Opinion: Does the United States even care about Puerto Rico?

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Opinion: Does the United States even care about Puerto Rico?

November 12, 2013 by Julito Varela

My latest for NBC Latino

Posted in Writing | 2 Comments

2 Responses

on November 19, 2013 at 12:29 pm | Reply flyboy56

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.
on April 4, 2014 at 4:40 am | Reply Fundacion

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.