Puerto Rico is a territory of the United States since 1898 and in order to change that status citizens of the territory must vote in a plebiscite, a special referendum. The three options available to choose from were to become a state, to remain a territory, or to become an independent nation (Martin). In the November 6, 2012 plebiscite held in Puerto Rico, 54% of the population said that do not like the current commonwealth status of the island (Alexandrino). The next question offered to the population were three solutions following those of the United Nations guidelines. Of the three options, statehood received the highest vote reigning in 61% of the votes. However, over 480,000 people did not answer the second question (Alexandrino). …show more content…
citizenship including political power and social programs, native culture will be strengthened, and the economic power of Puerto Rico will rise.
Puerto Rico has undergone a recent economic downturn. The most recent unemployment rate, from December 2014, was 14.4%, which is down from 16% in 2013 but in the grand scheme it is not much better. According to studies by the New Progressive Party “the island should attain a (economic) growth rate of 2.2 to 3.5% faster” through statehood (Regis). Economic growth will affect population directly because their standard of living will rise due to an average increase of income. It will also provide them and their family with a greater number of job opportunities. Even though population will now be subject to income taxes, Resident Commissioner Pedro Pierluisi assures that increased property values and economic growth will “offset any kind of impact that federal income taxes could have,” (“Puerto Rico Could Change Congress If Made A State”). Income taxes will have an even slighter affect because of the Earned Income Tax Credit. This rewards eligible low-income families with cash refunds and approximately two thirds of the population is already eligible (“Issue Briefing: Puerto Rico). The addition of income taxes will give the Puerto Rican government more power to build up the state’s infrastructure. The economy of
For most of its history, Puerto Rico has been controlled by an outside power, and its people oppressed. While Puerto Rico is currently a U.S. territory, Spanish colonialism has had a significant impact on the island’s development and identity. The history of the island itself is proof of this fact, demonstrating each step Puerto Rico took to reach its current state. By examining the stages of Spanish control that Puerto Rico experienced, we can determine how each stage affected the structure and identity of Puerto Rico.
Purpose: To encourage the US and Puerto Rican government to for more interest for Puerto Rico statehood.
I am very interested in this journal because the author points out that undocumented immigrants pay taxes like everyone else does and they are the ones that receive less pay than the majority of documented people. Hinojosa-Ojeda also says that if an extreme mass deportation occurs the unemployment would rise, therefore the United States’ economy would be reduced. This article shows that a comprehensive reform would create more jobs, raise wages, generate extra tax revenue, and increase the local consumption because the new documented immigrants will be able to invest in the small business. In short words, the “wage floor” for United States economy would be raised by the comprehensive immigration reform
So how is it that with the United Nations and changes in modern international, that Puerto Rican are still subjected to colonialization? The bourgeoisie is to blame. In an era where it is not legitimate to storm the shore of an island with guns or rain down bombs from the skies, the United States and other western imperialist natation’s use the national bourgeoisie to maintain the status quo and subjugate the proletariat. This is evident by the division in political activism within NSGTs and Puerto Rico. Dating back to the seizure of Puerto Rico by the United States of America, political parties comprised of the national bourgeoisie and the proletariat, have never united despite the fact that they both claim they fight for freedom. The national bourgeoisie is only intent on seeking freedom for themselves, a freedom that mimics the imperialistic nature of their masters. A freedom where only a few reap the benefits of the
Many politicians have different views on what Puerto Rico should do. Should the island become a State, stay a Commonwealth, or become independent. Either way, it would benefit the island.
Thus, if Puerto Rico does clearly agree upon the process of statehood, it is Congress’ obligation to deliberately consider and potentially aid Puerto Rico into statehood, even if it occupies a copious amount of time and effort.
It is instead the leader's fault. Different from the United States Puerto Rico does not have state powers, simply because it is not a state. These powers include lack of voting representation in either House of Congress, the only delegate to the congress is the Resident Commissioner who is elected to represent the people, but does not have a vote for the final passage of congressional legislation.
The island of Puerto Rico is located in the Greater Antilles in the waters of the Caribbean Sea. The northern and eastern shore of the island faces the Atlantic Ocean, while the southern and western coast faces the Caribbean Sea. The closest islands to Puerto Rico are, the Dominican Republic, and the Virgin Islands. Reason for Choosing Puerto Rico I picked the island of Puerto Rico, because I spent all my childhood in this island. I lived in Guanica; however, I still do not fully know all the history of this beautiful island.
The intention of this essay is to demonstrate to a vision rational, concordant political leader to the Puerto Rican, American and worldwide reality. It responds to the necessity that to the statehood it is necessary to imagine it and to expose it with all the evidence available, since many Puerto Ricans, including many political leaders, do not know like defending it or exposing it before the peculiar ones or our adversaries.
Puerto Rico wants to become a state. The governor of this territory named Ricardo Rossello asked the government to recognize them as the fifty-one state. It's residents already voted yes for being admitted to the union; all Congress would have to do is sign off on it. If this decision were passed, it would help revive some of its economy. According to Michelle Gorman (2017)" The island is more than seventy billion dollars in debt because of a shift in U.S corporate tax policy over the course of the past decade." It will also help with school funding which took a big hit. More den one hundred and eighty schools will be shutting down soon because of funding issues. Some people are scared that accepting them will make the government take on to much responsibility for their economic crisis they are going through right now.
There are both pros and cons to allowing Puerto Rico to become a state. Firstly, I will weigh the pros. As a country Puerto Rico has a high population, this can contribute positively to the United States in many ways. As a state, Puerto Rico would bring badly-needed money to the American economy. As of right now, American debt to other countries is a big issue, one that is being heavily discussed in our presidential race, right now.
Since Puerto Rico was first discovered by Christopher Columbus on November 19, 1493, and Spanish colonization ensued in 1508, Puerto Rico has experienced all of these pressures of identity and culture.
However, the people of Puerto Rico, were not always that convinced about being the 51th state; in fact they voted in two occasions to keep the Status Quo. The first referendum took place in 1967, during the presidency of Lyndon B. Johnson. Puerto Ricans decided to stay as a Commonwealth inside the United States with more than 60% of the votes, followed by the Pro-Statehood movement that held 39% of the votes. The independence option was almost inexistent, and remained anecdotic in the following referendums held in 1993, 1998 and 2012. The same result was held during the mandate of President Clinton, in 1993 Puerto Rico citizens voted again to keep things how they were. Nonetheless, there was a change in the tendency. The pro-statehood and pro
The first Socialist Party composed of Puerto Ricans was established in 1918. At around this time, the Asociacion Nationalista was established, composed of Puerto Rican Nationalists. Los Corsarios, which was an anarchist circle, that published newspaper entitled El Corsario and was composed mainly of dock workers and tabaqueros was also in existence. These groups, and the others that existed, tell a lot about the political history of this time. First and foremost, they are examples that help explain the term Class Politics for the people that made up each group were from the same working class and race did not matter. Secondly, they demonstrate the fact that Puerto Ricans were in a way more separated form each other and therefore that is why they were not so influential at the time. To read a little more on the lack of unity among Puerto Ricans, you can read Shakira Ramos' paper The organizations may have provided a form of support for the migrants but they did not really work towards bettering the community as a whole. Puerto Ricans held a strong nostalgia for their home country which prevented them from advancing in the United States.
Not many may know that Puerto Rico is considered to be American territory. Soon people all over America will know because Puerto Rico could possibly become the fifty first state or could be separated from America completely. Most of Puerto Ricans would like statehood 61% to be exact, this citizens would like to be united with America once and for all. There are some Puerto Ricans would like to be free association and the amount is 33% citizens who want a relationship without political territory with a degree of statehood with America. The last percentage are the citizens who want to be independent which is 5%. As the percentage shows most Puerto Ricans would like to become the fifty first state of America and add one more star onto America.