Why is Puerto Rico still a US Territory?

[tomblue01]

After hurricane Maria ravaged Puerto Rico, it occurred to me that taxpayer dollars will fix her up along with TX, FL, et al. Who is she [Puerto Rico], anyway? She's not a state, but her people are US citizens. [They share the same rights as US citizens on paper, but history shows that our government {& hence, us...?} hasn't always given them equal treatment.] I've met & worked alongside many Puerto Ricans from my time in the service. Fine Americans.

Did you know that, according to the NY Times, 97% [of voters - but there was unusually low turnout] voted for statehood this year... 2017! This latest vote continues a series of referendums that started in 2012 [there's been a plethora of referendums since she became a territory in 1898, but 2012 marked the first time a majority of Puerto Ricans voters favored statehood]. Why is she still a territory? For most of the 20th century, having her as a territory was strategic. I cannot think of a defense for that 'strategic reason' today. Roosevelt Roads Naval Station closed down in 2004. Hmmm. I can't answer that question; I suppose that's why I'm writing it here.

So, what do we do with her? Puerto Ricans don't pay the federal income tax [exception: workers for the US in PR], yet they receive 21 billion dollars annually... Hmmm.
Why is she still a territory? What should we do with her?
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[url]http://www.motherjones.com/media/2015/04/puerto-rico-independence-albizu-campos/[/URL]
[url]https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/11/us/puerto-ricans-vote-on-the-question-of-statehood.html[/URL]
[url]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Welfare_in_Puerto_Rico[/URL]

 

[BigPapa]

There are more US Territories in the Caribbean than Puerto Rico. I imagine the majority of them were devastated this hurricane season.

 

[BIGNASTY]

because we have a shortage of Baseball Players & movie stars??

 

[BigPapa]

Check out all the US Territories in the Pacific sometime.

 

[tomblue01]

In the Carribean, there are "3" US Territories. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, & some little uninhabited island named Navassa. Roughly 2miles by 1.5miles, Navassa is an unorganized, unincorporated territory of the US to which Haiti also lays claim. This little guy had [has?] some importance. Once the Panama Canal opened the US put a lighthouse on it. Haiti layed claim to its nearby islands in 1801 [Navassa is 35mi away]. The US layed claim in 1857 for the purpose of bat guano mining. The mining ceased over 100 years ago. With modern day GPS, one could make an argument against its importance to the US in the 21st century. In any case, for the sake of discussion, Iet's ignore Navassa.

The US purchased the Virgin Islands from the [previously] Kingdom of Denmark-Norway in 1916. The VI are an organized, unincorporated US territory. Population: ~106,000 folks. They too have discussed their independence, so feel free to group them with PR, if you desire. There wasn't much support during their referendum, and because they derive a super-majority of their income from tourism [mostly US], it's unlikely they'll ever want to vote themselves out of our protection. Nonetheless, I can't find a 'strategic reason' to keep them. It seems to me that we like having them, & they like having us. Can the same be said of PR?

Puerto Rico has a population of ~3,400,000 folks. They have more people than 20 US states! Pr is an organized, unincorporated US territory like the VI. Since the shutdown of the naval base, Puerto Ricans have made a concerted effort to become a US state. It seems to me that they know they're no longer a strategic asset, and they don't want the US to leave them by themselves. By becoming a US state, they'd continue to receive the benefits of the US government. In this particular case, many PR's want to become a US state. I don't think the feeling is reciprocal. Nonetheless PR's have fought as US soldiers in every war since World War I. I don't have figures regarding the total amount of PR's who have served in the military over the scores of years since she became a territory in 1898. If someone does, please let me know! I mention their service only to remind folks that despite having a different culture and language [perhaps that's why the feeling isn't reciprocal], they've been in the trenches with us 'regular' citizens of the US, essentially from the beginning.

I'm not a proponent for PR statehood. I lean towards cutting her loose, but somehow we must deal with honorably and satisfactorily with her vets and their families. I certainly feel the US should help rebuild the damage done by the hurricane [she's our responsibility, after all], but I don't think the status quo should continue.

Why is she still a territory? Do we merge, or do we exit?

 

[tomblue01]

I'll argue that the Pacific territories are strategic. They have neither the land mass nor the population of PR. Further, they lack a serious movement for statehood as well as independence.

PR is special. Can anyone think of a solid reason to keep her status as that of a US Territory?

 

[Tuesdak]

One reason: Some telephone support calls aka Dell Computer go there instead of India. Several other countries we have visited all deserve the full wrath of the IRS turned loose on them with the gift of statehood. We have spilled enough blood for some other countries so now it's time to turn "our" education system loose on them. Make them pay for college like we have too... (Iraq with free college comes to mind.)

 

[tomblue01]

Businesses always try to skirt our ridonculous tax code. I found this quote regarding biz in PR:
"If a U.S. corporation decides to establish its operations in Puerto Rico through a Puerto Rico subsidiary, the latter will not constitute part of the consolidated group for purposes of the filing of U.S. income tax returns, since a P.R. corporation is considered a foreign corporation for U.S. purposes."

Despite your facetiousness [I chuckled at the "wrath of the IRS" bit], I don't think anyone will make an argument for spending $21B annually for the benefit of businesses!

 

[jhenderson]

A acquaintances' son is an accountant for a large business accounting firm. They have offices in PR. Every new hire does several years there before being allowed to spend the rest of their employment stateside. The firm supplies housing on a private golf course and school for his son. Several large pharma co. also have similar office and housing arrangements. It's obviously a tax situation. It's probably as close to living in the states as these families can get while the company enjoys the tax savings. The savings must be substantial to pay for the housing and school alone, never mind salary.

 

[tomblue01]

Well, as far as the weather goes [when there aren't any hurricanes around], PR has one season year round - extra nice weather! Avg high is in the mid 80's. Avg low is in the mid 70's. Lots of sunshine! All year round. I never knew that until recently.

 

[jhenderson]

Funny, when the fellow I know went to visit his son the golf course was closed. Ron asked his son about the lake and was told it was a puddle( 2 ft deep and about an acre) .after the rain. His son said it happens on a regular basis.

 

[AMink]

Can anyone think of a solid reason to keep her status as that of a US Territory?

51 stars would look weird.:-laf

 

[SnoKing]

51 stars would look weird.:-laf

Really?

51 Stars
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50 Stars today

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[Lynx0849]

So, Trump doesn’t have time to help millions of citizens in PR but can go to his golf club and criticize the San Juan mayor for asking for help?

Is it because they are not white Texans or Floridians?

That is plain nasty.

 

[tomblue01]

I'm fairly sure everyone will receive money... it seems to be the American way these days. In any case, Lynx, do you think we should keep Puerto Rico as a territory? Make her a state?

 

[Lynx0849]

I'm fairly sure everyone will receive money... it seems to be the American way these days. In any case, Lynx, do you think we should keep Puerto Rico as a territory? Make her a state?

I agree that in the end, all will be well. The problem is the White House isn’t showing urgency to an urgent situation. Trump says they are doing terrific but going to his golf resort is more important to him than going to the disaster zone. He made two trips to a Texas.

I think Puerto Rico should become a state.

 

[SnoKing]

So, Trump doesn’t have time to help millions of citizens in PR but can go to his golf club and criticize the San Juan mayor for asking for help?

Is it because they are not white Texans or Floridians?

That is plain nasty.

It is part of MAWA!

 

[JR]

So, Trump doesn’t have time to help millions of citizens in PR but can go to his golf club and criticize the San Juan mayor for asking for help?

Is it because they are not white Texans or Floridians?

That is plain nasty.

The problem is they are not trying to restore power to a distribution grid that is anywhere near current. The PREPA (Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority) defaulted on a deal to restructure roughly $9 billion in bond debt in July. Their infrastructure is decades beyond being due for upgrades. Residents routinely lose power for days after a moderate windstorm or due to overloading of the frailed state of the grid. And now because their defunct distribution grid is wiped clean we are expected to go in and restore it to "better than new" in a matter of days.

Brilliant.

 

[jhenderson]

So, Trump doesn’t have time to help millions of citizens in PR but can go to his golf club and criticize the San Juan mayor for asking for help?

Is it because they are not white Texans or Floridians?

That is plain nasty.

Can we agree Heraldo Rivera is not a Trump fan? Can we also agree he has many relatives on the island? He's there now. Google his comments or his on air reports on the mayor of San Juan. Then come back and apologise for your uninformed outburst.

 

[SnoKing]

The problem is they are not trying to restore power to a distribution grid that is anywhere near current. The PREPA (Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority) defaulted on a deal to restructure roughly $9 billion in bond debt in July. Their infrastructure is decades beyond being due for upgrades. Residents routinely lose power for days after a moderate windstorm or due to overloading of the frailed state of the grid. And now because their defunct distribution grid is wiped clean we are expected to go in and restore it to "better than new" in a matter of days.

Brilliant.

You might want to read this.

http://www.politico.com/magazine/st...-ricos-tragedy-was-years-in-the-making-215662