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Puerto Rico has major economic and social problems, that are getting worse and worse every year. Poverty and Crime is much much higher than any US state. Obviously, Commonwealth status has not worked. A tighter relationship with the US, like statehood, would create a better economy but a vanishing culture. Independence, would preserve a rich culture but about an undecided future.
Me personally, I feel that many Puerto Ricans many not actually want statehood, they just feel dissatisfied with the territory status, and afraid of the uncertainty independence may bring. But I dont think many Puerto Ricans would like the idea of having to give up their culture and identity. Many do got a colonial mindset, and if independence does happen its because of dissatisfaction with the US and no desire to let go of Hispanic identity. I think if independence happens, there would be a 70% chance that they would form another relationship with another country, like annexing itself to Spain as an autonomous region (basically a spanish state), or uniting with another country, particularly Dominican Republic (think Trinidad and Tobago), because of very similar culture, geographic proximity, and having a stronger military & economy than a solely independent Puerto Rico.
So, I'm asking you City-Data users, Puerto Rican, non-PR US citizens, and all other Humans of the world. What do you think is the best option for Puerto Rico and why? Thoughts
Last edited by DarkLoFan; 12-11-2016 at 12:10 PM..
Commonwealth aka colony status dont work at all. Statehood would erode 95% of Puerto Rican culture, the island would feel like the Bronx (filled with heavily americanized "Hispanics", the island will no longer have a valid Caribbean Hispanic culture). So further union with the US is not a good option in my opinion. I dont think Puerto Rico can survive on its own, so forming a union with the Dominican Republic is the best option, as the 2 are cultural twins, with DR having a stronger miltary and economy. Going back with Spain is basically another colony situation.
I think the best thing Puerto Rico can do is discontinue any association with the US and unite with the Dominican Republic, as you said before it would be similar to what Trinidad and Tobago got going on. You hit the nail on the head with that option.
Puerto Rico would only worsen as a US territory obviously, and as a state its unknown what would happen economically but itll definetly lose most its culture very quickly if it ever becomes a state (Congress determines if they can become a state or not, and i dont think it accept a majority non white/mixed race culturally hispanic and very poor territory as a state, even the blackest state mississippi is majority white and the poorest state is no where near as poor as Puerto Rico, congress would likely never accept anytime soon if ever). Especially with the country getting increasingly racist towards Hispanics, due to racial tension of the Obama/Trump era similar to the 60s and white racists popping out the closet becuz of Trump.
A union with DR is ideal, as it has a stronger military & economy than a independent PR, as well as very similar culture and very close distance.
Commonwealth aka colony status dont work at all. Statehood would erode 95% of Puerto Rican culture, the island would feel like the Bronx (filled with heavily americanized "Hispanics", the island will no longer have a valid Caribbean Hispanic culture). So further union with the US is not a good option in my opinion. I dont think Puerto Rico can survive on its own, so forming a union with the Dominican Republic is the best option, as the 2 are cultural twins, with DR having a stronger miltary and economy. Going back with Spain is basically another colony situation.
Have you been to Puerto Rico at all since the 1950s? It's already virtually indistinguishable form any heavily Hispanic community on the mainland. Puerto Rico is NOT Mexico, Spain, Cuba or any random foreign country. It's Miami. It's Brentwood, NY. It's West Liberty, Iowa.
Expecting Puerto Rico to become independent would be like expecting Wyoming to become independent. It isn't happening. Time to move on. No amount of racist White trash Trumpkins or posts from people who can't tell the difference between Mexico and Puerto Rico is going to change that.
Lastly, Nuyorican =/= Puerto Rican. Nuyoricans are Dominicans pretending to be Puerto Ricans. 99% of them don't know squat about Puerto Rico or speak a single word of Spanish.
Have you been to Puerto Rico at all since the 1950s? It's already virtually indistinguishable form any heavily Hispanic community on the mainland. Puerto Rico is NOT Mexico, Spain, Cuba or any random foreign country. It's Miami. It's Brentwood, NY. It's West Liberty, Iowa.
Expecting Puerto Rico to become independent would be like expecting Wyoming to become independent. It isn't happening. Time to move on. No amount of racist White trash Trumpkins or posts from people who can't tell the difference between Mexico and Puerto Rico is going to change that.
Lastly, Nuyorican =/= Puerto Rican. Nuyoricans are Dominicans pretending to be Puerto Ricans. 99% of them don't know squat about Puerto Rico or speak a single word of Spanish.
Nuyoricans are Puerto Ricans raised in the ghettos of NYC. What are you talking about? Is Fat Joe Dominican now?
Have you been to Puerto Rico at all since the 1950s? It's already virtually indistinguishable form any heavily Hispanic community on the mainland. Puerto Rico is NOT Mexico, Spain, Cuba or any random foreign country. It's Miami. It's Brentwood, NY. It's West Liberty, Iowa.
Expecting Puerto Rico to become independent would be like expecting Wyoming to become independent. It isn't happening. Time to move on. No amount of racist White trash Trumpkins or posts from people who can't tell the difference between Mexico and Puerto Rico is going to change that.
Lastly, Nuyorican =/= Puerto Rican. Nuyoricans are Dominicans pretending to be Puerto Ricans. 99% of them don't know squat about Puerto Rico or speak a single word of Spanish.
Dominicans speak SPANISH. What are you talking about?
I seriously doubt an independent Puerto Rico would want to unite with the DR. Cuba didn't chose to unite with the DR upon it's independence, and why would Puerto Rico?
Nor would they want to become an autonomous region of Spain. That's ridiculous.
The Spain, DR and Cuba options are unrealistic...countries just don't come together like (Cuba one is especially puzzling)...why would PR leave the USA for Spain and conversely why would Spain take on PR?...the Trinidad and Tobago comparison is a different situation altogether...independence sounds attractive but one look at its neighbors and Puerto Ricans should understand that political independence and economic independence are two different things entirely...unless they are ready to take some tough roads, leave independence off the table...I think they are in the best position they could be in, they just need to do a better job of managing it
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