Why Statehood is a no brainer.

[LatinoPR]

Stanley,

I am very much aware of the stats, but again, we need to see how it is now, since 936 is not fueling the economy. I have no doubt that Mainland companies are making a lot of money from bringing products and providing services. I just feel that PR will eventually move towards independence once the U.S. feels that the island has no military advantage.

[L_F_Miranda]

Stanley said:
Compañera Suki, a socialista/ independentista posted the folowing in another thread. I think she is a brilliant well informed lady and I don't think she is lying.
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In fact Suki must have gotten her information from Juan Gonzalez' book "HARVEST OF EMPIRE" page 250. A GREAT BOOK!
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Suki wrote:

In 1995 U.S. multinational corporations profits from both Brazil and Mexico totaled $5.4 billion
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In 1995 Puerto Rico was the BIGGEST money maker for all the Multinationals on this Planet! UN-BELIEVEABLE BUT TRUE!

However, look at the date, 1995. I can hear Stan saying, "just the other day." Nonetheless, multinationals have been leaving Puerto Rico on a rapid pace since Congress decided to phase out tax code 936.

In one of his most brightest moments, Rosselló, thinking that the U.S. wanted Statehood, lobied heavily for an end to the 936. He wanted to replace 936 with tax code 30-A, an economic tax program that would have given the island a BOOST towards Statehood. Congress said NO! Nonetheless, the 936 multinationals will be phased out by 2005, then sh*t will hit the fan.

By the way Panasonic will soon leave the island with a loss of 1,500 jobs, more than if Rossevelt Roads left today.
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Suki continued:

An estimated 15 percent of Americans residing on the mainland live in poverty. Sixty percent of Puerto Ricans live in poverty.
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This translates into a BONANZA under Statehood! We will be the poorest state and get Parity in funds with, lets say, California. Despite paying Federal income taxes, all tax money will return to the island via income tax credits and much more. That is why Romero once said that Statehood is for the poor. Statehood is a win win situation for Puerto Ricans, but will American taxpayers be so understanding?
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Suki wrote:
Twenty one states have a smaller population than Puerto Rico. If Puerto Rico became a state, the island would be entitled to two senators and seven congressional representatives.
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In fact more than Wyoming, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Idaho, Rhode Island, Kansas, Delaware, North and South Dakota etc. etc., ALL ENGLISH SPEAKING STATES

Now a little mental exercise, THINK

If you were a trailer Park resident of Nevada with a family of four, with a job as a janitor in a brothel cleaning stained sheets and sweeping up the rubbers, How would you feel if you had to pay more taxes to people who are identified with welfare, The Puerto Rican Day Parade, refuse to speak English and won't fly Old Glory?

To top it off, What do you think will happen when the new state steals a seat or two from your congressioal state delegation?
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Suki continued:
Currently Puerto Ricans can serve and die for the U.S. in the military. Puerto Ricans have served in every war since WWI. Puerto Ricans can not vote in federal elections.
------------------------------------------------------------Suki is right again!

Puerto Ricans and Blacks served and died in higher numbers than Poor Whites during the Vietnam War. Some Pitiyanki's from other boards said , "no one forced them, and by the way, they were paid for their service." No comment.

Now the U.S. is asking Puerto Ricans to serve again. I bet you won't see the sons of American politicians running to get rid of Sadam Hussein. They will be preparing to make the money when the oil fields are controled by American oil companies.

[Stanley]

Miranda said: "statehood is a win-win situation for the very poor" That is funny, I hope Suki gets wind of this.

Anyway, maybe the republic may be the best way, who knows I am ambivalent.

BUT NOT SOCIALISM!!

[ReddPR]

Quotation from the Washington Times:

"This approach has proved successful, as Puerto Rico's economy, which boasts an annual gross domestic product of $68 billion, has emerged as one of the strongest in the Caribbean. As a result of its economic growth, Puerto Rico is the leading per capita consumer of U.S. goods, purchasing more products than many larger countries such as China, Italy, Russia, Brazil and Australia. In 1999 alone, Puerto Rico purchased $16 billion worth of U.S. goods, which translates into 320,000 U.S. jobs."

http://www.washtimes.com/op-ed/20021010-11825014.htm

Originally posted by L_F_Miranda
ReddPR said:
we're a benifit to the U.S. economy.
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Now that's an opinion I haven't heard since the 1970's.

Please explain ReddPR, how does Puerto Rico benefit the U.S. economy?

With the phase out of the 936 tax breaks and our unsatiable demand for Federal transfer payments, to keep up consumption in the K-Marts and Pitusa's of the island, how are we a benefit to the American economy?

If we were, the Pentagon would never have abandoned Vieques or displaced the Southern Command. Every day that passes there is nothing to defend, so why stay?

We better get our act together before sh*t hits the fan.

[Stanley]

Yeah-------- try to go to Plaza Las Americas on any given day. The place is always packed with happy Puerto Ricans with "Barriga llena-corazon contento" who love to shop. Not only that------------- they also drive big SUVs even tho there is no snow in PR. And the women----- well--- lets not go there.

[L_F_Miranda]

ReddPR Quoted from the Washington Times:

"This approach has proved successful, as Puerto Rico's economy, which boasts an annual gross domestic product of $68 billion, has emerged as one of the strongest in the Caribbean. As a result of its economic growth, Puerto Rico is the leading per capita consumer of U.S. goods, purchasing more products than many larger countries such as China, Italy, Russia, Brazil and Australia. In 1999 alone, Puerto Rico purchased $16 billion worth of U.S. goods, which translates into 320,000 U.S. jobs."
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First of all I'm not impressed because your sources are somewhat questionable.

The writer of the article is Anibal Acevedo-Vidal present resident commisionar. The guy has been accused of dragging his feet and being scared to confront Gringos on one to one.

He says that the island boasts of a succesful economy, however what he misses is that it depends on massive injections of Federal Tranfer payments a.k.a. welfare. To keep up this sham Americans in Wyoming have to pay higher taxes every April 15th.

Of course we buy from the United States, IT'S THE ONLY COUNTRY WE CAN BUY FROM! Are they the cheapest suppliers?

One thing is to help maintain 329,000 U.S. jobs by way of tax money paid in Wyoming, going to Puerto Rico via handouts which are then spent in K-Marts on junk produced mainly in China, using Gringos as middlemen, and another is producing the stuff yourself. Is this a good economy? I dunno, what do you think?
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ReddPr, can I give you a suggestion? When quoting from sources be careful what sources you use. The Washington Tiems is not The Washington Post. The Washington Times is a right-wing rag who employs none other then Linda Chavez as one of it's star columnists.

As you know Linda is an enemy of the Statehood movement and she wrote in, "Up from the Barrio", that the worst thing America ever did was to give Citizenship to the island. Her point was that we've only used it to hook on to the welfare gravy train.
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And finally, I prefer to believe in the NON-PARTISIAN CBO study that warned Congress against statehood because it wasn't in the best interest of the United States.

[Suki]

How much money and businesses in PR come from the illicit drug trade? How much from corruption? International banking and money laundering from the rest of the Caribbean and from South America and Latin American drug traffic. How much from people on government doles working under the table and not reporting income? The Caribbean region has always had smuggling and illegal activities in the past, and with the enormous crime problem (that no one can deny can be linked with the enormous drug problem on the island) how much of all that rampant consumerism comes from illegitimate means? I think a whole lot. My husband old neighborhood friend called him yesterday. She is a decent married woman who works at a formal wear store as a cashier in San Juan, and she has many brothers and sisters. A couple are drug addicts in the street, two are struggling with lousy paying jobs even though they went to college, and the most successful who has a beautiful new home and many businesses never went to college and went to jail for a short time because he was a narcotraficante. He took his profit from the business and bought negocios who are doing well now, he said when he was a teen just starting out many years ago, "Mi hermana estudio contabilidad, idiomas, y que hace ahora? Una cajera en una tiendita muriendose de hambre sin carro. Pa que quiero estudiar yo? Pa estar en eso? No yo no estoy en eso... quiero dinero." He kept true to his word. Tiene dinero. When 936 bails out, and if statehood comes Miranda and Stanley think it will be good for the poor. In which way? Many states like mine are very restrictive on who qualifies for welfare and food stamps. And there are poor Puertorriquenos living right now in NJ, CT, NY etc. and does living in a state of the USA guarantee those underclass ricans financial success and stability? WHY DONT YOU STUDY Labor statistics and find out? Plus, the effects of assimilation and no cultural capital plays a big part as well. And obviously the middle class and upper crust ricans want to live in gated communities lejos de la tufa social. They are not going to waste time changing those people's circumstances. Who will guarantee the socialist reform that keep the very poor afloat? The Republican penny pinched congress who right now is running over budget? Let us be realistic here.