Puerto Ricans Vow To Have A Bigger Voice In 2016 Election
Three and a half million people live in Puerto Rico but there are 5.2 million Puerto Ricans living on the U.S mainland. The rise in crime, the fiscal crisis, and the economy have resulted in tens of thousands of people to leave and go to the U.S. This past weekend, puerto ricans from all over the U.S gathered in Orlando all with one specific goal, "to forge a national political agenda — and flex some political muscle." They tell the government if they want their vote, they will have to listen to them.
Unlike Hispanics, as U.S citizens, puerto ricans come to the mainland of the U.S already qualified to vote being that they are a territory of the U.S. Puerto Rico needs America's support, their economy is $72 billion in debt and the unemployment rate has doubled. Luis Gutiterez, a democrat of Illinois, has been trying to gain the support of congress to assist the island, in ways such as allowing the government there to restructure some of its debt through the courts. President Obama promised to Guitierez that when the Affordable Healthcare Act was passed he would provide more funds for Puerto Rican healthcare. However, when the time came Obama hasn't followed through on that promise, cutting healthcare funds to puerto rico but giving more to the states. If you keep cutting healthcare you are pretty much telling the puerto ricans to come to Florida and other states and be treated which equality. The puerto ricans who are in the U.S want a bigger voice in the upcoming election so they can get the government to help puerto rico out of the $72 million debt and boost their economy. It is necessary for the candidates running for office to be ready to step in and make a difference.
By, Ethan Broder
1) Do you think that Puerto Rico is asking too much from the U.S to cover for its $72 million debt? If so, how else can we help?
2) How far will puerto ricans living in the U.S go until they feel their voice is heard in the government? What could they be doing better now to express their opinion?
3) Should the U.S consider making puerto rico a state in order to get rid of the issue of separate healthcare funding? How would this effect both sides?
http://www.npr.org/sections/itsallpolitics/2015/10/18/449473533/puerto-ricans-vow-to-have-a-bigger-voice-in-2016-election
4 comments:
Puerto Rico become a part of the United States in 1898 when Spain surrendered it. This territory has been a part of United States jurisdiction for longer than some registered states, and yet Puerto Rico does not have state benefits or even the title. As you stated, this is an outrage for many struggling Puerto Ricans who wish to be able to vote for change in the least. Puerto Rico, if counted as a state, would have more electoral votes than 25 states, which is half of the United States.
Puerto Rico's argument for voting rights is that voting should be based on citizenship and not territory. This idea is headed by attorney Gregorio Igartua de la Rosa, who has been fighting for rights for the territory almost his entire career. Recently, and justifiably, the United States has recently considered one of the various ways to allow get Puerto Ricans to vote. One way is to administer the territory in as a state. Another is through an amendment passed in congress. Both way have benefits and negatives, but either is wanted by Rosa.
In terms of the 72 billion dollar debt, that is one of the main reasons that the US government has not been able to make Puerto Rico a state. If Puerto Rico becomes a state, the federal government would have to deal with the growing debt in Puerto Rico. That being said, the longer they wait, the bigger the debt gets/
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/story?id=122776&page=1
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/03/09/john-oliver-puerto-rico_n_6833310.html
I do not think Puerto Rico is asking too much for the United States to cover for its $72 million dollar debt. As Your Pal emphasized, Puerto Rico has been a part of the United States for longer than some registered states. However, they do not receive the same benefits or recognition. The United States needs to recognize Puerto Rico and its problems. Furthermore, Puerto Ricans are already legal US citizens. But they have no voting rights, no federal tax return rights and no federal medicaid/medicare rights. They should no longer be looked at as second-rate citizens. Additionally, Puerto Rico has a member in Congress, but he has no voting rights and is only there to voice his opinion. In contrast, the United States can exclude Puerto Rico from any national law because they are not currently a state. However, Puerto Rico cannot reject laws that they do not agree with. This can easily be seen as a double standard. Bringing Puerto Rico into the union would also greatly benefit both the Puerto Rican and the United States economy. The United States is currently spending approximately $22 Billion each year to keep their commonwealth status on Puerto Rico. Adding Puerto Rico as a state would bring in a $2 Billion profit to the national treasury and would help with the national debt.
Source:
http://ushistoryscene.com/article/puerto-rico/
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2012/11/07/why-does-puerto-rico-want-statehood-anyway/
Puerto Rico is not a state, and therefore, it should not receive any of benefits of being a state. Puerto Rico is a protectorate of the United States and remains autonomous and self-governing. The people of Puerto Rico do not contribute to the United States economy because they do not pay taxes. Therefore, the government should not be giving them a $72 billion dollar fund. The first priority of the government is the states and the people who contribute to the United States economy. Taxpayers should not have to worry about their tax money paying for Puerto Rico’s debt. Furthermore, United States is drowning in debt right now and it will be another issue to have the debts of Puerto Rico
The United States can consider Puerto Rico for statehood; however, it is probable that Puerto Rico would not become a state due to the obligations of becoming a state (taxes, giving up autonomy and culture). Also, it is not in the best interest for the U.S. for Puerto Rico to become a state anyways because it would bring down American economy even more. They are fiscally responsible for their debt and for the United States to assume the debt of Puerto Rico does not make any sense. Puerto Rico should be held totally responsible for its own debt.
I agree with athenanz and how that even though Puerto Rico is considered a part of the United States, it remains a self-governing piece of land. In addition, this means that they should not be entitled for help from the United States. The 72 billion dollar debt that hangs over Puerto Rico would only hurt the United States economy even more. There are a few options that the United States could turn to, but most of them would end up hurting the United States in the longrun. Also, if the United States does act and try to help Puerto Rico's financial problems, it would make the American citizens unhappy because many countries resort to increasing taxes to pay off debt. This would mean that the American public would be taxed and forced to pay for someone else's debt. This might be an option, yet the United States would be better off not doing anything and worry about how to get the nation out of their own debt.
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