[Sonambulo]

While the article raises a number of valid points, the point about the large percentage of towns in Puerto Rico in virtual bankruptcy is misleading and ignores the realities in EVERY state of the nation. For example in New Jersey we have about 33 towns that survive on extra funding for the state to meet their "educational needs" as mandated under the Abbott Vs Burke decision of the early 90s. What happened was that in the early 90s there was a class action suit in New Jersey {Abbott vs Burke] that said that poor districts, such as Newark, Elizabeth, Camden, Jersey City, Hoboken, Perth Amboy and about two dozen more districts, were not getting their fair share of educational funding as compared to most towns. The case went to the NJ Supreme Court who held that the state had to refigure their funding formula and send the 33 districts more money because poor kids were living under bad social conditions and needed extra funding so they did not fall behind academically. Without this additional funding, everyone of these towns would be nearly bankrupt or bankrupt without major cuts in spending. In essence the state is keeping these cities out of the poor house.

I am certain that if you looked at the financial situations of most towns and counties in the US, you would find similar situations, where states and or the federal government are bailing out towns and counties year after year, decade after decade. So the Puerto Rico situation is not really very different than all the other states in the nation. People are always saying how the sky is going to fall yet somehow it does not happen.

Puerto Rico is in a crisis like most other states in the nation. Lack of revenues and overspending. This is nothing really new. All parties in the island invariably use this fact toward their political goals at one point or another. Change needs to happen in Puerto Rico but until people are really angry and motivated will change come. Complancency by the individual rules to the detriment of the whole.

Hey Feliz Ano Nuevo familia!!!!!!!

Hay que tener fuerza gigante
Para siempre poder hechar palante