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In first place, the Commonwealth status is an illusion. The poor illiterate Puerto Ricans that voted for that in 1952 were desperate to get out of poverty and did not know the future consequences of the Commonwealth status. The illiterate and desperate Puerto Ricans ignored that Commowealth status meant subordination to the U.S. Congress. No politician explained that to the people. The supposed growth of the island was a bubble. The island became a tax heaven for American corporations and the earnings going out of the island. Then, Congress eliminated the tax benefits over a period of ten years but the island never recovered. That's when the local debt started to increase to sustain the local economy and now the island is unable to pay. In other words, the U.S. has used Puerto Rico as they pleased causing the island to go bankrupt. The local politicians are not real leaders, but tools of the U.S. to maintain control over the island.
I believe the island should transition to a sovereign republic with some kind of collaboration with the U.S. The island is not going to be a state because deep in their hearts Puerto Ricans want to maintain their culture, personality, customs, and language. Statehood implies assimilation. As an ironic example, ask the pro-statehood Governor Wanda Vázquez why she needs an interpreter to speak with U.S. officials? I can tolerate that from a next door kind of Puerto Rican, but not for a leader like Wanda Vázquez (or any other) with enough money to pay for the best English instructors... but she defends statehood. Another tool of the U.S.
Roughly 90% of the population opposes independence.
Should we get rid of Alabama and West Virginia too? Or are they special because White Republicans live there?
Let us be honest. Puerto Ricans don't consider themselves to be "American". They want to keep their unique heritage. They merely love the advantages that US citizenship brings them.
Statehood means paying income taxes to the IRS and not to the local government, so how will the latter raise revenues. The income tax bite will be harsh as PR will need to levy local taxes on top of those due to the Feds.
What does race have to do with it?
Puerto Rico is a victim of US imperialism.
If that is your thinking then independence is the best option. PR is the only large Caribbean island which isn't a sovereign state. That status will end all debates and no one will demand that they assimilate into the other 50,
Y A W N.. why not merge with the Dominican Republic?
Till then let sleeping dogs lie.
DR no longer wants them.
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