PrIntellectual

Puerto Rico continues to be a pawn for the U.S. and it seems that letting go of the island is a long shot. Neither Political Parties have made strides at altering Puerto Rico's role within the U.S. and it seems that we will have another century of U.S. rule over the island.

I myself am a Puerto Rican and an advent supporter of pro-liberation for my country. While many on the island seem content with P.R.'s current political status, I find it utterly ridiculous that the U.S. would continue to use the island for it's bases and it's strategic locality....We are no longer fighting Nazi Germany, and WWII is in the distant past, so why continue to hold on????

The current situation on the island continues to deal with the large infestation of drug trafficking, which is the main source of revenue, aside from tourism. Not only have I watched the island go from an American tourist "hot spot", I watched the grip of the drug trade, mangle Puerto Rico's youth, and destroy the homely feel that was once "The Island of Enchantment."

Freedom is not only a right in the U.S. but is major component in the way that life is operated. With a supposed new political regime entering the White House, does anyone agree that the U.S. should consider loosening it's grip on Puerto Rico, and allowing the island to meddle in it's own affairs?

I welcome all opinions on this matter...

Sebelius for VP, not Hillary

I don't feel that you've given an objective analysis of Puerto Rico's status. There are no facts at all in your post. Without that, I don't see much utility in just stating your opinion with no facts to back it up.

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Forum Rule 3: Discuss the Issue, not your opponent.

Allan Rivera

I share with you the vision that Puerto Rico is a pawn or just merely a colony with a different name(ELA). In my personal opinion I think that the US congress should determine it policy once and for all over the status in Puerto Rico. The congress has abandoned us as american citizens and is a shame on how that same goverment decides over issues concerning the people of Puerto Rico but not in the best interest of the people of Puerto Rico. I think that we(puertorriquenos) as citizens should fight for a complete union to the US and claim full citizenship concerning our seats in congress and our rights to vote for president or just separate completely from the US. The colony and the "ELA" cannot hold any longer for the true aspirations of a nation that wants to be free and equal to all others in earth. But for that we(puertorriquenos) most unite our voices and hands to build a better Puerto Rico for us and for our sons. !!!!Larga vida a Puerto Rico libre e igual!!!!

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Amir Nallaf

emptypepsi

Do you think economically Puerto Rico would be better off by breaking off on its own?

Can you factually show me where America is being notably oppressive and tyrannical over Puerto Rico to the point of needing to break off? We allow Puerto Rico a say in our elections. I could see an argument here if we continued to hold power over but never extended participation in such things or considered their vote. Puerto Rico has more delegate count than some of our own states!

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"The saddest aspect of life right now is that science gathers knowledge faster than society gathers wisdom."
Isaac Asimov

Dr House

Personally, I think the question of Puerto Rico's status is loaded because... well... all the current choices suck. Colonial status is obviously a problem. We've no say on our economic policy, our foreign policy, et al. Statehood means the destruction of what little of a national identity we had. Independence means that we lose our automatic US citizenship, as well as welfare. As an independent country, it's likely the economy would uncork and start growing at a rate rivaling China's, but in the intervening period, before employment rates are high enough to sustain us, people could starve without the American government teat. What I recommend is the status that the PPD platform originally called for: What we have now, but with more autonomy in decision-making so that, for example, we can mint our own money, use a merchant navy other than the American one, or seek trading partners outside the US.

Allan Rivera

The United States in not politicaly tyrannical with Pueto Rico. But in terms of economy we are a complete colony. We cannot trade by our own, the trade to the states is taxed and to all of the world, the welfare system has destroy puertorrican business spirit, and foreign economic policy is dictated to us by a congress that does not represent the interest of the people(this is because we do not have the god given right of every citizen to vote for congress or president). What happens when the United States congress taxes our products for exportation? The puertorrican economy does not grow. The perfect example for this is Bacardi Rum. In Puerto Rico it has a good price but when it leaves our shores the price is inflated as a fat woman with free vouchers to KFC. This way Bacardi cannot sell as much as the Amercian whiskey and othe liquors and therefore it cannot compete.

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Amir Nallaf

Allan Rivera

I dont think that anything or any platform that the PPD or more simply the pro-colony party is good for Puerto Rico. They just want the perpetuation of the colony and nothing more. It is a shame when the "leaders" of the PPD talk and they say a lot of words but not any coherent thought. Also doing what the PPD wants is just not going to happen. We are going to have all the benefits and none of the responsabilities? In spanish we would be "vividores". If we want to produce any progress we most stop thinking that with a glorified colony with less responsabilities we are going to have more rights because rights only come with responsabilities.

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Amir Nallaf

Dr House

I know, I'm looking at this from a practical standpoint. Cutting the island off a lo rajatabla would be problematic to say the least. We're too dependent on welfare, on chavos gringos, there isn't enough of an economic structure set up to sustain the island. If we don't reform the economy before becoming independent, people will starve.

Chekeate este artículo q yo escribí acerca d como arreglar la economía d Puerto Rico, particularmente la parte d como sacar a la gente d los cupones.

What I'm saying is we need a transitional period. We need to stop being a colony and become an autonomous region, like Hong Kong, before we can step out of America's shadow and breathe free.

Troianii

It will not be long until Puerto Rico is a U.S. State.

Dr House

I don't think it's in America's interests to have PR as a state.