6 Comments
User's avatar
⭠ Return to thread
Philip Cardella's avatar

There are no reliable polls of Puerto Rico advocating for (or against!) Statehood, particularly when given the option of independence along with Statehood or maintaining the status quo.

The reality is Puerto Rican politics, though adopting party names that are similar to mainland parties, are unique and distinct from the mainland parties.

This is crucial to understanding not only what Puerto Ricans want, but how they'd engage in mainland politics. PR politics are their own thing and anyone who assumes PR statehood would mean two Democratic Senators should go read something by Puerto Ricans who research their local politics.

The only thing I know is IF Puerto Ricans wanted to be a state, which, again is hardly a foregone conclusion, they'd likely be a purple state. The fact that mainlanders in both parties assume otherwise is a reflection of deep seated arrogance and prejudice within the two mainland mainstream parties.

Expand full comment
Vincent Memoli's avatar

These people don't know anything about Puerto Rico. I bet 90% of them Would be surprised if you told them it was an archipelago

Expand full comment
Philip Cardella's avatar

500 years of colonial rule and so many in the lower 48 mainland just assume Puerto Ricans are just grateful to be a part of the United States. Of course MOST in the mainland don't realize Puerto Ricans are American citizens--not that the US has ever treated people on the island like citizens.

Given that during the 500 years of colonial rule some of the worst treatment has come from mainlander Americans in the last 127 I actually wonder why any Puerto Rican would favor statehood over independence--aside from that mountain of BS debt mainlanders have forced on the island.

And of course mainlander white people fail to realize few *countries* have as much civic pride as the people living on the island have for the island.

Expand full comment
William Farrar's avatar

A little story for what it is worth. I lived three years in Panama. Panamanian views of Puerto Ricans was racist, and made fun of their Spanish, yet Puerto Rican views of Mexicans was ridicule of their sing song way of speaking Spanish.

Oh and Chilenos made fun of Panamanians because they didn't speak Español Castellano.

I attended a few rooftop embassy parties, not with ambassadors but with staff.

Expand full comment
Vincent Memoli's avatar

Bec the inferority complex the 2 main parties sell and the lack of teaching of pr history

Expand full comment
Daniel Solomon's avatar

An estimated 5.8 million people of Puerto Rican origin live in the United States, representing about 9% of the Hispanic or Latino population and 2% of the total US population vs 3.2, on the island.

If PR were a state, how many would go back?

How many would go back, establish residency and vote themselves benefits like SSI

Here's a sample of resewarch what might occur if PR has statehood. https://www.fns.usda.gov/research/snap/implementing-snap-in-puerto-rico-feasibility-study

Here are the pros and cons -- according to the Puerto Rico Statehood Council (PRSC), there are no cons.

https://www.pr51st.com/puerto-rico-statehood-pros-and-cons/

Expand full comment