at me!” impulse.

At one time, leftist students were nearly the only ones who demonstrated–such as the 1970s protests by University of Costa Rican students against the Alcoa aluminum contract. For older adults, such behavior was “inculto,” guache and rude.

Vargas is right–Tico adults are probably more apt to demonstrate today than ever before. But do they really want to emulate the United States of the 1960s? Civil disobedience abounded then — but it was not until 1974 that the government moved to withdraw its troops from Vietnam.

As for the leftist politicians who goaded on demonstrators last week, will anyone remember the pretext for that protest even a month from now?