I know this is a lost cause in Puerto Rico because of the bad leaders the separatist movement has had. But in theory and history , are the conditions right for an armed stuggle in Puerto Rico?

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Amir Nallaf

Go for it. We'll kill every last one. If a band of Puerto Ricans rise up to commit terrorism, then kill every last one.

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Formerly W.E.B. Du Bois (you can still call me "WEB")

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Well, what makes you think Puerto Ricans would have to be reduced to armed conflict with us? Do you not feel that you have a case strong enough to present without whipping out the guns? Why do you feel Puerto Rico should be sovereign? Make an argument for sovereignty of Puerto Rico.

Ask yourself these questions: Would Puerto Rico really benefit from breaking off? Are they being oppressed notably by Americans in some way?

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

Personally, I have felt that Puerto Ricans should either stay as they are or argue for independence (the former being in their better interests, I think). The following source:

What Should Be Done with Puerto Rico?

Makes the case that statehood may not be good for a number of reasons - social ones most importantly. I wish socially it would work right now, I don't think it would be so easy. I think that the Puerto Ricans are in quite a cushy position now. They are granted basically everything that Americans are, are allowed to participate in our elections, and are not under any terribly oppression that I can remember hearing about (correct me if I am wrong, BTW).

If Puerto Rico wants to be free, the people should pressure the government to have a serious look into petitioning Congress for it. Otherwise, they'll stay under the umbrella of the U.S.

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

is puerto rico that repressed or poor? why would their people be willing to pick up arms??

Well, we're not really oppressed, but I can think of a reason we really need to reform the US-Puerto Rico relationship and policy: the economy. Puerto Rico's economy is stagflating severely for three reasons, all of which stem directly from it being an appendix of the US economy.

One, Puerto Rico bound by law to the US dollar. The US dollar is on a long downward slide, and since PR already has a significant trade surplus (17.8 billion dollars, 20.8% of GDP/1.6:1 export-to-import ratio), it's been unable to digest the outpour of money and subsequently the economy's been inflating. If we were allowed to print our own currency and peg it to the Euro or to a commodity, that could bring inflation under control.

Two, Puerto Rico has to abide by the American minimum wage. This results in the cost of labour and thus the cost of doing business in Puerto Rico being way too high for most investors, because Puerto Rico does not produce enough to warrant salaries that expensive. We may have the wealthiest economy in Latin America, but it's still a developing economy. Consequently, Puerto Rico has the lowest employment rate in the World, standing at around 25% of the adult population. That causes sluggish growth.

And finally, we have welfare. The other reason employment rates are so incredibly low in Puerto Rico is that we have way too strong a welfare state for the size of the economy. Being on welfare in Puerto Rico means for most people making roughly half what you would working. Factor in the fact that welfare assistance was designed for US recipients and consumer prices in Puerto Rico are around half what they are in the States, and you get nearly half of all families mooching off the system.

Personally, I think what we need to do is give PR more autonomy without giving it independence quite yet.

Sir; you are talking about my family now, and I would like you to know that the united states has had Puerto Ricans in it military in all its wars since we took the place, and have served bravely, and with distinction, a country that barely views them as human, or deserving of their own state in our nation. No; I do not believe they should fight for their independence, but we should all support them for statehood. These people are no shit cool. If we want only fifty states as an excuse to demean others we hold as second class territories, then combine two little colonial states to make one real state, and let the Puerto Ricans in. Look. Their chickens and dogs are smarter than some of our republicans. You never see a chicken there crossing the road, or flat as a pancake. I saw a dog waiting at a red light to cross the road. If every American were as free as a Puerto Rican dog, not one threat in the whole world would bother us.

No sir, you are the only one talking about your family. I very specifically talked about "if a band of Puerto Ricans rise up to commit terrorism". My comment was so short that I think it's actually very strange how you could miss that. If you still maintain that this refers to your family, then you are saying that your family could be a "band of Puerto Ricans (who) rise up to commit terrorism." Is that what you mean to say?

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Formerly W.E.B. Du Bois (you can still call me "WEB")

Current Diplomacy thread
WEB Music Playlist
Protest Animal Cruelty

Independence?

Never will happen.

If they ever became more organized than they are now, they would be butting heads with the people who want statehood. (And those guys have had plenty of chances as well.)

We shouldn't be testing weapons so close to peurto rico, since I believe there is evidence it is detrimental to their health. But no, you should not rise up in an armed struggle. If anything you should have a referendum for independence.