NYC politicians have a comically bad understanding of Puerto Rican politics, because most Boricuas in NYC are descended from people who moved from the island during a time when there was a strong independence movement.
https://twitter.com/nomikikonst/status/1367173564521082881
The independence movement tries to guilt and shame liberals into thinking they are the popular will. But the truth is, in the last 40 years independence has never polled over 6%. puertoricoreport.com/how-popular-is…
To put that in perspective, 26% of Texans wanted independence in 2016.
To put that in perspective, 26% of Texans wanted independence in 2016.
The idea that statehood is a "far-right" position is utter nonsense. Yes, Republican-affiliated politicians in PR support statehood, but so do Democratic-affiliated ones, including Gov. Pedro Pierluisi, who was explicitly elected on a statehood platform.
One of the main arguments used by statehood opponents is that it would accelerate colonialist ambitions, because white mainlanders would flock to the island chasing the federal money statehood would bring.
There are several problems with this argument.
There are several problems with this argument.
First, it isn't supported by the historical evidence of other off-mainland territories that achieved statehood.
Hawaii, for instance, has never had a white majority after becoming a state, and its Native population has grown quite significantly. pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2015…
Hawaii, for instance, has never had a white majority after becoming a state, and its Native population has grown quite significantly. pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2015…
Second, statehood would actually give Puerto Rico much more control of its own affairs, and would allow it to eliminate the loopholes Congress has used to turn the island into a tax haven for wealthy white businessmen, who both pro- and anti-staters seem to agree are a problem.
It's also kind of beside the point, because PR has now voted for statehood in three consecutive plebiscites.
Anti-statehood opponents boycotted the first two, but the third had turnout almost as high as the mainland, so there's really no doubt now the island voted for statehood.
Anti-statehood opponents boycotted the first two, but the third had turnout almost as high as the mainland, so there's really no doubt now the island voted for statehood.
Any politician who really walks the walk about Puerto Rican "self-determination" and doesn't throw around that phrase as a euphemism for kicking the can, should support statehood.
Puerto Rico has a complicated political history, but this isn't a complicated decision.
Puerto Rico has a complicated political history, but this isn't a complicated decision.
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