If there was a news article of blog post that would match our thoughts on Puerto Rico 100%, it is the following one by Greg Acevedo, who contributed an essay called Somehow… Someday to the HuffPost Latino Voices section. Now if only more Americans understood this injustice and force the US Congress to act, or better yet, support the actions of Puerto Ricans to FINALLY determine their own political destiny. In the meantime, here’s hoping such well-written pieces like Acevedo’s start appearing on a regular basis.
Here is the post. We were going to just show segments and provide our own commentary, but the more we read, the more we agreed. So, here it is.
Fifty years ago, West Side Story jetted and sharked its way into the hearts of America. Half a century later, what does the average U.S. citizen know about Puerto Rico and Puerto Ricans? I’m guessing much of it has to do with sandy beaches, Marc Anthony and J-Lo, the island’s success in Miss Universe competitions and international athletic events, and, of course, the star-crossed Maria and Tony.
But I’m betting that most Americans don’t know that Puerto Rico is, at best, a fledgling democracy — and that US. control over the island is the main reason why Puerto Rico hasn’t successfully developed a legitimate democracy. The first step on the road to democracy is self-determination, but Puerto Ricans living on the island have never had the chance to exercise that right. What’s more, the U.S. has had over a century to grant Puerto Rico that right, but it hasn’t.
As a Puerto Rican, I find it amusing when the U.S. tries to instruct other nations in the practice of democracy (See: Libya and Iraq). Before the U.S. instructs other nations on the practice of democracy, it must re-think its policy in Puerto Rico.
A bit of background: In 1897, after decades of struggle against colonial rule, Puerto Rico secured autonomy from Spain, but it was preempted from achieving full-fledged autonomy when the island became an official territory of the U.S. a year later. From the start of their relationship, the U.S. kept a colonial-like grip on the island’s governance. It took 50 years for the U.S. to grant islanders the right to elect its own governor. In 1951, the U.S. loosened its grip a bit, granting the island the right to craft its own constitution and to fashion a “new” status as a commonwealth. In terms of self-governance Puerto Rico had finally made it back to where it was in 1897, but it remains a U.S. territory, which seems like “colony lite” to me.
I can hear the voices of dissent: that Puerto Rico should be nothing but grateful, and has received numerous benefits from its arrangement with the U.S. Take U.S. citizenship. Since 1917, Puerto Ricans on the island have acquired US citizenship as a birthright. Certainly, the power of the U.S. passport and the freedom of movement it affords is no meager benefit.
In truth, Puerto Ricans are second-class citizens who have not been able to exercise the full spectrum of their voting rights. The contradictory nature of Puerto Rican citizenship is best illustrated in the grave responsibility of military service. Like stateside citizens, Puerto Ricans on the island are subject to military duty, yet they have no direct representation in Congress, which sanctions wars, and they cannot vote for the commander-in-chief.
Second-class citizenship mirrors the island’s showcase “sovereignty.” During the Cold War era, the U.S. strategically attempted to use Puerto Rico as a model in the practice of democracy and economic prosperity. But the island has never been able to pursue its own path in intergovernmental or economic relations with other countries without the approval (read: control) of the U.S. The dominant mantra in international politics today is that democracy and economic development go hand-in-hand. It’s a model that the U.S. promotes around the globe — yet it’s one that Puerto Rico has never had a chance to try out at home.
Puerto Rico’s smoke-and-mirrors “democracy” continues to wrestle with high rates of poverty and stagnant economic development. In a 2008 report by the World Bank gauging 215 nations in terms of economic growth, Puerto Rico had the dubious distinction of ranking 211th, in the same range as the Palestinian territories and Zimbabwe. Unemployment and poverty in Puerto Rico exceed levels in the 50 states. In 2010, the U.S. Census Bureau pegged the island’s poverty rate at 45%; double that of Mississippi, which had the highest poverty of any state (22.4%).
Does the political status of Puerto Rico have anything to do with Puerto Rican poverty? As Richard Figueroa, a Republican-leaning attorney and former diplomat in the U.S. Department of State admitted in a November 12 opinion piece in El Nuevo Dia, “The ambiguous nature of the political relationship of Puerto Rico with the United States is part of the main root of the economic and social problems of the island.”
Both Congress and the White House have had ample time and opportunity to resolve the U.S.’s ambiguous political relationship with Puerto Rico. On December 23, 2000, President Bill Clinton established the President’s Task Force on Puerto Rico’s Status. Its goal is to recommend options for Puerto Rico’s path to self-determination. Eleven years later the Task Force still exits and Puerto Rico’s status remains the same.
The Puerto Rico Democracy Act was introduced in Congress first in 2007 by Congressman José Serrano (D-New York), and again in 2009 by Puerto Rico’s Resident Commissioner Pedro Pierluisi, the island’s non-voting member of Congress. The bill sought to “provide for a federally sanctioned self-determination process for the people of Puerto Rico.” It died in the Senate when the 111th Congress closed.
In a March, 2011 report released by his Task Force on Puerto Rico’s Status, President Obama said that he is “firmly committed to the principle that the question of political status is a matter of self-determination for the people of Puerto Rico.”
The very last lyrics to the finale of West Side Story are “somehow…some day!” So, get on with it. When do we get to the final scene?
An excellent perspective. Thanks for posting this.
Good to see others writing about this topic the way it should be written.
“Both Congress and the White House have had ample time and opportunity to resolve the U.S.’s ambiguous political relationship with Puerto Rico.” Acevedo
What do you think Congress should do about Puerto Rico’s relationship with the US? And be very specific about what you want Congress and the White House to do. Don’t just say they should grant Puerto Rico self-determination, but give very specific solutions.
Pretty simple, make the next plebiscite binding.
So you’d be fine with just 2% of the voters deciding Puerto Rico’s future? Because it usually ends up that close.
If statehood wins, it world still needs 2/3 of states to approve but the vote is the vote. If we say each vote is non-binding, nothing is gained. This needs to be the final vote. I also don’t think statehood will win.
Alright, so Congress needs to stop redrawing the line in the sand and stick with whatever status the voters vote for. Fair enough Julito.
Alaska only got like 56% I think why does PR need to be 70?
I can’t answer that Julito.
My opinion,they never going to let us go,those who think they are helping us are ignorants,those who think they care abouth democrasy out of U.S,are more than ignorants,everything is abouth convenience,money,(can you say Capitalism loud enough) How the get money from us? Lets go, Jc pennys,Sears,Pep boys,bBurguer king,Macys,Mc donald,Chilis,Taco bell(yes they are not a Mexican restaurant they own it Too!)you think in any brand and we have it and in many occasion they start in PR first! Plus we go to the wars they want to create! Air lines,Air mail….Ect..THEY NEVER GOING TO LET US GO!…..Yes in big letters.
And Teo, according the Governor, PR now gets PF Chang’s and Victoria’s Secret too!
And the alternative is what…turn the motherland into one big collective farm and we all can grab our hoes and toil in the sun all day long for the good of the whole? I think not. Money has to come from somewhere and free market capitalism is still the best system in the world.
And Bruce I think you just answered your own question. The reality is that PRico does NOT control its own economic destiny within the current system (fyi: just check who really owns the Port of San Juan). The solution is to give PR more freedom in choosing their economic future.
Julito; it irritates me to hear someone slamming legit businesses that hire people to work so they can provide for their families. It doesn’t matter where these companies come from just so long as they come from somewhere. To bad mouth these companies and make it difficult for them to operate here is just plain economic suicide. Does capitalism have it’s downfalls? Of course. A company or government is only as good as it’s leaders. You and I agree that Puerto Rico should have more choices in who it can do business with. But to slam companies that are opening up stores here, even if they are US based, is counter productive.
There are great businesses and bad businesses. Capitalism would benefit if it were a bit more human and people worked to advance people’s successes and not a stock price.
Victoria’s Secret and PF Chang’s are not going to save this island. Teo is right. Puerto Rico is one big shopping mall. That is not sustainable.
And if companies are not selling via retail, then they are manufacturing products to sell wholesale. Unfortunately manufacturing is leaving the US and going to countries who make lower wages. Even if Puerto Rico was able to trade with other countries, unless it starts manufacturing goods, it will just continue to be a mall, but for other country’s goods.
On a positive note, the hispanic voting base is increasing exponentially in the US. This will increase the chances of getting something done both in Congress and here in Puerto Rico concerning the status quo. Question is; does Mexican, Central and South Americans care about the plight of Puerto Rico the way Puerto Rican’s seem to care about the plight of those folks?
No they do not. It is wishful thinking.
And Bruce, Puerto Rico’s future is in promoting its educated, bicultural and bilingual workforce, not Plaza las Américas.
And then export those folks out to the US? Statistics show that this is exactly what is happening because there is nothing for them here to challenge their abilities. And if if this idea of someone being bilingual is so favored, then why are the public schools here not supporting this?
Nope, I am saying let us begin to a true innovation class in PRico. We have the talent and we can easily become the best bridge between LA and US.