Thumper
06-14-2017, 08:54 PM
I've been thinking about this Puerto Rico deal. (Nandy, give us your opinion if you're lurking out there) Granted, I'm not an expert on the subject, but I was pretty good friends with a Puerto Rican dude (until he moved back to New York) and we discussed Puerto Rican politics from time to time. We used to have friendly arguments and I'd many times ask him if he wanted to go out in the woods with me to do some shooting. He asked what kind of targets I shoot and I'd tell him I like to shoot cans .... Africans, Mexicans, Puerto Ricans, etc. I'd then take off running as he'd try to plant his foot up my ass! ;)
Anyway, back to Puerto Rican politics. They are a U.S. territory and are American citizens, yet they pay no State or Federal income taxes. Through the years they have voted whether or not to become a state, if so, Congress would work out the kinks and PR would become the 51st state. Statehood was always voted down and the island preferred the status quo. I remember I'd always tell my buddy he just wanted the cake and to eat it too! IMHO, they wanted the benefits of statehood, but not the responsibilities. In 1998 they had 4 options on the ballot, including statehood, but the last option was "none of the above", which received over 50% of the vote. In 2012, their economy started to tank and the future didn't look all that bright. Time for another vote ... surprise! PR decided they wanted to become the 51st state! Whoa! Wait a minute, the ballot was so screwed up there was no other option, so most of them were left blank in that area ... which made the "yes vote" totally skewed ... so it was basically trashed. Right now PR is over $70 billion in debt and has a 12%-14% unemployment rate. Now, many corporations have moved to Puerto Rico to dodge the US tax structure (no corporate tax). If PR becomes a state, they can kiss another 100K civilian and gov't. jobs goodbye, because the corporations would have no reason to stay there and would seek better tax rates elsewhere. So, figure the unemployment rate would skyrocket!
I guess what sticks in my craw, is that PR did NOT want to become a state for the last 100+ years, but now that their economy, as well as their economic future is in the toilet, their preference has changed. Why not? With statehood, they'd receive all the Federal programs statehood would qualify for ... food stamps, public housing, section 8 housing, the refundable earned income tax credit, the Women, Infants and Children food program, energy aid, Medicaid, etc. etc. etc, PLUS they'd be eligible to file bankruptcy through U.S. bankruptcy laws. Considering the fact almost 50% of Puerto Ricans live below the poverty level, I can see boatloads of cash headed their way with statehood, all while we're trying to work our way out of debt also.
I may be a total a-hole with my thoughts on the situation, but it just sounds like they're looking for a bailout IMHO. BUT, as I stated above, I'm no expert and could be all wet.
Anyway, back to Puerto Rican politics. They are a U.S. territory and are American citizens, yet they pay no State or Federal income taxes. Through the years they have voted whether or not to become a state, if so, Congress would work out the kinks and PR would become the 51st state. Statehood was always voted down and the island preferred the status quo. I remember I'd always tell my buddy he just wanted the cake and to eat it too! IMHO, they wanted the benefits of statehood, but not the responsibilities. In 1998 they had 4 options on the ballot, including statehood, but the last option was "none of the above", which received over 50% of the vote. In 2012, their economy started to tank and the future didn't look all that bright. Time for another vote ... surprise! PR decided they wanted to become the 51st state! Whoa! Wait a minute, the ballot was so screwed up there was no other option, so most of them were left blank in that area ... which made the "yes vote" totally skewed ... so it was basically trashed. Right now PR is over $70 billion in debt and has a 12%-14% unemployment rate. Now, many corporations have moved to Puerto Rico to dodge the US tax structure (no corporate tax). If PR becomes a state, they can kiss another 100K civilian and gov't. jobs goodbye, because the corporations would have no reason to stay there and would seek better tax rates elsewhere. So, figure the unemployment rate would skyrocket!
I guess what sticks in my craw, is that PR did NOT want to become a state for the last 100+ years, but now that their economy, as well as their economic future is in the toilet, their preference has changed. Why not? With statehood, they'd receive all the Federal programs statehood would qualify for ... food stamps, public housing, section 8 housing, the refundable earned income tax credit, the Women, Infants and Children food program, energy aid, Medicaid, etc. etc. etc, PLUS they'd be eligible to file bankruptcy through U.S. bankruptcy laws. Considering the fact almost 50% of Puerto Ricans live below the poverty level, I can see boatloads of cash headed their way with statehood, all while we're trying to work our way out of debt also.
I may be a total a-hole with my thoughts on the situation, but it just sounds like they're looking for a bailout IMHO. BUT, as I stated above, I'm no expert and could be all wet.