PUERTO RICO
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Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico is a country that is roughly 3500 square miles. The island, which is a Caribbean island, is located in the West Indies. The island was in the leadership of the Spanish to 1898 when it became a territory of the United States. The island is one among the islands that consist of the greater Antilles chain. Some of the islands in the chain are Cuba, Jamaica, Haiti, and the Dominican republic. After the United States assumed the island, it became self-governing, and it has a population of 3.4 million people. The culture of the island is also vibrant, and a mixture of Afro-Caribbean, Spanish shapes it, and the influence from the United States of America[1].
The first inhabitants of the island were the hunters and gatherers. They extended their influence until the Spanish came 1000 years later. The inhabitants had less knowledge in agriculture, and therefore they supplement seafood with domestic crops such as pineapples, cassava, and sweet potatoes. In 1493 the Spanish moved to the island and occupied it, introducing the settlement and advanced agriculture. The Spanish conquered the island, and in their bid to produce cash crops, they had to import workers. Africa provided most of the workers in the form of slaves who reached the island in the 16th century. They also created a military outpost and built a palace for the governor who would rule the island. The Spanish were not the only colonialists interested in the resources the island had to offer since they had to overcome the frequent attacks from rivals such as England, France, and the Netherlands for them to rule the island.
In 1898 there was a brief war between the American and the Spanish in which the Spanish were conquered, and the American military occupied Puerto Ricco. The American military established their rule in the island until 1900 when an act was passed to allow the people of Puerto Ricco to form a civil government. Later in 1917, the congress passed a bill that granted all the Puerto Ricans U.S. citizenship and also the males were allowed to join the military. Almost 18000 soldiers were recruited and participated in the first world war1.
After the second world war, significant social, economic, and political changes happened in Puerto Rico. In 1948 the people of Puerto Rico were allowed to elect their first governor. Some years later, they became U.S. commonwealth, and therefore they had the authority to create their constitution and the powers to self-governing. The American and Puerto Rican government together came up with an operation named Bootstrap, which was meant to industrialize the island. The invasion of the island by big American companies led to a decline in the agricultural activities, and the focus was directed to manufacturing and tourism. The result of the decrease in agriculture was many citizens of Puerto Rico were rendered jobless and with no source of income. The unemployed and jobless resulted in seeking employment in the United States. Industrialization had a significant effect on the population of Puerto Rico since 25% of the people migrated to the united state in what was termed as the great migration. In the United States today, there are more than 5 million Puerto Rican who have inhabited the cities of Chicago, Miami, New York City, and Philadelphia1.
The island since it was liberated from the Spanish by the American, it has remained unincorporated in the American government. Therefore they do not get most of the resources and representation in the American government. The island has two dominant political parties that are the New Progressive Party and the Popular Democratic Party. The new progressive party supports the island to be incorporated into the American government. That is to ensure they have access to the resources of the American government and full representation. The other party, the Popular Democratic Party, asserts that the island should remain unincorporated and the people to enjoy the full rights of being American citizens.
Statehood
When Puerto Rico is deciding to be a state or not to be a state, some consideration has to be taken into account. When the island becomes a state, it will have more advantage that it has currently have when it is unincorporated.
Advantages of Statehood
The life of the people of Puerto Rico will improve since the island becoming a state will bring more job opportunities and wealth to improve the country considering most of the people there live below the poverty line[2].
The island becoming a state will cause a political sway. That is, since the country has over 4 million citizens, it can gain some political control. With such a population, the island can have nine electoral votes, two senators and seven house representatives. Therefore most of the issues the island has will be represented in the main government2.
Most of the laws passed in the U.S. apply to the people of Puerto Rico despite them not being allowed. Therefore when the island is made a state of the U.S., the residents will be allowed to vote on the policies made and have effects on them2
When the island is a state of the U.S., it will be able to get extra revenue. Every year from the federal reserve, the American government gives it state revenue that has been collected from the income taxes and sales2.
With the island being unincorporated, the health care is below average. That is, people on the island do not have access to appropriate health care. When the island becomes a state, it has the full support of the government of America, and therefore medicine and technology will be at their disposal2.
Disadvantages of Statehood
For the longest time since the island was liberated from the Spanish tourism has been their most significant source of revenue. When the island becomes a state, then the tourism industry will not flourish since the pride of the country will decrease as a tourist destination. Therefore the island will lose a lot of money.
When the island is made a state, it will be mandatory for them to learn English since most of the United States uses English as their mode of communication. Therefore the language barrier will arise between the people of Puerto Rico and the other states.
Crime due to unemployment and poverty is so high on the island. When Puerto Rico becomes a state, all these crime numbers will be part of the U.S., and therefore the numbers of crime will increase2.
Becoming a state will make the citizens have an obligation to pay the federal income tax. Considering that Puerto Rico is struggling with poverty when federal income tax is added, it will affect the people further2.
These are the considerations that people of Puerto Rico have to account for before choosing statehood. Despite the considerations, most people are supporting statehood due to corruption on the island, which has made it incur a debt which they are unable to pay. The people have even demonstrated in the streets and made the governor step down.
Political Problem in Puerto Rico
The political crisis on the island has increased, and it has been impossible for the governor to rule the island. The crisis is due to frequent protests by the people trying to oust him. The crisis began when a conversation between the governor and the advisers leaked to the public. The discussion was offensive and obscene. As a result, people were angry, and they started the protests. The governor apologized and promised to make amends, but the masses did not hear him. They vowed to protest until he steps down.
The protest went on for 11 consecutive days until the governor decided to step down, leaving the governor’s seat vacant[3]The governor was not only being blamed for the leaked online conversations but also other scandals that had happened during his rule. Some of the problems associated with the government were an economic recession. In the last decade the gross national income of the island declined by 14% which has led to the island having a national debt of $74 billion[4].
There was also a mismanagement of the resources on the island by the local government. Corruption has reigned in the ruling office, making the resource be misappropriated, leaving the ordinary citizen in poverty.
The country was also recently hit by a category four storm that claimed more than three thousand lives. Properties were destroyed, and the government has been reluctant to help those who were affected by the storm. The rule of the island went ahead to cut pension of the elderly due to recession in the island[5].
The problems the island is facing have their influence on the people, especially the debt and recovery from the storm. Those problems have prompted people to support statehood. They know one Puerto Rico becomes a state leadership will be monitored, and corruption cases will decrease. Opportunities will be created for the people, and the quality of life will improve. Also, the island becoming a state will help since when there are storms, resources will be directed to helping those affected and recovery of property.
Bibliography
Bonilla, Yarimar. “Puerto Rican Politics Will Never Be the Same.” Jacobin. Last modified 2019. https://jacobinmag.com/2019/08/puerto-rico-ricardo-rossello-governor-unrest.
Coto, Danica. “Default Title.” Default Title. Last modified 2019. https://www.hispanicoutlook.com/articles/crisis-puerto-rico.
Garage, Green. “17 Big Pros and Cons of Puerto Rico Becoming a State.” Green Garage. Last modified January 6, 2016. https://greengarageblog.org/17-big-pros-and-cons-of-puerto-rico-becoming-a-state
History.com Editors. Last modified 2018. https://www.history.com/topics/us-states/puerto-rico-history.
Post editorial board. “Puerto Rico Still Facing a Political Crisis and Uncertainty.” New York Post. Last modified August 5, 2019. https://nypost.com/2019/08/04/puerto-rico-still-facing-a-political-crisis-and-uncertainty/.
[1] History.com Editors, last modified 2018, https://www.history.com/topics/us-states/puerto-rico-history.
[2] Green Garage, “17 Big Pros and Cons of Puerto Rico Becoming a State,” Green Garage, last modified January 6, 2016, https://greengarageblog.org/17-big-pros-and-cons-of-puerto-rico-becoming-a-state.
[3] Yarimar Bonilla, “Puerto Rican Politics Will Never Be the Same,” Jacobin, last modified 2019, https://jacobinmag.com/2019/08/puerto-rico-ricardo-rossello-governor-unrest.
[4] Post editorial board, “Puerto Rico Still Facing a Political Crisis and Uncertainty,” New York Post, last modified August 5, 2019, https://nypost.com/2019/08/04/puerto-rico-still-facing-a-political-crisis-and-uncertainty/.
[5] Danica Coto, “Political Crisis In Puerto Rico,” Hispanic Community, last modified 2019, https://www.hispanicoutlook.com/articles/crisis-puerto-rico.