My latest for NBC Latino
A year has passed since Puerto Ricans on the island voted (yet again) in a non-binding plebiscite to determine where they stand on the issue of self-determine and political status. Like a Facebook relationship status, the conclusions from the November 6, 2012 vote were “complicated.”
Did a majority of Puerto Ricans reject its current territorial status with the United States? Yes.
Did these same Puerto Ricans also vote for statehood? Yes and no.
Yes, because those who did vote in the second part of the ballot chose statehood over the other two options: sovereign free association and independence. No, because commonwealth supporters were urged by their party to leave the second part of the ballot blank. Problem is, voting blank wasn’t an option, so who knows what blank votes represent?
One year later, nothing has happened.
Sure, the White House has weighed in, saying that we need to a…
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What exactly would you like Americans to do for Puerto Rico? Do you want them to tell you what status you will be since Puerto Ricans can’t figure that one out for themselves?! Millions of U.S. taxpayer money is used to decide the status here, money that could best be served caring for the poor, yet a certain unmentionable party intentionally sabotages the event. And here’s a news flash, most Americans probably couldn’t even tell you where the Philippines is located even after the news coverage of the horrific hurricane, so please don’t expect them to comprehend the messy relationship between congress and Puerto Rico, let alone know that Puerto Rico is U.S. territory. I say stop worrying what the average American thinks about Puerto Rico and start focusing on ensuring the leadership in Puerto Rico is working to prevent a downgrade of it’s credit to junk status. And please do not whine when spending is cut. Detroit was only $20B in debt when they went under. Puerto Rico is now $70B in debt. Thanks to the American taxpayer, Puerto Rico is still barely keeping it’s head above water.
Imagine this scenario, you live in NY, your orgilnaily from San Diego, you lose your job, you lose your apartment, you are homeless, your family wants to help but can’t afford airfare for you and your wife and child as they are living paycheck to paycheck as well and don’t have the $1500 dollars needed for three tickets one way to San Diego and don’t have any credit to speak of either. If you think it is implausible for people to want to take in family members but not have and extra $1500 to spare you are extremely out of touch with the financial situations of great deal of Americans. This program I’m sure is a godsend to the people who have utilized it and it is smart outside the box thinking by Mayor Bloomberg, he is coming up with humane solutions that are saving the tax payers money, for every complaint against this plan I didn’t hear one alternative solution offered in its place. Anyone can complain, leaders act.