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Let me educate some fools here.......its easier to give a U.S. Territory a bailout by Congress than a state under the U.S. Constitution.
They are equally "easy" -- it's only a matter of Congress authorizing an expenditure like any other budget item.
Territory defaults -- definitely the responsibility of the US to make whole on the debt. The U.S. is the guardian, P.R. is the dependent who ran up the parent's credit card.
State defaults -- Congress could let the state default and do nothing. However, if one state goes down, the credit rating of the entire U.S. would suffer. This would force Congress to fully or partially bail out the state.
Puerto Rico is a commonwealth. This does not make it totally independent of US rule but almost.
The country has a vibrant history but driving around the country side is depressing. Most of it is dirty and I'll kept. I doubt much of the rural construction meets minimal safety standards. People appear to be poor with little inclination to clean up much of anything. Trash and debris lay scattered most everywhere.
Certainly there are some beautiful areas in high end resorts but mostly the landscape is pretty sad.
Agree. I've been there twice and aside from the resort areas and popular places like Old San Juan - it's depressing.
I feel like we've been keeping it afloat.
I'm not expert on PR - but everything seems pretty 'loose goosey" there. Shop owners shut down for 2 hours in the afternoon; close early; open late . . . a very different mindset.
this is how ignorant you sound.........if congress gives them a bailout they would do it as a U.S. Territory which Puerto Rico has been for over 1 century or a state......Congress has the ultimate jurisdiction and is ultimate responsible on all their territories.
Any bailouts from Congress has to be voted on in Congress if Puerto Rico remains a territory or a State.....its the same process......Puerto Rico doesn't need to be a state to get a bailout from Congress.....hell! we give aid to many countries around the world and those countries are not U.S. Territories or U.S. Citizens
Statehood is about representation and a voice for 3.5 million U.S. CITIZENS who are under the jurisdiction of federal laws for over 1 century and have NO voice or say on the laws and federal government that governs them.
Take some history about Puerto Rico....everything the U.S. did on Puerto Rico was by FORCE upon them by our Federal Government. The least we can do is give them representation and a voice on the federal laws and federal government that governs them for over 100 years.
Much of Puerto Rico is poor. If They Become A State It's No Benefit To The US. Many will be on welfare, most don't speak English, their economy is in horrible shape.
All of this stuff about imperialism was terrible but it doesnt mask the fact of massive incompetence and government spending in puerto rico and enormous government spending,progressive government mismanagement, pension problems, excessive borrowing, extremely high compensation for government employees and retirees from the government etc.
So much of the puerto rican downward spiral started with all the vieques protests and al sharpton ,ricky martin etc and the other dullards demanding the navy leave and they did and there went thousands and thousands of jobs, it was huge loss and the government still kept giving out these high paying government jobs and huge pensions .
Puerto ricos 123 billion in debt and pension obligations far exceeds the $18 billion bankruptcy filed by Detroit in 2013 and we may not be just be dealing with a Puerto rican bankruptcy , Puerto Rico and Illinois both love spending and welfare states ,state employees and strong unions, half the people on the island work for the government, and both Puerto Rico and Illinois has extremely high compensation and retirement benefits for government workers and spend, spend, spend and very strong unions and a declining and aging population etc
ILLINOIS HAS THE LOWEST CREDIT RATING ON RECORD FOR A U.S. STATE
The credit rating agency S&P Global Ratings has downgraded the state of Illinois’ credit rating to BBB-, just one notch above a noninvestment-grade, or “junk,” rating. S&P has also placed the state rating on “negative” watch, meaning the agency could downgrade Illinois again in the near future.
S&P warned that Illinois is in danger of entering “a negative credit spiral.” That means that the lower credit rating will make it more expensive for Illinois to borrow money, and thus even harder for the state to pay its bills. This in turn could result in an even lower rating.
Much of Puerto Rico is poor. If They Become A State It's No Benefit To The US. Many will be on welfare, most don't speak English, their economy is in horrible shape.
We are a constitutional republic. Not a democracy. If popular vote was instilled, NY California would control the country.
I don't live in NY anymore for a bunch of reasons. It's politics and policies were a big factor.
Founding fathers saw this would be the case, where a densely populated areas would have the unfair advantage. Regardless of party and policy.
Our system ensures a more fair system is in place, one where blue hives don't get to control the country, or red hives control the country.
Say there were no absolutely no Democrats in Georgia Florida Texas, and swing states, etc you'd be whining for the system we have in place currently... be careful what you wish for... because you run clinton again... you will turn swing states red or 3rd party indefinitely...
Popular vote, leaves more to chance with voting fraud especially with states that don't require proof of citizenship or voter ID. And that doesn't pertain to any one party. Either can be guilty of it.
Now before you condemn Voter ID, claim it's racist or unfair, are you going to petition banks and credit unions who require ID for a loan? How about hotels? Car rentals? The DMV to register a car?
Founding fathers wanted to keep rural landholders in power. That was necessary at the time and for much of history. Since the 20th century though, that's no longer necessary.
Things change over time. It's time to go with a popular vote over electoral college.
They are equally "easy" -- it's only a matter of Congress authorizing an expenditure like any other budget item.
Territory defaults -- definitely the responsibility of the US to make whole on the debt. The U.S. is the guardian, P.R. is the dependent who ran up the parent's credit card.
State defaults -- Congress could let the state default and do nothing. However, if one state goes down, the credit rating of the entire U.S. would suffer. This would force Congress to fully or partially bail out the state.
Good points........but a state has more freedoms and tools to deal with their issues and they have a voice and a vote on the federal laws that governs them.....a territory doesn't, Puerto Rico has been at the mercy of the federal government by force since 1898 with NO voice or a say in the federal laws and bank laws that governs them. That's a flaw in our constitution in my opinion. It treats a territory of U.S. Citizens as property.
The parent (feds) have to give the dependent the tools and sovereignty to deal with his issues or it will continue to run up the parent's credit card to survive. I put most of the blame on the federal government.
After invading Puerto Rico in 1898 and forcing U.S. Citizenship on them by force, the least we can do its give them true representation and a voice over the federal laws that governs them and limits them and the tools to deal with their issues.
Good points........but a state has more freedoms and tools to deal with their issues and they have a voice and a vote on the federal laws that governs them.....a territory doesn't, Puerto Rico has been at the mercy of the federal government by force since 1898 with NO voice or a say in the federal laws and bank laws that governs them. That's a flaw in our constitution in my opinion. It treats a territory of U.S. Citizens as property.
After invading Puerto Rico in 1898 and forcing U.S. Citizenship on them by force, the least we can do its give them true representation and a voice over the federal laws that governs them and limits them and the tools to deal with their issues.
The U.S. also imposed a progressive/socialist mindset on Puerto Rico by initially stripping it of an industrial base and encouraging much of the population to get into welfare and housing projects.
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