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What is the fate of Puerto Rico after Maria and during Trumps reign?

J

joe2187

Banned
After three weeks the island is still a mess

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2017/10/09/puerto-rico-aid-hurricane-maria/741739001/

Nearly three weeks after Hurricane Maria devastated this U.S. territory in the Caribbean, individuals and charities on the U.S. mainland trying to send supplies to the island are facing a series of bottlenecks that are keeping help from reaching those most in need.

The barriers range from a lack of communication to blocked roads to a shortage of vehicles and drivers to make deliveries.

As a result, one Port of San Juan terminal is storing 3,400 containers — more than double the usual number, said Jose “Pache” Ayala, vice president and general manager for Puerto Rico at Crowley Maritime Corp.

Because of tangled power lines across roads, washed out bridges and highways and knocked out cellphone towers and radio antennas across the island, materials are leaving the Crowley terminal gate at 70% the normal rate before the storm, Ayala said.
Click to expand...

Before the storm, Puerto Rico was facing a down spiraling economy thanks in part to US company corporate tax break law that basically had them exempt from US taxes as long as they did business in Puerto Rico.

https://www.cnbc.com/2017/09/26/heres-how-an-obscure-tax-change-sank-puerto-ricos-economy.html

More than half a century ago, U.S. lawmakers sought to help Puerto Rico emerge from a colonial past, transforming its largely agrarian economy into a manufacturing powerhouse. The effort, known as Operation Bootstrap, began with a series of tax breaks designed to attract manufacturers who would provide steady factory jobs.

For a time the plan seemed to work, as standards of living in Puerto Rico rose. Between 1950 and 1980, per capita gross national product grew nearly tenfold in Puerto Rico, and disposable income and educational attainment rose sharply, according to the Center for a New Economy, a think tank based in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

One of those tax breaks, enacted in 1976, allowed U.S. manufacturing companies to avoid corporate income taxes on profits made in U.S. territories, including Puerto Rico. Manufacturers, led by the pharmaceutical industry, flocked to the island.
Click to expand...

The tax break was repealed during the Clinton administration and saw a rapid decline in the economy for the next two decades. Lack of jobs, contributed to also lack of people to fill jobs there and grow an local economy since it created a mass exodus of native Puerto Ricans to the US. However the Jobs that were available in Puerto Rico before the hurricanes payed a pittance of a wage compared to the US.

WEEKLY%20WAGES-rev.PNG


The goverment cant pay its workers, The workers dont have any money, power, water, food. Hospitals are struggling to help victims with meager supplies.

Meanwhile Goverment officials are still begging for immediate help in Puerto Rico

https://twitter.com/ricardorossello...k-of-massive-liquidity-crisis/article/2636902

"Financial damages of this magnitude will subject Puerto Rico's central government, its instrumentalities, and municipal governments to unsustainable cash shortfalls," Rossello wrote. "As a result, in addition to the immediate humanitarian crisis, Puerto Rico is on the brink of a massive liquidity crisis that will intensify in the immediate future."

Rossello also pointed to a potential exodus of the island's inhabitants should aid not be available in a timely manner -- something he has also emphasized in conversations with lawmakers.
Click to expand...

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/p...k-of-massive-liquidity-crisis/article/2636902


So what is the fate for Puerto Rico as it's devastated by by natural and economic disasters?

Trump demands appreciation while he belittles and insults the people of Puerto Rico, and the media focuses on him and his football feud. Meanwhile Puerto Rico and it's inhabitants are facing a crisis of both struggling to stay alive and the future of their livelihoods.
 
R

RoninChaos

Member
Trump just obviously needs to throw out more rolls of paper towels. That will fix this.

This ENRAGES me. I have family on the island. Trump and congress could give a fuck.
 
Y

yanipheonu

Member
Maybe they should look into becoming a Canadian territory instead.

Really though, I wonder if there'll be a movement away from the States after being so poorly treated.
 
J

joe2187

Banned
Squirrel Killer said:
I've got to wonder if Trump's colossal mishandling of this crisis impacts statehood initiatives.
Click to expand...

95% of the island voted for statehood, but there's nothing to be done unless Congress calls for it.

They have no pollitical power, but are controlled by the US in every way shape and form. It's now no better than a third world country at this point and is being ignored by the most powerful man in the country to appeal to.

Unless we bow down and lick his boots, PR is going to die.
 
T

TheMortarion

Member
They have already moved on, more important issues with the NFL and repealing Obama legislation. Those paper towels are all PR is getting.
 
T

titiklabingapat

Member
If PR dies, there will be a mass exodus that could potentially realign some states especially Florida. Even if just 100,000 move there, it could really affect federal election results.

Democrats should be starting relocation funds or organizations that help these US citizens start a new life somewhere, preferably a swing state.
 
J

joe2187

Banned
yanipheonu said:
Maybe they should look into becoming a Canadian territory instead.

Really though, I wonder if there'll be a movement away from the States after being so poorly treated.
Click to expand...

Too much work, too much debt, too much damage, too many brown people.

Also another new factoid today.

Jones Act waiver for Puerto Rico expired Sunday, not being extended

https://www.cnbc.com/2017/10/09/jon...co-expired-sunday-not-being-extended-dhs.html

94% of the island without power, shortages of food, water and supplies. Needs more aid, and manpower....but please fucking pay up.
 
F

FStubbs

Member
joe2187 said:
Too much work, too much debt, too much damage, too many brown people.

Also another new factoid today.

Jones Act waiver for Puerto Rico expired Sunday, not being extended

https://www.cnbc.com/2017/10/09/jon...co-expired-sunday-not-being-extended-dhs.html

94% of the island without power, shortages of food, water and supplies. Needs more aid, and manpower....but please fucking pay up.
Click to expand...

Yeah, that sounds like Trump. Most of his comments about Puerto Rico are all about debts and budgets.

He really hates Hispanic people. If the island died off tomorrow he'd throw a party.

Evil is a real thing.
 
M

moltonasty

Member
The future of PR is looking extremely grim for the near future. My only glimmer of hope is that the next administration will make attempts to help. But that’s either 3-7 years off and who knows how bad things will be by that point.
 
R

Ricky_R

Member
joe2187 said:
95% of the island voted for statehood
Click to expand...

It was actually 97%, but the turnout was only 23%. Either way, I feel most people would vote for statehood if the moment of truth actually came, even more so after María since people actually realized how difficult this would've been without federal support.
 
H

HazySaiyan

Banned
Puerto Rico is going to be left to rot, there’s no real political fallout for not helping the people of PR as they have no power and the US Mainland doesn’t seem to give a fuck about the island. You combine that with a racist sociopath man child being in charge and it just doesn’t look good
 
P

Pyrokai

Member
What needs to be done for it to become a state? Is it both chambers that need to agree? Or just one? Gonna research.....


Edit: Pretty confusing. All I ever see is that it must be called by Congress, but does that then mean each chamber has to pass a simple majority? 2/3rds vote? Can't seem to find that stuff.
 
V

Vena

Member
Beartruck said:
If anything, it'll push for Puerto Rican independence. The US is an anchor around their throat right now.
Click to expand...

Independence from what? The people are US Citizens and the island is a US territory with all sorts of ties to the mainland, they can't just declare themselves independent.
 
M

Mindlog

Member
Everyone I know has family or friends that have left or made plans to do so. Even at the barbershop we all share the same stories.
 
M

Mr Swine

Banned
So if people start dying of because of trumps incompetence and ignorance. Will he be held accountable for this or will he just waive this off and lie like he usually does?
 
S

SecretMoblin

Member
Pyrokai said:
What needs to be done for it to become a state? Is it both chambers that need to agree? Or just one? Gonna research.....


Edit: Pretty confusing. All I ever see is that it must be called by Congress, but does that then mean each chamber has to pass a simple majority? 2/3rds vote? Can't seem to find that stuff.
Click to expand...

Congress just needs to pass a bill and have it signed by the President. The only special rule that would kick in would be if PR is carved from a portion of another state.

Regardless, statehood really isn't an option unless the islanders start making it very clear that they want it. The Republican Party still maintains support for statehood in their platform (they have for many years) and the Democrats implicitly support the status quo until the island makes its intentions clear.
 
M

Mr. Wonderful

Member
Outside of continuing to donate, is there anything else we can do?

What are their needs right now, and what charity would be the best to donate to, etc.?
 
O

Omadahl

Banned
$1000 a week? Holy crap. I'd have to have a doctorate and 20+ years experience to make that as a teacher in Nebraska.

Back on point... as has been stated, what's there to lose, except face, for doing little to nothing for Puerto Rico by this administration? It's a horrible situation being handled by the most incompetent person. I would like to be able to comment on what should happen for Puerto Rico about either statehood or independence, but I honestly don't know enough about the situation. It's just plain horrible from a dozen different socio-economic perspectives.
 
J

joe2187

Banned
SecretMoblin said:
Congress just needs to pass a bill and have it signed by the President. The only special rule that would kick in would be if PR is carved from a portion of another state.

Regardless, statehood really isn't an option unless the islanders start making it very clear that they want it. The Republican Party still maintains support for statehood in their platform (they have for many years) and the Democrats implicitly support the status quo until the island makes its intentions clear.
Click to expand...

The island is all for statehood, it was almost practically unanimous during the last vote.

congress hasnt called for it, even though there's a demand and more then ever.
 
J

jfkgoblue

Member
The 435 cap on Congress makes it very hard for PR to achieve statehood. Small states oppose it because it would dilute their power in the senate, larger states oppose it because that means they lose representation in Congress the 3-4 representives PR would have would mean 3-4 less represenitives from other states.
 
S

skullmuffins

Banned
jfkgoblue said:
The 435 cap on Congress makes it very hard for PR to achieve statehood. Small states oppose it because it would dilute their power in the senate, larger states oppose it because that means they lose representation in Congress he 3-4 representives PR would have would mean 3-4 less represenitives from other states.
Click to expand...
Congress could vote to raise the number of representatives since that's just fixed by law - unlike senators, it's not in the constitution. The only real limit, I guess, is how many seats they could fit in the chambers unless they want to do some major remodeling.
 
J

jfkgoblue

Member
skullmuffins said:
Congress could vote to raise the number of representatives since that's just fixed by law - unlike senators, it's not in the constitution. The only real limit, I guess, is how many seats they could fit in the chambers unless they want to do some major remodeling.
Click to expand...
The size of the chambers is the reason for the cap, there’s no room for any more seats. They’d need to expand the chambers and that wouldn’t go over well politically.
 
Z

ZOONAMI

Junior Member
What they actually need to do is seek out huge amounts of money from tourism industry venture capital willing to put that money towards public projects as well as their own projects to turn the island into a more luxurious tourist destination more like Hawaii. It won’t happen but tourism is pretty much the only thing they have given the natural beauty of the island and they can’t compete in sugar, coffee, etc. The problem is they don’t have any money to throw at tourism advertising. I also feel like the appeal of PR isn’t really in all inclusives, but the history of San Juan, rainforests, mountains, culebra, vieques, rincon, pretty much all over the island. The problem is there isn’t really top tier facilities, or the infrastructure, to make the island as appealing as other tropical destinations on paper to a lot of people, but it is absolutely one of the most beautiful places on the planet.
 
L

linkboy

Member
Mr Swine said:
So if people start dying of because of trumps incompetence and ignorance. Will he be held accountable for this or will he just waive this off and lie like he usually does?
Click to expand...

They're not white, so the majority of Trump's supporters won't give a shit.
 
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