MataConHacha

Puerto Rico

Cuts to government are needed, UPR study says -Puerto Rico Dail...

Yankee, I have always said to those that know me, that government needs to be reduced and provide certain services and promote entrepreneurship to entice many to create jobs. Governments place is to govern, create laws, and be at the will of people who put them in office. When I went back to PR in 78 after serving my first 4 years in the states I was amazed at how big the government had grown in just 5 years that I was away. Real empirical and serious studies like this one proves what many who are criticized for making hard choices to save money and continue surviving by cutting back on spending, cutting the fat and tightening belts..hell isn't that what common citizens have to do when things get rough? I hope to find the study and read it for myself. I applaud those who conducted it. Yankee, don't be too hard on yourself for being too emotional..I guess you have been on the island too long and have assimilated well to one of our customs...(smile).  (Monday Dec 28 | post #11)

Puerto Rico

An ideal status option to defend and affirm Puerto Rican cultur...

There also was a dude from Arkansas and many laughed at it too. He was able to live in the White House for 8 years.  (Sunday Dec 27 | post #62)

Puerto Rico

An ideal status option to defend and affirm Puerto Rican cultur...

The bases located around the base are nothing to what they used to be. Ft. Buchanan is basically a reserve base with little active duty personnel. Salinas is a National Guard training site and the only true active bases are a small boat station in the Puntilla and a small rescue air station in Aguadilla. The rest of the island has small National Guard sites. From what is used to have it is nothing compare to what the island has now.  (Sunday Dec 27 | post #61)

Puerto Rico

Being a Boricua who believes in independence means living in it...

First, let me say that Spanish has nothing to do with being loyal to the UNIITED STATES of AMERICA. You can go into any neighborhood and find other languages being spoken besides English. I do believe that English is the bonding language that unites the Nation, but it is not the national language and that is what makes our Nation so unique. Now on the your diatribes on taxes. It is Congress that keeps Puerto Rico under the current politic status. That means that Federal Income Taxes are not paid as an un-incorporated territory. Congress alone is the only authority to impose taxes like Federal income tax. If you just looked and searched you would had found that those living on the island have to pay medicare, social security and Federal employees pay federal income taxes. Your claim that if Puerto Rico became a state its homeowners would have to pay property taxes is incorrect. Property taxes is not a federal tax, it is up to the individual States and Territories to collect property taxes. By the way, PR taxes property like let us say...New Jersey. Please get the facts before posting.  (Tuesday Dec 22 | post #11)

Puerto Rico

Being a Boricua who believes in independence means living in it...

Really? Well she pronounced Monfongo with an English accent!! She did not answer any question asked of her in Spanish what so ever. I have famly whoms parents did not speak English who grow up in the States, especially in New York and many of them cannot maintain a complete conversation without speaking a mixture of English words, but I can say this, at least they spoke more then Sotomayor did in the press conference. My point is, if you are going to advocate for something for God sake practice what you want others to do! Feliz Navidad a todos!!!  (Monday Dec 21 | post #5)

Puerto Rico

Being a Boricua who believes in independence means living in it...

I recently was watching news from the island and saw a report of Judge Sotomayor being interviewed by local reporters while visiting the island and she answered in ENGLISH! She could not converse in Spanish. Now do not judge my statement before reading the rest. Sotomayor has been known in the past to support independence for Puerto Rico like many of the romantic believers of the 60s and 70s. I have run into many of those that push the idea, but would never live on the island if it did become a republic. They would rather live in the U.S. and visit their querida islita for summer or Christmas. People like Sonia would not have to pay the consequences if Puerto Rico did become a republic. You don't have to be fluent to feel Puerto Rican, but for God sake try to learn Spanish and our history before advocating anything! Sonia reminds me of a bright friend I knew who was a Pace University student. She would visit the island in the summer and would advocate independence for us. I ask her one time, would you come to live here and sweat with the "proletariat " (since she was a believe of communist) and work to make Puerto Rico a successful republic? Her answer was, no..I would be part of those running the government! I laughed and said...todos quieren ser caciques y nadie quiere ser indio. She looked at me and said..what is a cacique? That should give you an idea what I am trying to point out. What is your take on this?  (Saturday Dec 19 | post #1)

Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico status should be clearly decided

Metpr, It is ironic to see someone who defends "ELA" posting out of the great Cajun State of Louisiana! I want to comment on some of your assertions in the defense of the limbo status of the unincorporated territory of Puerto Rico. 1. “It made it possible for Puertorricans to come to the US and benefit of our citizenship and go to great schools.” Before and after the creation of the status quo anyone could travel to the States. You are right only the very rich could send their children to study, but many still do it now, especially many of the defenders of ELA! After Puerto Rico was allowed to obtain the benefits of the Pell Grant program any poor person’s child on the island could go to the university. ELA did not bring this to the island, just being American Citizens allowed us to obtain it. 2. “Before the ELA the only PR people coming to the US were people who came to work in agriculture for very little money (tomateros)” Yes, there were a lot of those, but a lot came to work in industry too. Even after ELA there were a lot of agricultural workers who would work in the fields so that statement is mute! I know because I had cousins who worked in South Carolina and Georgian fields in the early 1980s. Do a little research on the net and you could get more on this. 3. “It made possible a fantastic school system and the creation of the University of Puerto Rico system.” Wrong!! What we know now as “La UPI” started out as a little school in Fajardo in 1900, as the Escuela Normal Industrial. It then moved to Rio Piedras and funded by the Federal Government under the Morrill Land-Grant Act in 1908, and then the creation of El Colegio de Agricultura in Mayaguez, again before ELA was created! 4. “If it was not for the ELA, puertorricans would have been considered less than Native Americans” I find this claim offensive and bigoted. However, I think you are referring to the treatment Native Americans received in the past from the rest of society in America. Well, Native Americans are having the last laugh. They have more autonomy on their land and many have become super rich. Americans (Puertorriqueños) on the island are denied the full rights of the U.S. Constitution unless they move to places like Wyoming or Oregon. 5. “What would take for Puerto Rico to be admited in the UN?” [sic] Well, independence or a new status; an Associated Republic with all the responsibilities and consequences. Not under the current status quo because it is a territory. Even the old tax code “936” called the island a mere possession The “Puerto Rico and possession tax credit” allowed funds and jobs to be generated to reduce unemployment. It was not ELA, but the economic situation. 936 was just one of many initiatives to try to reduce poverty and unemployment. In the 1930s the "Puerto Rico Emergency Relief Administration and the PR Reconstruction Administration " were initiated. In the 1950s Operation Bootstrap with the blessing of the Federal Government, not ELA. Remember the metida de pata of Hernandez Colon when he offered Japanese industry leaders the benefits of 936 in the 1980s and Secretary of State George Shutz’s reply? Shutz had to remind the Governor that was a no-no since it was a Federal perk and not ELA’s? Lastly, I am a student of history and of politics. I studied politics at the Inter-America and CORA (UPR), before I went back to the military so I think I am well verse in the matter. I invite you to read a very good book by one who was there to create the status quo “Puerto Rico, The Tails of the Oldest Colony in the World” by Jose Trías Monge.  (Nov 9, 2009 | post #234)

Puerto Rico

House committee unveils status bill report - Unclear if will go...

Sorry for the double posting..somehow it went through when I didn't want to.  (Oct 12, 2009 | post #6)

Puerto Rico

House committee unveils status bill report - Unclear if will go...

Hah!! That is why I became independent an conservative!! I am tired of the "change and hope" crap, Reid and Pelosi!!! I hated what Lott did several years ago and fired a very nasty, tongue lashing letter and quit the Republican party just as I did the Democrat party in 1977!! Yes it is politics and the island's political parties are fools!! No one cares and that is a trait of a colonized people. Shame on them and especially the PPD and the 3 stooges from New York and Chicago!! I will keep crossing my fingers for the bill, but man I can't hold my breath on that hag Pelosi!! For those that voted for change and hope, let us hope the bill is voted on and change comes in the future!!! Again, I will not be holding my breath!!!!  (Oct 12, 2009 | post #5)

Puerto Rico

House committee unveils status bill report - Unclear if will go...

Hah!! That is why I became independent conservative!! I am tired of the "change and hope" crap, Reid and Pelosi!!! I hated what Lott several years ago and fired a very nasty, tongue lashing letter and quit the Republican party just as I did the Democrat party in 1977!! Yes it is politics and the island's political parties are fools!! No one cares and that is a trait of a colonized people. Shame on them and especially the PPD and the 3 stooges from New York and Chicago!! I will keep crossing my fingers for the bill, but man I can't hold my breath on that hag Pelosi!! For those that voted for change and hope? Well...let us hope the bill is voted on and change comes in the future!!! Again, I will not be holding my breath!!!!  (Oct 12, 2009 | post #4)

Puerto Rico

Fortuño: These are difficult times - Puerto Rico Daily Sun - 26...

That is what the rest of the world has said about us, the United States and Puerto Rico is part of the U.S.!!!  (Sep 29, 2009 | post #9)

Puerto Rico

Fortuño: These are difficult times - Puerto Rico Daily Sun - 26...

Well, you got to do what you got to do!! If there are no funds to keep the employees then the government has to cut positions. The problem in Puerto Rico is that the government for years has used its positions as a political carrot to get votes. Puerto Ricans can't have it both ways, you can't keep people employed in government if it has no funds to pay them unless you raise taxes and increase fees for services which no one on the island will pay. Life is hard and it is time that the island and those on it learn that the party has to come to end.  (Sep 28, 2009 | post #7)

Puerto Rico

50 years after winning statehood, Hawaii looms larger than ever...

Jorge, Don't forget that the Feds did it with the help of the status-quo supporters the PPD. The people were brain washed to believe that republicas was not the way to go. That the republicanos were bad and that they created a compacto with the great behemoth of the north the U.S.A. It is time to demand give us equality and shared sovereignty or gives us liberty!!!  (Aug 20, 2009 | post #8)

Puerto Rico

Novello gets earful from judge - But after sentencing, ex-healt...

Of course not he was President!! The suspension was for 5 years and a fine for 25K. He lost the the case against Jones when she appealed and she got a little over 850K. And let us not go to the topic of what is "is" is! LOL!! Well, it just goes to show you, when you are beloved by many even after you lie your rear end off.  (Aug 15, 2009 | post #4)

Puerto Rico

Novello gets earful from judge - But after sentencing, ex-healt...

Don't be too hard on her. She certainly had her day in court and even if she is guilty it does not negate that she still had the opportunity to speak her mind. There are many out there that are guilty of being arrogant and dishonest like let us say former President Clinton yet he is seen as a great President even though he lost his lawyer's license in Arkansas and paid a hefty fine for lying. He is admired and sought after to speak on important matters. To compare the two ladies is a moot matter, one did wrong and the other could do wrong in the future you never know, but I doubt it due to Sotomayor's position.  (Aug 15, 2009 | post #2)