Thread by @MichaelRMuniz

H.R. 8383, the so-called "Puerto Rico Status Act," which passed the U.S. House on Wednesday, has serious problems.

Without even touching the elitist and partisan power politics that led to this "compromise" bill, let me note just a few problems (of many more) with the bill. 🧵

First, while its proponents characterize the bill's passage as a move to "decolonize" Puerto Rico, the bill doesn't in the slightest acknowledge the crime of U.S. colonization. Instead, the bill euphemizes it as "the inherent limitations of Puerto Rico's territorial status."

Second, and related, the bill is silent on reparations. While it stipulates that Puerto Rico must pay its odious debt no matter what status is selected, the U.S. is under no obligation to address 124 years of violence, exploitation, extraction, experimentation, and displacement.

Third, the bill does not acknowledge Puerto Rico's "natural right to self-determination"—to quote one of the bill's predecessors. This omission contradicts international law.

Fourth, the bill entirely removes the Puerto Rican diaspora from the process. As such, recently settled cryptocapitalists can participate, but colonially-displaced Puerto Ricans cannot.

Sixth, the bill's woefully underspecified "voter education" item does not discuss—among other things—how it will address decades upon decades of political repression and stigma against independence and its proponents. There can be no fair vote in such a context.

Lastly, for now, it is quite telling that the U.S. press is calling on it a "statehood bill"—not statehood as in independence but statehood as in annexation into the U.S. empire-state. This is precisely what the pro-annexation party wanted and won with its so-called "compromise."

The bill can be found here:
congress.gov/117/bills/hr83…

Another problem, noted by others, is the lack of discussion on the "language" issue.