Comments on: Puerto Rico Isn’t A State

By: Boss-Joe

Boss-Joe — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 00:49:22 +0000

In the past few referendums, Puerto Ricans where literary split over the choice of becoming a state or keeping commonwealth status, with close to 50% each. However, the statehood choice has being closing in to become the majority in a near future due to the great discontent towards the actual government for it’s corruption (the governor and other high officials are accused by the Feds) and it’s inability to respond to the island’s current economic crisis.
I agree with Fernando that at least until we become a state or an independent country, our proud service men and women should be able to vote for the person who is going to decide whether or not they are going to fight a war, but I can’t believe there are people thinking that an underachieving Olympic Federation is more important than the future of our society. I mean, if Puerto Rico is ever going to become a state, that doesn’t mean it’s going to loose it’s culture, talent, and so on. Every state has it’s own charms and distinctions. As for the sporting aspect, scientific knowledge, and all the Puerto Rican’s talents, I know by experience that they’ll be doubled by the monumental amounts (do not as high as military) of attentions our USA brothers give them.
By now everyone must realized I’m an advocate for statehood. The reasons for my posture are my experiences living most of my live in the gorgeous island, where I had to struggle every second to stay afloat over the giant cloud of uncertainty that covers every corner of Puerto Rico’s work force.
Even the founding fathers of the actual commonwealth status knew it wasn’t made to last forever. The knew that if Puerto Rico was to keep existing as it is, sooner or later we would have to choose between becoming part of the Union or go our separate ways.

By: Fernando Gonzalez

Fernando Gonzalez — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 14:35:47 +0000

I hear you on the taxes. If we ever became a state I guess they would only have to switch the direction the money flows. Instead of our income taxes going directly to the state, they would go to the federal government and then (some) back to the state. Our overall taxes would effectively be lower and less people would be taxed anyways.

And Medicare providers would (hopefully) get reimbursements on par with beneficiaries’ contributions.

One thing I would definitely miss if we ever became a state would be seeing Puerto Rican representation in the Olympics. You now with the Puerto Rican flag on their uniforms and all.

But as things stand, there is one thing I think would definitely need changing. Soldiers should be able to vote for their President. American Soldiers whose state of legal residence is Puerto Rico, either because they are in the Reserves or National Guard or whatever, should be able to vote on presidential elections. It’s actually a bit unbelievable that they can’t.

By: Puerto Rican

Puerto Rican — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 17:37:07 +0000

Where do you people get your facts? Have any of you lived in Puerto Rico or even visited? “U.S. territory” “Common Wealth”, funny how it didnt really matter til after the closing of the naval base.
As far as taxes:
Puerto Rico is classified by the U.S. government as an independent taxation authority by mutual agreement with the U.S. Congress. Contrary to common misconception, residents of Puerto Rico pay some U.S. federal taxes: import/export taxes, federal commodity taxes, social security taxes, etc. Most residents do not pay federal income tax but pay federal payroll taxes (Social Security and Medicare), and Puerto Rico income taxes. But federal employees, or those who do business with the federal government, Puerto Rico-based corporations that intend to send funds to the U.S. and others also pay federal income taxes. Because the cutoff point for income taxation is lower than that of the U.S. IRS code, and because the per-capita income in Puerto Rico is much lower than the average per-capita income on the mainland, more Puerto Rico residents pay income taxes to the local taxation authority than if the IRS code were applied to the island. Residents are eligible for Social Security benefits upon retirement. But Puerto Rico is excluded from Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and receives less than 15% of the Medicaid funding it would be allotted as a state, while Medicare providers receive only partial state-like reimbursements for services rendered to beneficiaries in Puerto Rico (even though the latter paid fully into the system).

It’s a give and take. It’s a separate island; it has its own culture. Today in the U.S., Puerto Ricans are still discriminated against and many times treated as second class citizens, I know from experience. Why should they decide to become a state and lose what little independence they have? The biggest fear is that if they become a state, the culture will cease to exist. It’s asking them to give up their language, their anthem and their pride of who they are. Why give that up if they will still be treated as second class citizens?

By: jerry

jerry — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 22:46:00 +0000

Thanks Jay.

By: Jay Tea

Jay Tea — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 21:19:34 +0000

Jerry, the biggest argument is “self-determination.” They apparently aren’t interested in either change of status. And there isn’t really enough interest in the issue in the rest of the United States to push them to give up their territorial status and do either option.

Every now and then, though, there’s a push to grant them some of the privileges of statehood (Congressional representation, voting in presidential elections, etc. etc.) without saddling them with the burdens of statehood and stripping them of the benefits of territorial status, but it’s usually shouted down by people who believe that rights and responsibilities go hand-in-hand.

In theory, I’d like to see Congress move to place a two-choice referendum in front of the people of Puerto Rico, with “statehood” and “independence” as the two choices, so they couldn’t remain a territory, but I really don’t care enough about the matter to push for it. And, apparently, I’m in the majority in that.

By: jerry

jerry — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 19:29:25 +0000

Apart from living there and not wanting to pay federal taxes, what are the arguments in favor of leaving them as a territory and not making them a state or letting them become independent?

By: jerry

jerry — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 16:24:22 +0000

Thanks bill, I didn’t realize that.

By: bill l.

bill l. — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 06:05:21 +0000

Sean,

I got your original point, however, the last bit about some states actually being commonwealths (ala Puerto Rico) came across as wrong, even if that was not your intention.

Jerry,

Puerto Rico doesn’t pay federal taxes, but they do receive federal services. That’s been a long standing bone of contention for many who oppose Puerto Rico’s fence straddling with the commonwealth designation.

By: Sean D. Martin

Sean D. Martin — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 01:44:15 +0000

bill l.: Bzzzt. Uhhh, Sean, Puerto Rico is an actual commonwealth…

Yeah. I know that. (”I get the point being made,”) The point I was making is that the person wasn’t doing themselves any favors by the way they said it. Particularly when they were complaining about what someone else said. Essentially, when chastising an idiot, don’t sound anything like one yourself.

By: jerry

jerry — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 00:14:34 +0000

Yes, I think we all should shit or get off the pot on this.

By: Jay Tea

Jay Tea — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 00:11:56 +0000

Minor problem, Jerry.

Every few years or so, they hold a referendum in Puerto Rico to see if they want to become a state, go independent, or remain a territory of the United States. And “territory” keeps winning.

So the people of Puerto Rico keep saying they’re happy to keep things just as they are. Unless you’re asking for the Congress to simply declare that they can’t remain a territory and gotta shit or get off the pot, that ain’t changing any time soon — because the Puerto Ricans don’t want to change.

By: jerry

jerry — Sat, 31 May 2008 23:39:56 +0000

Puerto Rico is not a state. It should either be made a state or be made independent. Until then, yeah, I have a big problem with their not being able to vote and yet having all the other responsibilities: tax and a possible draft.

Taxation without representation.

There is room on our flag for one or more more stars.

(On the other hand, god forbid that you Washingtonians ever get the vote!)

By: bill l.

bill l. — Sat, 31 May 2008 23:23:20 +0000

Bzzzt.

Uhhh, Sean, Puerto Rico is an actual commonwealth, a protected territory of the U.S. Kentucky, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Virginia are all states with “Commonwealth” being something of a symbolic title with no practical consequences, particularly with regards to their representation in Congress or the general election. In other words, they’re nothing like Puerto Rico.

By: Sean D. Martin

Sean D. Martin — Sat, 31 May 2008 22:52:21 +0000

Not anybody in CNN has corrected this douchebag and told the audience that Puerto Ricans live in a commonwhealth, not a state and thus they have no executive, no senatorial and no congressional representation in the US government.

I get the point being made, but when you’re going off on a rant and calling someone else ignorant and a “douchebag” you really need to make sure your phrasing doesn’t make you sound similarly ignorant.

Because by the rational given Kentucky, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Virginia, all being commonwealths rather than states, should then likewise play no role.