As if you need another reminder about Puerto Rico’s colonial situation, take this video clip that LR contributor Phillip Arroyo shared with us on Saturday. The clip is from the Friday livestream of a public listening session hosted by the Natural Resources Committee, a congressional committee now chaired by Arizona Democrat Rep. Raúl Grijalva. The session happened at the Roberto Clemente Coliseum. In the video below, which Phillip translated with subtitles, the speaker raises some clear examples about la colonia. We can personally do without the defense of cockfighting, but still, there is a lot here to consider. Watch it below:
I’ve lived here on the island for 7 years of my life, but still don’t understand this “colony” gibberish. Go look at the history of Africa if you want to learn what a real colony looks like.
What it doesn’t look like is $20 billion+per year in coupones and Sec. 8, and FEMA spending God knows how much with every hurricane or other disaster. It also doesn’t look like unimpeded entry to living and working in the US when times get tough here over shortsighted apathy by the voters. Does “none of the above” ring a bell? Has anyone thought while beating their chests about colonization how simply foolhardy that gem of a vote was? Both Pedro Rosello and various US congressmen warned of the potential repercussions. Still, puertoriquenos voted themselves right out of 836…brilliant, just brilliant. Then never stopped electing officials who borrowed more and more money – even in defiance of the PR Constitution.
Puertoriquenos have repeatedly declined statehood – over very few of them being subject to US income tax with statehood.
My advice? Quit whining like spoiled kids and get your own house clean and operating like adults run it. Then maybe statehood becomes available…
100% in agreement with your words. Why don’t they (on the usland) start working more and complaining less?
My friend im puerto Rican but unfortunately I have to say that the puerto rican politics are a whole bunch of PILLOS VIVIDORES.
No Clinton voted out of 836
Hal, you got a lot of the facts so wrong. 20b in food stamps and section 8 not quite right, is in general 27b vs all the tax credits that still companies repatriate to the mainland, the imposition of the Jones act which gave us “citizenship” in exchange for monopoly of trade with the central government,that costs over 40% above the normal costs. What you say they “give” comes at a cost. And yes I’ll give you that the bulk of the people keep election crooks and currupt politicians that make things worst. And the section 936( not 836) was another money pit for the locals.You see we were never asked to belong to the USA, we were acquired by war, after that experimented on, imposed on of lately with the infamous debt and the fake PROMESA, finishing things off. Please educate yourself before passing judgement on your own people.
Honestly this constant dribble of statehood is getting old as f**k. Look the majority of Puerto Rican’s don’t want statehood for various reasons. Many like the statues quo or don’t care, and many more want a sovereign solution. Remember the governor was elected by the minority. And on his statehood referendum he only got 23% to come out and vote for statehood. In fact less people voted for statehood then elected him into office. These statehooders are only shooting themselves in the foot with their fanatical devotion to their cause. If you want a real change in statues. Then you must have them defined by the US and agreed too by PR, in a constitutional assembly. The prerequisites for both statehood and sovereignty will be honestly defined with no fear mongering. That way ALL Puerto Rican’s can vote on the destiny of our identity. This government in PR is only interested in a one sided statehood conversation(makes sense though because it is the Statehood party in power and not the “let’s have an honest conversation on Puerto Rico’s options party):such a party doesn’t exists btw:
But let’s be real in 2020 the statehood party will lose the governors office and power in PR. And all this talk for fantasies on statehood will be seen as it is. A harmful distraction to the immediate issues Puerto Rico has. And my guess is the statehooders have done so much damage to themselves, that they will never recover and win elections like they used too. At least we can all hope that’s the case.