A bit of Puerto Rico history (with correction about British): Although Puerto Rico was temporarily occupied by the British, it never stopped being under Spanish control until 1898, when the island suffered a legal and political injustice, since it was granted full autonomy by Spain in 1897, so the U.S. had no legal right to ask Spain to cede Puerto Rico to the U.S. in 1898 and Spain had no legal right to cede Puerto Rico, because the island had already been granted full autonomy by Spain. This is a historical fact that is not taught to Americans by the U.S. and even to Puerto Ricans by Puerto Rico. Many good things have happened under U.S. control, but also bad things, such as second class citizenship, since the citizenship established in the 1917 Jones Act is not genuine citizenship, but "statutory" citizenship, which can be annulled in any instant by a simple act of the U.S. Congress. In a nutshell, Puerto Rico is still a colony, but invented in 1917 was "fake citizenship" because the U.S. had to hide that it still had a colony when it was fighting for "freedom" in Europe in WWI (and now they could draft Puerto Ricans into the Army) and in the 1950s invented the "fake Commonwealth status", which Puerto Ricans called Estado Libre y Associado (Free and Associated State), which in fact is not free, since all decisions come from Washington, D.C., whose say about Puerto Rico overrides the Puerto Rican will and government. For example, the government of Puerto Rico is not free to make its own business dealings with foreign governments. It cannot, for example, ask Japan and South Korea help improve its island infrastructure by hiring them directly. Also, all foods, etc., must come to Puerto Rico via U.S. Merchant Marine vessels, which on average ends up costing Puerto Ricans 18% more to ship because Puerto Rico can't have goods shipped via cheaper competitors: that is, the U.S. has a monopoly on all goods shipped to/from Puerto Rico, so the U.S. controls Puerto Rican exports as well, not just imports. But again, there have been some good things happening as well, just not enough in recent years. The island is left floundering and the economy has been ruined by the U.S. shifting Puerto Rico's pharm industry to Singapore, Ireland, China, etc. etc. after ending tax incentives for Pharm companies to operate in Puerto Rico. In actuality, more monies pour OUT of Puerto Rico to the U.S. than pours INTO Puerto Rico from the U.S. Read the Puerto Rico economy books about this by Javier A. Hernandez.
I live in Puerto Rico - I moved here from San Diego.. and TRUST me when i tell you.. groceries here are MORE expensive than America's Finest City.... Fact!
What did you expect? We consume imported goods at a 90% rate; and local producers are scarse. The smaller the island, the more expensive it gets. Enjoy your rent rate at least.
Me too. I looked into this recently, as a matter of fact. We simultaneously contend with the highest poverty rate of any US Territory and the lowest purchasing power per dollar. It'd be nice to have some of these struggles alleviated by local industry and agricultural instead of relying on imports. However, the ongoing debt crisis and resulting obsession with increasing GDP has led to a corrupt focus on exports and foreign companies, as our own local businesses receive a petty fraction of the subsidies and tax breaks afforded to investors from the mainland. By the way, these investors are not required to hire Puerto Rican labor either, meaning they not only get away with near 0 contributions to the island itself, they aren't even expected to ease the burden of a single individual.
I highly recommend the book “War against all Puerto Ricans” by Nelson A . Denis to anyone who wants to know more about our history and how we ended up here.
@@thannushkaperez3749 That screed is blame porn. Dennis is a purveyor of populist opium. Everyone who was anyone under the Spanish colonial rule, and could, left when the US offered them that option. When Myles arrived, my great grandmother had my grandmother living near Cadiz at the family's fighting bull cortijo. Only returned because her husband required it in 1903. Puerto Rico is in its present straights because of the local elites. They control politics and who succeeds in it. As long as the lemmings care more about the status than about governance, they will holdvsway and the Island will not be worth making a state or able to self sustain as a sovereign purgatory on earth. Fix the problem and address the hierarchy of needs. Then, expunge the elites from power and reward outcomes. Not affiliation.
I recommend a book called “La Batalla por el Paraíso” is from Naomi Klein a Canadian journalist that came after Hurricane Maria. I think a lot of people need to read to know what USA had made to us in all this years. It’s a book that you get literally very mad.
Puerto Rico's median household income is the highest in Latin America & they also score #1 in the Quality of Life index in Hispanic America. These are the Median household incomes (2019) & Quality of life ranking (2021): 1.Puerto Rico: $20,000 to $21,000/ year & Quality of life Index of 130.8 Points. 2.Chile: $17,000 to $20,000/ year & a Quality of life Index of 99.9 Points. 3.Uruguay: $16,000 to $18,000/ year & a Quality of life Index of 124.6 Points. Remember that Chile and Uruguay are the nations with the highest standards of living in Latin-america, If we compare PR with Caribbean nations the disparity would be extremely profound, The Dominican Rep. had a median household income under $9,000 (2019) & a Quality of life index of 93.02 (2024) and even the DR is doing great relative to other Caribbean nations. Being part of the wealthiest market in the world allowed PR to reach this status.
@@luisangel444 yea but you do realize that you're just comparing poor to poor, right? It's like saying "well it's not as bad as [x]" or "it's better than [x]". It still doesn't justify the argument around state hood.
@@chimchim2_ I didn't delve into the statehood issue. I'm talking Macro-economics, not politics. The claim was that *"the relationship between the US and PR has Impoverished PR for 100 years"* , but all the evidence point to the contrary. Their relationship with the US has risen them to an impressive prestigious status: Most developed region of Latin America; they enjoy the the highest human development index, the highest median household income and the highest standards of living. Now, if you compare them with the continental US they do lag behind, it would be great for them to rise even further, but all the evidence points to the fact that they would not had attained the #1 status as an lone independent island. PS: In your previous comment you referred to all of latin america as poor... you presumptuous fuck there are several countries here, some low income, some medium and some high income such as Chile, it seems like you are ignorant of the wealth and development of several latin american nations...
Puerto Rico is absolutely nothing like the Hawaiian 🌺 Islands. In those islands it’s spectacularly clean, everything is manicured, everyone works, most every home are worth close to a million dollars. Homes by the ocean are worth ten times more. People are nice and friendly. Puerto Rico is nothing like Hawaii, there is pot holes everywhere, half the island is on welfare, all they do mostly is party. Locals don’t want any change and don’t want housing to go up and don’t like Americans, won’t speak English. Many are uneducated but also a segment is very educated and are stand outs in the community also. Those people are rightly very proud. And should be, as that segment of Puerto Ricans are being overworked and highly taxed and eventually they get sense, leave the island and do great things on the mainland and get much better, high paying jobs and taxed less. The only thing Puerto Rico has in common with Hawaii is they are very friendly, very proud people on the most part. But too much crime is on the island. Unlike the Hawaiian island. 🏝️ which is Paradise on earth and everyone from all over the world wants to buy homes and live there. Not the case with Puerto Rico.. Shootings everyday in broad daylight. It’s that bad I do not want to visit there anymore. My wife is Puerto Rican and she puts her life in jeopardy every time she wants to visit there. I’ve been there 50 times. But no more.
@@jasonbrodierqevermy1998 You’re wife can do better than you. She should divorce you . And I bet every time she goes to the island she has fun and enjoys her culture her people
I don't feel that way we where poor before 1917 and we use to go to Dominican republic for a better life once they gave us the citizenship thats when the immigration went to the bronx . If a puerto Rican tells there's poor in Puerto Rico ok also in United States but honestly they haven't gone outside united states to other latin countries.
@@vampiroak47we are a territory of the United states and thats what they measure and the numbers that they use to compare as the poverty rate. They dont compare PR with numbers from the dominican republic but with the poorest state of the USA which is Mississippi. So the poverty that you feel that there isnt in PR is because youre comparing our numbers with the numbers of other Latin american countries. If you watched the video at all, it made comparisons WITH the actual USA.
Although I admit that US has responsibility for the situation of Puerto Rico, the local government have the biggest responsibility for our actual condition. We don't pay federal taxes but the amount of local taxes we pay is insane as an example 11.5% sales tax while the services becomes worse day after day and the solution the government came over with is always a new tax.
Puerto Rico is the richest country in latinamerica seek info! Puerto Rico have more gdp than Spain and chile! Comparing to other countries we are in heaven
The main problem is the US stranglehold on the Island… bad management by the local government only worsens Puerto Rico’s economic issue. Puerto Rico citizens are smart, educated and hard working, they would become a caribbean super power if the US grants them some level of economic autonomy.
Also the government of Puerto Rico keeps its population poor by not promoting the development of infrastructure that will boost the economy. The local bureaucracy for establishing a business is ridicilous. The local mayors and politicians force business owners to pay illegal cash fees in addition to business licenses and taxes. Puerto Rico offers zero oportunities to its own young university graduates as it has no gratifying paying employment for them.
YOU PATHETIC..PUERTO RICO HAS NO GOVERNMENT OF ITS OWN. THE U.S. CONTROLS THE GOVERNMENT OF PUERTO RICO WHILE LYING TO THE POPULATION OF THE ISLAND AND THE REST OF THE WORLD THAT PUERTO RICO GOVERNS ITSELF.
1. Puerto Rico was the name of the port city in San Juan originally. The island was known as San Juan Bautista until the late 1800s. 2. The Spanish American war, although did involve the transfer of Puerto Rico was mainly fought so the US could gain control over Cuba. Here on the island we welcomed the US army as we assumed that, like Cuba, they would fight for out independence in exchange for our cooperation. 3. Only about 1/3 of the island speaks English proficiently in modern times with that number significantly higher among the youth. 4. Gentrification by Americans is also a huge issue
1/3 of the island absolutely does not speak English proficiently. Like 1/10th of the island speaks English. Then out of that 1/10th, 1/4th actually understand the English they are speaking and listening to. That's the truth. Most English speaking Puerto Ricans do not understand English being spoken to them and when they speak English are not fluent and actually don't know what they are saying as they cannot properly respond to a question being asked to them in English. The ones that are truly fluent lived on the mainland or had a fully fluent English speaking relative inside the house who likely lived on the mainland.
@@nesq4104 I have never lived in the US . And I speak English fluently. I’m 29 years old. Remember that the younger generation consumes media, entertainment and information (books and studies) in english. The original comment is correct. Most of the older generation doesn’t understand the language very well. But most of the younger generation can speak some level of english.
Remember we were invaded by the US. PR never welcomed them nor their military, but had to surrender after almost 3 months of receiving bombardments and fighting against them.
Puertorricans are welcome to move to any US state and buy property just the same as anyone from the fifty states is able to move to PR and buy property. In fact, nobody with American citizenship has to move to any other place to buy, they can do it over the phone. So you can go and gentrify any of the 50 states just as much as they can gentrify PR.
Hmmm not quite as straightforward; only well-educated Puerto Ricans can make smooth transitions and frankly the brain drain continues... being English language fluency and vocational job standards a major hurdle for most other people who transplant to the US mainland...remember what happened to so many folks who moved to places like Florida after María...I know English language teachers in schools who, in addition to immigrant children from the usual backgrounds had to make room for quite a few Puerto Rican kids who despite being taught English in PR could not make it straight to mainstream classrooms due language fluency issues.
It is important to start mentioning what Puerto Rico really is: A United States Colony Deviating from that reality takes away from the sole purpose of why we’re still here: Extract rich resources Plus, anyone saying an independent Puerto Rico would be destroyed economically clearly has no understanding of our economy, labor talent and history.
The drug epidemic is worse there than it is on the mainland. The term is Zombie island. And they have a serious corruption issue. That’s Two issues that erode the territory from the top and the bottom. Puerto Ricans respond by running away to the mainland by the millions. If the Puerto Rican people don’t try to fix the island in the next 100 or 200 years the Puerto Ricans will cease to exist.
Interesting, from what I see in Puerto Rico there is a collosal problem with corruption within the government that has led the island into huge debt with no sign of hope in the near future. Not to say that the government in the U.S. does not have the same problem but to state that Puerto Rico would be self sufficient is amusing.
Im half Puertorican half Argentinian and let me tell you as someone how has lived in PR and South America, the average life standard in Puerto Rico is the best in Latin America. The island has poverty? Yes just like every country but you're making it sound like PR is Haiti....
Yeah this video is out of pocket. Im on a similar situation.And latín american as a whole cant even dream or understand how good the Puerto Rican middle class is.
I'm mexican a place where there is only poor, Rich and super rich. So when I moved to Puerto Rico 10 years ago I was mesmerised by the high quality standard of living of the middle class . something that my dear mexico and South america can only dream. with that said I think this video is not fair for the island. you are talking about Puerto Rico not about cuba or Bolivia.
Exactly what I think. This only portraits the disadvantaged places. Why not display the universities, the airport, which is iinternational and two other regionals, the diversity of living places: metropolitan, city, towns, or rural? Why not show the contrast of high class places? The hotels, the ports full with international cruises, why portrait us like this? This video ashames me as a Puerto Rican because it’s not like this everywhere.
This video compares PR to the mainland, not to latin america which is what youre doing. So youre comparing apples to oranges. The video compares apples to apples.
Thanks for the comments. I totally agree. Sad to say but still people at that border line poor, but I do hate laziness. I understand on this well documented video that P.R. failed for many years to recognize those very important issues or problems brought upon the puertorricans not letting us grow and be more self-productive . Called greed...it's takes anybody's soul.
@@itzkamikaze3081 If the P.R. government would had recognize many years ago and fought the many laws and agreements that kept P.R. from possibly becoming a better place than what it is now.I have to take my hat off for those puertorricans had the resiliency to work hard and focus to meet the a good standards of living possible.
Puerto Rico's median household income is the highest in Latin America & they also score #1 in the Quality of Life index in Hispanic America. These are the Median household incomes (2019) & Quality of life ranking (2021): 1.Puerto Rico: $20,000 to $21,000/ year & Quality of life Index of 130.8 Points. 2.Chile: $17,000 to $20,000/ year & a Quality of life Index of 99.9 Points. 3.Uruguay: $16,000 to $18,000/ year & a Quality of life Index of 124.6 Points. Remember that Chile and Uruguay are the nations with the highest standards of living in Latin-america, If we compare PR with Caribbean nations the disparity would be extremely profound, The Dominican Rep. had a median household income under $9,000 (2019) & a Quality of life index of 93.02 (2024) and even the DR is doing great relative to other Caribbean nations. Being part of the wealthiest market in the world allowed PR to reach this status.
@@luisangel444Is the highest but everything is more expensive even products from the island like "aguacate" other Latino countries foods are much more cheaper even wood, cemento,ext
@@dougrodriguez4977 He won't because he would have to lie. This video is pretty accurate. I wonder who pressured Clinton to abandon PR like that ? Full medicaid to PR and all territories should be in place.
I like living in Puerto Rico. My kids get to experience their Puerto Rican heritage on their mother's side. There are good and bad no matter where you go. We use as many of the local mom and Pop shops to keep our money here unlike using Walmart or other big companies that only a small amount of the money spend stays here.
You never go to Walmart stop camping like 80% of all stores in Puerto Rico are not owned by no Puerto Rican people they’re either Chinese Arabic or American you think you’re buying to Puerto Ricans but they work there but they don’t own the store
Minimum wage just went up it took 15 years for them to go up three dollars I have friends that live in public housing they make 1200 monthly and they have to pay $600 for rent in public housing. The government just takes how can you save a dollar when they take everything you make school suck it’s not like in the states but teachers don’t care about their work. They don’t care about teaching students they don’t have enough books, so the kids cannot take a book home. The little they have is to be shared in the whole school when school starts. You have to buy toilet paper, all kinds of stuff to give to the school every year because is part of the school list even printing paper for they can print the schoolwork because the schools do not have funds to pay for it .Where is all the US money going it’s not going to the people who live in Puerto Rico we’re poor and we’re struggling because the government takes everything from us and the US does nothing to stop them and because people have been conditions to do what the government tells them . They don’t even teach the people their rights not even job labor rights so you go to a job and nobody knows what’s their actual rights I still love living here, but I wish we could do something about the government
@glendaalgarin5120 I didn't say I don't go to Walmart I said I buy most of my stuff from the mom and Pop shops. IE the little man. Trying to keep as much of my money in the local economy versus giving it to Walmart and them taking it back to state's
@glendaalgarin5120 there are a lot of mom and Pop shops owned by Puerto Rican people. You have to look for them instead of the convenience of the big box stores. I also hand out bag lunches to the homeless. I put a bunch in my car when I go out. I use local contractors. You are trying to play the victim instead of trying to find a solution without depending on the government or someone else to do it for you.
I’m born and raised in PR. To me it’s political because there would be 2 senators and more congressman than about half the states. They’re not going to give non-European people that much power without putting up a serious, very hypocritical, lie. Also, a lot of us don’t want to be a state. There are a good amount of people that want independence or to stay as it currently is. Also, it’s currently a tax haven for rich Americans and that status would be dropped upon becoming a state. So there you go, from a local.
"They’re not going to give non-European people that much power without putting up a serious, very hypocritical, lie." Since when were the spaniards not european? you really are ignorant, wow. It's true that in PR we are a mixed and proud of it but we are still of mostly of european ancestry. only way we would be considered non-european is if you believe in stupid ideas like the one drop rule.
Ayudame a entender, segun los numeros PR tiene los estandares de vida y ingresos familiares medios mas altos de toda Latinoamerica. Estos son los ingresos medios de los hogares (2019) y el ranking de calidad de vida (2021): 1.Puerto Rico: $20,000 a $21,000/año & Índice de Calidad de Vida de 130.8 Puntos. 2.Chile: $17.000 a $20.000/año y un Índice de Calidad de Vida de 99,9 Puntos. 3.Uruguay: $16.000 a $18.000/año y un Índice de Calidad de Vida de 124,6 Puntos. Recuerde que Chile y Uruguay son las naciones con los niveles de vida más altos en América Latina. Si comparamos PR con las naciones del Caribe, la disparidad sería extremadamente profunda, la República Dominicana tenía un ingreso familiar promedio inferior a $9,000 (2019) y una calidad índice de vida de 93,02 (2024).
What are you talking about? Hawaii's senators and politicans tend to be Asian, and Hawaii is wealthy. Then again, Asians are often successful, while Latinos are much less successful.
@@luisangel444Sigues repitiendo lo mismo. La Gente aqui necesita dos trabajos para vivir Bien, a menos que vivan con familiares, o en una invasion. Las cosas cuestan caras, y las estadisticas se pueden manipular para que se adapten a la narrativa. Somos "los mas Ricos del caribe", pero la Gente se esta yendo para el mainland o incluso para la republica dominicana, porque esto esta brutal. Ya ni tapon se forma en la carretera, por tanta Gente que se fue de la isla.
Non European, the he'll are you talking about most Puerto Ricans are of Spanish or Portuguese decent. The issue is the mainland does not want 2 liberal senators. The issues with the Island are as such. No one wants to import and export to an Island with not natural resources. Agriculture is dead. You can do it in Brazil cheaper. Statehood would be the solution however all zamerocsn states currently are falling apart look at Detroit.
There is no denying that the government is corrupt. There are great examples of that in recent events. Aside from corruption, we also have the mismanagement of funds, infrastructure, etc.
A bit of Puerto Rico history (with correction about British): Although Puerto Rico was temporarily occupied by the British, it never stopped being under Spanish control until 1898, when the island suffered a legal and political injustice, since it was granted full autonomy by Spain in 1897, so the U.S. had no legal right to ask Spain to cede Puerto Rico to the U.S. in 1898 and Spain had no legal right to cede Puerto Rico, because the island had already been granted full autonomy by Spain. This is a historical fact that is not taught to Americans by the U.S. and even to Puerto Ricans by Puerto Rico. Many good things have happened under U.S. control, but also bad things, such as second class citizenship, since the citizenship established in the 1917 Jones Act is not genuine citizenship, but "statutory" citizenship, which can be annulled in any instant by a simple act of the U.S. Congress. In a nutshell, Puerto Rico is still a colony, but invented in 1917 was "fake citizenship" because the U.S. had to hide that it still had a colony when it was fighting for "freedom" in Europe in WWI (and now they could draft Puerto Ricans into the Army) and in the 1950s invented the "fake Commonwealth status", which Puerto Ricans called Estado Libre y Associado (Free and Associated State), which in fact is not free, since all decisions come from Washington, D.C., whose say about Puerto Rico overrides the Puerto Rican will and government. For example, the government of Puerto Rico is not free to make its own business dealings with foreign governments. It cannot, for example, ask Japan and South Korea help improve its island infrastructure by hiring them directly. Also, all foods, etc., must come to Puerto Rico via U.S. Merchant Marine vessels, which on average ends up costing Puerto Ricans 18% more to ship because Puerto Rico can't have goods shipped via cheaper competitors: that is, the U.S. has a monopoly on all goods shipped to/from Puerto Rico, so the U.S. controls Puerto Rican exports as well, not just imports. But again, there have been some good things happening as well, just not enough in recent years. The island is left floundering and the economy has been ruined by the U.S. shifting Puerto Rico's pharm industry to Singapore, Ireland, China, etc. etc. after ending tax incentives for Pharm companies to operate in Puerto Rico. In actuality, more monies pour OUT of Puerto Rico to the U.S. than pours INTO Puerto Rico from the U.S. Read the Puerto Rico economy books about this by Javier A. Hernandez.
La culpa es del pueblo pq siguen en la oscuridad sin darse cuenta de los engaño, los PNP, Populares y PIP son la misma lacras creados para dividir el pueblo y nunca encontrar su independencia, USA es mas corrupto q el gobierno de Puerto Rico ya q han mantenido esa isla en la pobreza mas siempre ha vivido un racismo por el idioma y cultura mas USA tiene a Puerto Rico como los bancos nos tienen cuando prestan dinero sacando miles de ganancias y nosotros perdiendo
@@Sam-gs7ybTourism is viable nonetheless. There’s also a lot of industries Puerto Rico can potentially tap into with the right foundations-if American companies pull out for example. Perhaps independence could be the vector that allows boricuas to actually explore profitable avenues to sustain their economy.
@@Sam-gs7yb Pharmaceuticals and textiles. Also Greece and Spain also offer nothing other than tourism, yet I dont see you saying they should be annexed by a stronger and bigger neighbor? Keep in mind, Puerto Rico has a higher GDP per Capita than Spain. They wont be a superpower sure, but they would definitely be in better condition than Spain and other South American countries
@@rami8896 That their a textile and pharmaceutical is because of the US subsidies no US nothing is left. You cant compare PR with Greece as much as it has declined its cultural destination and they have way more to offer in shipping, olives and other products. Same with Spain. PR would compete with Haiti, Barbados, Cuba even DR has more options. You should be grateful the US has you as a colony.
@@celestial1756 With the work culture you guys have highly doubt it. It would be a bigger chaos than it is now. Look PR is beautiful island but thats it no US no $$$
I used to work for a pharmaceutical company in PR. They paid us about half of what they paid a BSc graduate in the US... and I had a Master's Degree at the time. There were few job alternatives back then (about none right now) so it was pretty much a one sided deal. They got away with it by declaring Puerto Rico as part of their "international division". And those were the "Good Old Times"
@@CptFugu were the good old times better than the present? If you were not satisfied with your income, did you pursue other employment to increase your rebenue? Then who's to blame for your choices? I left the island and live my retirement in a 5 acre "farm" that I was able to afford because I left. My brother is country manager for a largest and commodities company because he left. You can't have it all. There are choices we make. Some of us live with them, ohers whine about them.
That’s why my parents are telling me go study outside a Master or PHD. That’s what I will be doing, but I think that is very sad. My mom did a master in planning in the UPRRP and when she worked “Departamento de Vivienda” she notice that one guy was getting pay way more than her, because he had a bachelor from an USA school. She told me that he didn’t knew how to do a lot of stuff that my mom needed to make for him, but he got a better pay than her. The inverse thing is that agency from the USA a searching for people bilingual, and the perfect thing is to get puertorricans.
@@josephaviles8289 That is correct. All the good jobs are locked in to, friends and family... The island is one giant dysfunctional economy because the handful of wealthy and influential,clans that run everything.
The Jones Act deducts around 1.5 billion dollars from Puerto Rico's local economy. Not being able to purchase fuel from foreign nations also contributes to this economic tragedy. However, corrupt bipartisan officials have also robbed federal funds for decades while promising growth through either statehood or maintaining the colonial status.
@@worldpeacearroyo8515 If we can agree that the Treaty of Paris of 1898 gave the US the island as a possession. Then the argument on the Jones Act becomes moot. It is not the source of the oil, but the registry of the vessel that makes it more, or less, pricey...
@@nildamendez2645 Why? It's the US's land... There is no native population in the Island to claim ancestral rights over anything. We are all descendants of colonists or immigrants and our likely argument could be: "It's ours because we killed the natives"...
I am a Puerto Rican who has spent his whole life living on the island. I must say that this video very well summarizes the colonial exploitation relationship between the USA and PR, and also explains very well all the problems and poor decisions that have led us to where we are today. It is simply an excellent video for those who don’t know much about the political, economic, and financial situations that our archipelago has gone through. Thank you very much for your contribution.
Fantastic video! I have incurred so much losses trading on my own....I trade well on demo but I think the real market is manipulated.... Can anyone help me out or at least tell me what I'm doing wrong??
Investing with an expert is the best strategy for beginners and busy investors, as most failures and losses in investment usually happen when you invest without proper guidance. I'm speaking from experience.
A bit of Puerto Rico history (with correction about British): Although Puerto Rico was temporarily occupied by the British, it never stopped being under Spanish control until 1898, when the island suffered a legal and political injustice, since it was granted full autonomy by Spain in 1897, so the U.S. had no legal right to ask Spain to cede Puerto Rico to the U.S. in 1898 and Spain had no legal right to cede Puerto Rico, because the island had already been granted full autonomy by Spain. This is a historical fact that is not taught to Americans by the U.S. and even to Puerto Ricans by Puerto Rico. Many good things have happened under U.S. control, but also bad things, such as second class citizenship, since the citizenship established in the 1917 Jones Act is not genuine citizenship, but "statutory" citizenship, which can be annulled in any instant by a simple act of the U.S. Congress. In a nutshell, Puerto Rico is still a colony, but invented in 1917 was "fake citizenship" because the U.S. had to hide that it still had a colony when it was fighting for "freedom" in Europe in WWI (and now they could draft Puerto Ricans into the Army) and in the 1950s invented the "fake Commonwealth status", which Puerto Ricans called Estado Libre y Associado (Free and Associated State), which in fact is not free, since all decisions come from Washington, D.C., whose say about Puerto Rico overrides the Puerto Rican will and government. For example, the government of Puerto Rico is not free to make its own business dealings with foreign governments. It cannot, for example, ask Japan and South Korea help improve its island infrastructure by hiring them directly. Also, all foods, etc., must come to Puerto Rico via U.S. Merchant Marine vessels, which on average ends up costing Puerto Ricans 18% more to ship because Puerto Rico can't have goods shipped via cheaper competitors: that is, the U.S. has a monopoly on all goods shipped to/from Puerto Rico, so the U.S. controls Puerto Rican exports as well, not just imports. But again, there have been some good things happening as well, just not enough in recent years. The island is left floundering and the economy has been ruined by the U.S. shifting Puerto Rico's pharm industry to Singapore, Ireland, China, etc. etc. after ending tax incentives for Pharm companies to operate in Puerto Rico. In actuality, more monies pour OUT of Puerto Rico to the U.S. than pours INTO Puerto Rico from the U.S. Read the Puerto Rico economy books about this by Javier A. Hernandez.
9:37 What you're referring to is law #22, which was approved by governor Fortuño. This project was approved to benefit & attract American business owners to set up shop on the island for either a massive tax cut or accommodations. Meanwhile, local business owners have to wait nearly a year for permits & pay more taxes, decimating the autonomy of the island furthermore.
This pisses me off. The other day an American came to my job to brag that in 3 months he set up 4 smoke shops. My boss was salty af! It took him 3 years to set up each of his 2 bussiness!
ah right, because there is no racism or discrimination in the states... like really great "black jobs"? like a little accent won't close doors at the outset? like often employers are surprisingly far less educated and lack language skills?
@@medusapr2011stay in where you at then buddy. I know plenty of people with an accent that have good jobs here in the US. Citing discrimination as the reason you are poor is such a cheap cop out. Think of something new. I see Bóricas pulling up in their Ferraris flying out on their private jets and riding jet skis all day every day in PR. Why are they flourishing and you complaining?
Government mismanagement in the island has been perpetrated by the same seats in Congress across generations in order to maintain this same stranglehold that is mentioned in the video. It is a vicious cycle that must be stopped.
A bit of Puerto Rico history (with correction about British): Although Puerto Rico was temporarily occupied by the British, it never stopped being under Spanish control until 1898, when the island suffered a legal and political injustice, since it was granted full autonomy by Spain in 1897, so the U.S. had no legal right to ask Spain to cede Puerto Rico to the U.S. in 1898 and Spain had no legal right to cede Puerto Rico, because the island had already been granted full autonomy by Spain. This is a historical fact that is not taught to Americans by the U.S. and even to Puerto Ricans by Puerto Rico. Many good things have happened under U.S. control, but also bad things, such as second class citizenship, since the citizenship established in the 1917 Jones Act is not genuine citizenship, but "statutory" citizenship, which can be annulled in any instant by a simple act of the U.S. Congress. In a nutshell, Puerto Rico is still a colony, but invented in 1917 was "fake citizenship" because the U.S. had to hide that it still had a colony when it was fighting for "freedom" in Europe in WWI (and now they could draft Puerto Ricans into the Army) and in the 1950s invented the "fake Commonwealth status", which Puerto Ricans called Estado Libre y Associado (Free and Associated State), which in fact is not free, since all decisions come from Washington, D.C., whose say about Puerto Rico overrides the Puerto Rican will and government. For example, the government of Puerto Rico is not free to make its own business dealings with foreign governments. It cannot, for example, ask Japan and South Korea help improve its island infrastructure by hiring them directly. Also, all foods, etc., must come to Puerto Rico via U.S. Merchant Marine vessels, which on average ends up costing Puerto Ricans 18% more to ship because Puerto Rico can't have goods shipped via cheaper competitors: that is, the U.S. has a monopoly on all goods shipped to/from Puerto Rico, so the U.S. controls Puerto Rican exports as well, not just imports. But again, there have been some good things happening as well, just not enough in recent years. The island is left floundering and the economy has been ruined by the U.S. shifting Puerto Rico's pharm industry to Singapore, Ireland, China, etc. etc. after ending tax incentives for Pharm companies to operate in Puerto Rico. In actuality, more monies pour OUT of Puerto Rico to the U.S. than pours INTO Puerto Rico from the U.S. Read the Puerto Rico economy books about this by Javier A. Hernandez.
Totally convinced that the United States is the worst thing that has happened to Puerto Rico, imagine belonging to a country that treats you as if you were less than them and with racism that is how they treat us Puerto Ricans.
Although Puerto Rico has a substantial debt of approximately $37 billion, no country in the past decade has surpassed the United States' record for the highest external debt, which currently stands at around $34 trillion. The key difference lies in the POWER and economic autonomy. The USA, being an independent country, can print its own currency whenever needed and maintain an artificial economy, even if it leads to inflation. It has control over its imports and exports. In contrast, Puerto Rico cannot event vote for the president, and everything that arrives on the island must first pass through the mainland, increasing the cost of all products. Also, can't control wich who do business without the bless of Uncle Sam. Puerto Rico cannot print its own currency like Uncle Sam, and to add to this, there is also poor government administration, a problem shared with the USA, but the latter has far more resources to manage it.
Sad that the DR's has surpassed PR's. That was not always the case. I would say that although the legal relationship with the U.S. plays a role, I believe political corruption and mismanagement is probably a significant factor. The P.R. of the 70's and 80's had better infrastructure and seemed to be progressing. Another thing I have noticed is that Tourism doesn't seem to be as big a driver of the economy as before. Part of the reason is that the cost to tourists is higher than in the DR and in the DR you get better service. That is something that should be fixed. Renting a room for less money makes the owners more money than not renting it at all.
It is clearly visible, how Puerto Rico is treated as a colony by the USA. I just returned from a 5 week trip there. During this time, 3 powershut downs for over 10 hours each. Had nothing to do with the storm. The spirit of the Puerto Rico people is amazing. The USA government is clearly holding the island hostage.
False statement here. Puerto Rico was not taken by the USA from Spain. Spain granted Puerto Rico independence before the USA invaded PR and took the island and its people against their will!
Your comment at 6:34 is wrong! PR at the time of the American invasion was already a province of Spain with representatives and we were Spanish citizens. Spain NEVER had colonies!!! It was all Spain. Do not continue to spread the “Black Leyend”….
@@Lando-kx6so No, we were not just a colony under Spain, we were a Spanish Province with representation in the Spanish goverment. Google the term Provincias de ultramar, which Cuba and PR were back then, so you can have an idea on how that worked.
@@jr5tana the "Carta Autonomica was not fully implemented. Under it, the local legislativevwas comprised of a minority of members who were voted in and the majority, including the governor, who were appointed by "The. Crown". Deploying "the black legend defense" is risible. Like most legends, Spain' s bad reputation is based in fact, even if some are somewhat exaggerated. At least they were not Belgium.
@@supersonica85it's just a fancy name lol at the end it was just another colony with a prettier name.....it took almost 400 years for Puerto Rico to achieve that "providence" status because Spain came guns blazing putting down any native cacique who tried to push back against the brute take over and the "evangelization" then they brought African slaves because the island natives were dying rapidly due to the harsh conditions and the forced labor imposed by the Spanish crown 👑 Spain just made a huge mess all over America same as the British and the French....the only one that gave a "fair" treatment to their colony was Portugal with Brazil
@@CarlosRodriguez-ey8zl In 1897 PR and Cuba were simultaneously the first autonomous regions of Spain even before Navarra. Plus the “vice president” of that congress was a Puerto Rican, Ramon Power y Giralt, and some of those legislators later on after the invasion went on to father some of the political parties that persist today. For example José Celso Barbosa who happened to be black. Spain was ahead of its time and PR had a much better political system then with the people that speak our language, share traditional and religious values and just happen to be related to.
Puerto Rico's median household income is the highest in Latin America & they also score #1 in the Quality of Life index in Hispanic America. These are the Median household incomes (2019) & Quality of life ranking (2021): 1.Puerto Rico: $20,000 to $21,000/ year & Quality of life Index of 130.8 Points. 2.Chile: $17,000 to $20,000/ year & a Quality of life Index of 99.9 Points. 3.Uruguay: $16,000 to $18,000/ year & a Quality of life Index of 124.6 Points. Remember that Chile and Uruguay are the nations with the highest standards of living in Latin-america, If we compare PR with Caribbean nations the disparity would be extremely profound, The Dominican Rep. had a median household income under $9,000 (2019) & a Quality of life index of 93.02 (2024) and even the DR is doing great relative to other Caribbean nations. Being part of the wealthiest market in the world allowed PR to reach this status.
@@EvilOtto580man, have you travel to Latin America ? We have a lot of opportunities in PR. Far from perfect place but still a lot better generally speaking than the rest of Latin America. Just go and look who are the one struggling. If you don’t put an afford to succeed then you are left behind. And no, I’m not from Dorado, Condado or Palmas de Mar.
Have you ever heard about the underground economy? , that's exactly what a lot of Puerto Ricans like to do. They report the very low income to the IRS and to the state from 1 job, but in reality, most of them have two jobs. They are doing this, so they can have the most help from the Us. At the other point, I rather be in PR; than Haiti, Cuba, or Venezuela.
The only way to have a second unreported job is for your employer to not report your wages. Employers are subject to report wages paid within a year of $500+, even with less, you are likely to receive a tax for for wages. I'm not saying it's impossible to guide wages, I'm merely saying employers are not putting themselves in the position to pay high fines to hide the wages of a mere human. It also doesn't benefit the employer as it's less deductions they can claim on their tax returns. The underground economy is precisely underground because it's illegal activity, as in, sales of drugs or prostitution, as well as stolen goods, etc. If you work for an employer, the employer is highly unlikely to hide your wages so you save on taxes, whilst them loosing money on saving on their taxes. Seems to me like you are repeating a lot of street talk that lacks actual knowledge of the machinery of it all, because most Puerto Ricans DO have 2 & 3 jobs and pay their taxes accordingly. Even with 2-3 jobs they still barely make 50k or less a year, which still is less than the US average
Where you get the information for this video?? You are using super old pictures like 80 years old picture, is a lost of respect go to the internet and find for the most ugly and poor pictures
I was informed by several Puerto Ricans that Chinese millionaire's had bought companies in Puerto Rico, and had taken over everything, and gotten involved in government affairs within Puerto Rico, and this hurted the people very much. I guess it's true then, Puerto Rico's fall happened because of China wanting to control business there either to dismantle or hurt the U.S., or U.S. relations with Puerto Rico, or hurt Puerto Ricans. * This was interesting to here from several Puerto Ricans because it brought remembrance to a video I had watched on UA-cam of how Chines Spies work to dismantle a foreign government like Puerto Rico. * Just listening to Puerto Rico debt on this video is just surprising. * Puerto Ricans should think very carefully of whom they appointed in office (government), and whom they allow to make contracts with, or sell there businesses too, because sometimes what might sounds like a good deal might actually be a bad and terrible deal for the state. *Hopefully one day Puerto Rico's people will be able to prosper in there land again and not be left to the curb to be poor, by wealthy Chinese foreigners.
I am from Puerto Rico and just living here feels like an enslaved territory. Everything too expensive and we get very little income compared to other USA states, also many corps and stores online don't even want to ship to PR making it even more impossible to get by. Im hoping in the future this changes for our island.
Statistics say that about 40% live under the mainlands poverty rate. Regardless of whatever pictures they used, numbers and numbers and all of those people are on medicaid, food stamps, and many of those on govt housing. Thats our reality.
The answer to the titular question comes at the very last few seconds of the video: "When federal policies that aided Puerto Rico's economic development were repealed, no enduring replacements were put in place."
Definitely the makers of this video do not live or probably have never visited PR. From a distance, using the selected images shown in this video, it looks like a third world country. It isn't. The details of life there paint a different picture. Family members help each ither there. Community is big oart of life, compared to the states. While the federal government does not support PR as equally as a state, one of the ways PR has money come in is through the younger generation aending money to their parents and family which are still in PR. Or, visiting family. Visually, it looks different because the houses are made of concrete. Modern, tall, woodframe houses are not going to survive hurricanes.
The Dunning Krugger effect.effect is a fascinating phenomenon in psychology. It refers to a cognitive bias where people who are incompetent in a particular subject tend to overestimate their own abilities and performance, while underestimating the abilities of others. Commenting about Puerto Rico requires historical, social , political and economic knowledge.
As a American puerto ti am this shit breaks my heart man it’s bullshit and then America can’t say shit when the entire world ends up going against it then don’t wonder why
Puerto Rico is a beautiful island. I lived there at one point for a few months (hell, my truck still has a PR plate on it 😎). Unfortunately, PR is in limbo. It won't be a state with millionaire gringos moving there in droves _specifically_ for its tax haven status _within_ US jurisdiction. Yet, can't be independent because the US has pushed the island into poverty. PR would end up similar to Haiti if independent because the US likes to punish those who don't play ball. We wouldn't part on good terms, especially with the aforementioned gringo droves.
Thank you for making this video i hope it could shine a light for the people that vote for the political parties that have been responsible for the disaster on our beautiful island
@@thiagovidal8972 Innitiative? PR was an unproductive (no gold, silver or emeralds) colony for the Spaniards. They have not figured out how to capitalize on their human assets.
I hate it here, our future is very uncertain is like every service is becoming privatized and we keep loosing and loosing more grip till the USA drown us in debts and is lack of medical services. We truly need help or this will be irreversible .
No one is going to save you, you must save yourself and fight for your rights and future. If Puerto Ricans continue waiting for a miracle they are going to get fucked permanently.
The future may be uncertain but a lot of Boricuas are thriving right now through their talents, PR has boxers, reggaetoneros, musicians, actors, and even barbers that are making names for themselves. Us Puerto Ricans are so talented! Bad Bunny is literally one of the most famous singers in the world right now, i’m proud of the Boricuas that are putting PR on the map!
@@NewHaven203I understand that, but we need people that sacrifice for the benefit of the puertorican citizens that want to have a future in PR. All the talents are great, but if we see during the massive protests to get rid of the governor in 2019, there was a lot of celebrities that utilized the event for promotion. At the end of the day, nothing really happened and a person worse than Ricky got the power and the same party keep having the advantage. I hope we can see a person or at least a group of people that know what it feels to be on the edge everyday and that has gone through the issues that us boricuas have to deal with daily. Also, I would that there is a MAJOR issue with education and how people view this issues. They need to stop looking from the status point of view and start thinking of a well being point of view. Puerto Rico it’s a tough issue and topic… It’s complicated.
How about American companies paying us citizens half of what they pay in the states. Is that Puerto Ricans keeping Puerto Ricans poor? Your logic is shit.
@@joshvega4906 youndont know what you are talking about The people who get paid low are government employees unless you are a friend of a politician Or small business like bakery or stuff like that It all depends were you go. Metropolitan area will pay more. While the rest of the island is screwed Also in puerto rico people dont have to pay a monthly insurance on their property if they rent. Or their cars. Or if they own a home. A lot of people get paid cash so is not reported. 60% plus of the population recieve reform which is a free medicare plan And the people who have that reform work with puertoricans business When you talk american business paying half of what they pay in the states you are just coming up with whatever someone told you without knowing What American business?? Burger king?? Thats franchise are owned by puertoricans. Mcdonallds? The same Walmart? The same And in those places pay similar to other places in the states. Now if you are going to talk and compare to states like California they pay more an hour. But you have to look at the whole cost of living. In California 20 dollars an hour is like 9$ an hour in puerto rico. You need to educate yourself and stop listening to marxist communist socialist who dont know what they are talking about.
millionaires get a free pass for 10 years to not pay taxes to puerto rico on any capital made :) and they nonstop buy houses and kick resident to make it in to air bnb nonstop all year
Here is a detail this video missed. Puerto Rico had chapter 9 but was removed by congress on the 1980’s but with no explanation why? When ELA was established, it was part of the agreement. But suddenly was removed. I wonder why? (Sarcasm)
A bit of Puerto Rico history (with correction about British): Although Puerto Rico was temporarily occupied by the British, it never stopped being under Spanish control until 1898, when the island suffered a legal and political injustice, since it was granted full autonomy by Spain in 1897, so the U.S. had no legal right to ask Spain to cede Puerto Rico to the U.S. in 1898 and Spain had no legal right to cede Puerto Rico, because the island had already been granted full autonomy by Spain. This is a historical fact that is not taught to Americans by the U.S. and even to Puerto Ricans by Puerto Rico. Many good things have happened under U.S. control, but also bad things, such as second class citizenship, since the citizenship established in the 1917 Jones Act is not genuine citizenship, but "statutory" citizenship, which can be annulled in any instant by a simple act of the U.S. Congress. In a nutshell, Puerto Rico is still a colony, but invented in 1917 was "fake citizenship" because the U.S. had to hide that it still had a colony when it was fighting for "freedom" in Europe in WWI (and now they could draft Puerto Ricans into the Army) and in the 1950s invented the "fake Commonwealth status", which Puerto Ricans called Estado Libre y Associado (Free and Associated State), which in fact is not free, since all decisions come from Washington, D.C., whose say about Puerto Rico overrides the Puerto Rican will and government. For example, the government of Puerto Rico is not free to make its own business dealings with foreign governments. It cannot, for example, ask Japan and South Korea help improve its island infrastructure by hiring them directly. Also, all foods, etc., must come to Puerto Rico via U.S. Merchant Marine vessels, which on average ends up costing Puerto Ricans 18% more to ship because Puerto Rico can't have goods shipped via cheaper competitors: that is, the U.S. has a monopoly on all goods shipped to/from Puerto Rico, so the U.S. controls Puerto Rican exports as well, not just imports. But again, there have been some good things happening as well, just not enough in recent years. The island is left floundering and the economy has been ruined by the U.S. shifting Puerto Rico's pharm industry to Singapore, Ireland, China, etc. etc. after ending tax incentives for Pharm companies to operate in Puerto Rico. In actuality, more monies pour OUT of Puerto Rico to the U.S. than pours INTO Puerto Rico from the U.S. Read the Puerto Rico economy books about this by Javier A. Hernandez.
I once read that Puerto Rico doesn't pay taxes to the US federal government. The article read that over 30% of the people collect Federal food stamps. If Puerto Rico wants to become a state and they think they'd be better off, then apply for statehood. If they want their independence, declare your independence and be responsible for yourselves.
Half truths are half lies. Yes, we can do better (I'm a born and a resident Puertorrican for 77 years). Our biggest problem is our elected politicians who established so many government handouts, almost nobody looks to get a job anymore. And that is what keeps going on right now. A half truther is a half lier!
The people moved over to Florida. Orlando area ,now this once nice area is. becoming blighted with crime They moved to Florida during the last few years ,it’s sad our city is becoming crime ridden area no one wants to visit ,we pay high taxes in u.s. ,we can’t be bailing you all out because of poor management,we have bailed the island out many times ,it’s the same ole we need more ,what would happen if you were no longer part of u.s. They don’t bail us out if we don’t have a tax base ,the taxpayers don’t want to pay for people who don’t work , it’s hard to get food stamps or Medicaid ,we have a housing shortage for people in our states ,where is the money going to come from,there are a lot of needy people who worked for many and paid into the services ,it’s not fair for everyone to want us to pick up there messes,
I love all the gentrification comments. People tend to forget that for gentrification to occur, there has to be two parts: the buyer AND a willing seller... Same as corruption: there's the corrupt government party as well as the non-government party. It always takes two to tango.
I was born in Puerto Rico. Lived there until I left for the military at 18 years old. Went back to live there after my 6 years of Active Duty service in 1993. You can say I lived there during the beginning of the end. I was forced to leave the island after all of the manufacturing left the island due to Bill Clinton's action of closing the "loophole" created Section 936 of the IRS Code. I am saying all of this to say that I am very familiarized with this topic because I lived it. So, I can honestly say that this video captures 100% the honest truth as to why live is so hard in Puerto Rico. To the people behind this channel and the production of this video, I salute you!! I don't think I have seen anything quite like this; so complete and accurate.
This video is missing tons of information. I have lived in PR since 1991 (and previously from 1978-1983: the "good years"). PRs economy woes are probably 75% self inflicted. Section 936 at the local level meant very good jobs (in local terms) but it was the pro-statehood party that led the charge to get it eliminated (see Carlos Romero Barcelo, the former pro-statehood governor and then our Resident Commissioner in Congress) since "PR could not become a state with that in place". Then in 2004, PR goes ahead and forces the military base closures depriving the local communities of that revenue (under the status-quo party). We get individual tax credits and don't pay Federal Taxes (sweet deal and an incentive not to work). Jones Act is just part of the cost of doing business: that's a protectionist measure that covers ALL US jurisdictions. Our local government is HUGE accounting for some 20% of jobs which is insane for a small economy. Taxes are very high leading to a massive underground economy and underreporting. They added an 11.5% sales tax on top of keeping the high personal income tax structure (this time also thanks to the status-quo party). Starting a business is a Kafkaesque exercise and that's all on PR's central and local governments (protecting the already local established ones). There's little true competition at the local level and laws are in place to keep it that way (again, self inflicted). The major political parties, each focused on its own status vision for PR, are far left (the pro independence one that openly admires the Cuban model) , and center-left (but using the compass as an analogy really more center-left-left) for the pro-statehood and pro status quo ones. There is not a SINGLE political alternative that's center-right... They all love throwing money around to buy votes every 4 years to "prove" that the population wants their status vision. So it's spend, spend, spend since - well - forever... A Javier Milei type of politician/party is needed to help reset this economy. Slash government to a more manageable 10% of jobs (still too much but better; seriously, the central government has a full agency that funds a full symphony - and I like classical music but, really?), introduce real competition by removing all internal business protectionist measures, slash the ludicrous permit system that hinders business creation, and massively slash taxes so that underreporting is no longer incentivized (see how tax revenues went up in former Warsaw block countries as an example). Incentivizing local production of things currently "imported" from the US/world would be a start and mitigate some Jones Act costs. I always get angry when I see these "it's all the US' fault" type of videos since they RARELY mention how much is self-inflicted and, if they do, only very passingly... But that what happens when a video is done purely from outside and only using macro information/data...
Well said and agree wholeheartedly. The job slashing would need to be done in stages and with economic measures in place to make sure the private sector can absorb that workforce. It would take several years to achieve that 10%, but it's technically doable. I've always said, we don't pay federal income taxes, we get to use the defacto world currency, our healthcare system is pretty much entirely federally funded , and we get a safety net called FEMA. We can deal with the cons. I like this better than the other two options.
@@GardenStateNJ27 Precious few. (yeah, I guess very light center-right). They are, at best, "New England Republicans" so, basically, useless (like Fortuño et all). Not a single one believes in small government. They might as well be Dems. (I m a Reagan Republican, so really party-less right now).
Very well said. It's is similar to what I say about the situation, .but there's some people who don't want to use their head to analyze by and for themselves
In the 70s and early 80s, the PR was offered statehood. They refused.At the time, they were doing very well. Recently, they have taken on massive debt. The situation has reversed.
@vicenterivera4648 look up the 1967 referendum, 1998 referendum, 2012 as well. Don't ask me to provide anything else. You should be able to do this simple task for yourself.
@@BamZoomRead smart ass! What is a referendum in simple terms? A referendum usually asks a question or questions to which all eligible electors must vote either 'yes' or 'no'. For electors, referendums are very similar to elections. On polling day, electors go to a polling place and cast their vote on a ballot paper. Is not the same to ask a question than to offer something. If you can ask me if I want a million dollars, of course I would say yes. Still that would not make me a millionaire.
They were not legitimate referendums, they were only made to force the people vote for certain candidates, they always do the same shit almost every election. Promising state hood every single time, just to fuck you up after 4 years of corruption.
@@BamZoom They were local referendums; the House was not obligued to do anything wiht it in 1967 and in 1998... And in 2012, statehood won... but only 28% of the population voted... But nothing was offered... The reality... both sides want inertia.
The borrowing also applies to the CONUS, as the present debt of the Nation attests: $34 TRILLION dollars owed to the Wall Street Banksters (the "Fed")!!!
Puerto Rico is substantially more advanced than any other Carribbean Island and probably Central American countries too. That being said, I also see the problems, and I am in full support of making Puerto Rico the 51st state, and hoping that will fill some of the gaps with funding. Puerto Rican people are amazing, and always enjoy my time down there! A proud people with an emphasis on Family! ❤
Becoming a state will not solve the biggest issues we have,, it'll only make it harder to have autonomy over diversification of economy. The Jones act will still be there, act 2:22 and 60 will still be there, the fiscal control committee will still be there, and mismanagement will still be there. we need autonomy, gradually until we reach Independence There are many Latin American countries, some in Central America that will rival and will soon surpass Puerto Rico's declining standard of living
You don't get the benefits of being a State when you are NOT a state. Those living on Puerto Rico pay no federal income tax...and are immune from many federal laws and regulations. Puerto Rico is poor because of corrupt politicians there and constant mismanagement. State run utilities guarantee poor service unlike all utilities on the mainland. My wife was born and raised there and I've visited multiple times. Puerto Rico has received many more dollars from the US government than what they contribute. This video does not paint the complete picture at all - clearly has an agenda but seems to conveniently ignore all the advantages Puerto Rico benefits from. San Juan airport is perhaps the best run airport in the USA because it is privately run.
Not true. Businesses and Independent Contractors pay federal income taxes in PR (IRS quarterly 941 and 1040s) like in the US. Uncle Sam’s rule apply to PR the same when it comes to taxes.
Many Businesses pay Federal taxes and SSI exempt taxes.... And as US citizens Puerto Ricans are entitled to a percentage of Federal Funds that are estimated by the Percentage of Island Contributions..... This Exists since Puerto Ricans are eligible for Military Drafts ... Which Entitles all Veterans for Benefits Earned.... Included in an Anti Veteran Discrimination Bill after World War 2. And in 1952 with the creation of the Commonwealth.... Extended Benefits to all Citizens on the Island and ended the Monopolization of the Sugarcane Industry that underpaid it's workers... And created a Taxation System that is regulated by the Federal government and Exercised by the Island Government and Guarantees the Island Federal Funds that equate the Percentage of Island Contributions.... Puerto Rico receives what it contributes.... This became about... Entitlements.... If Puerto Ricans can be Drafted to Fight Wars... And Die... Than it's Entitled just like the Rest of the US... The only Difference is .. the Amount of Entitlements. Based on contributions. The Poverty in Puerto Rico is not the same as in the majority of countries in the World. The Poverty comes with Funded Housing and Food ... And Schooling for Workforce Training. This video is nothing but Propaganda.
I'm Puero Rican and some historic facts you got Right but the majority of economic especially de sections of How we live is wrong and inaccurate . And many of the pictures 📸 were old more that 50 years ago ,if you want to show the reality the best is to show the more recent . If someone want to learn about the islan this is not the channel.
P.R. is forced to have everything shipped only by U.S. boats which makes stuff expensive. We pay high taxes and at the end of the year we have to pay more istead of recievimg anything back. 😒
It's not completedly the U.S. fault it's also been our own corrupt leaders, we have to rely on U.S. for everything we only produce 12% of what we consume 😟
You are exaggerating to a level that should ashamed you; is there poverty YES, is their people living solely of the government/projects YES, are there Mercedez Benzes all over the place too YES, so be transparent my friend not showing outdated videos or rural areas where farmers that obviously live limited or even projects as if that was the economy
the gpd can't pay the required taxes the US demands. When Bill Clinton suspended their incentives for 10 years PR has never been able to recover. Along with that US stripped Puerto Rico of Goya and gave it to the Mexicans. That was the final straw to PR economy.
You know that most people living in PR don't earn enough to enter the tax-paying brackets, right? They pay through their noses to the US shipping companies though. Imagine paying a 20 to 30% markup on the point of entry for everything you wear or eat. Add to that transportation costs, etc. In a place where most wage-earners make just Federal Minimum wage and are only offered part-time jobs. But that's okay. Keep your money. How about giving us some freedom to trade on our own? That way we wouldn't be basically a captive market where US corporations can make money without investing anything locally. Who knows, there may even be some economic development here.
@@CptFugu idiot response, Puerto Rico is exempt from paying federal taxes, which even just on FICA alone would amount to 15% of every worker’s income, regardless of how much they make unless the amounts are in the six figures
and what does colonialism has to do with local corruption from local politicians? Dominican republic, Haiti, Cuba, Jamaica are not colonies, do they have it better than PR..?
@@santimig127 colonies of the UK had their own local government were able to make laws but were subject to British law however couldn't vote in Britain Puerto Rico is in that same scenario hence they are literally USA colony but they just gave it a fancy name
@@Sam-gs7yb thankful for taxation without representation and being dictated to by the motherland? Who speaks on behalf of Puerto Rican interest in the US Congress or the Senate? Who is their elected representative? I don't think anyone or any territory should be happy that they are second class
@@hughporter2541 yes because being a filthy poor island with no work culture and depending on UN handouts is a lot better. Be grateful that Haiti/DR, and many others would trade second class to misery
A bit of Puerto Rico history (with correction about British): Although Puerto Rico was temporarily occupied by the British, it never stopped being under Spanish control until 1898, when the island suffered a legal and political injustice, since it was granted full autonomy by Spain in 1897, so the U.S. had no legal right to ask Spain to cede Puerto Rico to the U.S. in 1898 and Spain had no legal right to cede Puerto Rico, because the island had already been granted full autonomy by Spain. This is a historical fact that is not taught to Americans by the U.S. and even to Puerto Ricans by Puerto Rico. Many good things have happened under U.S. control, but also bad things, such as second class citizenship, since the citizenship established in the 1917 Jones Act is not genuine citizenship, but "statutory" citizenship, which can be annulled in any instant by a simple act of the U.S. Congress. In a nutshell, Puerto Rico is still a colony, but invented in 1917 was "fake citizenship" because the U.S. had to hide that it still had a colony when it was fighting for "freedom" in Europe in WWI (and now they could draft Puerto Ricans into the Army) and in the 1950s invented the "fake Commonwealth status", which Puerto Ricans called Estado Libre y Associado (Free and Associated State), which in fact is not free, since all decisions come from Washington, D.C., whose say about Puerto Rico overrides the Puerto Rican will and government. For example, the government of Puerto Rico is not free to make its own business dealings with foreign governments. It cannot, for example, ask Japan and South Korea help improve its island infrastructure by hiring them directly. Also, all foods, etc., must come to Puerto Rico via U.S. Merchant Marine vessels, which on average ends up costing Puerto Ricans 18% more to ship because Puerto Rico can't have goods shipped via cheaper competitors: that is, the U.S. has a monopoly on all goods shipped to/from Puerto Rico, so the U.S. controls Puerto Rican exports as well, not just imports. But again, there have been some good things happening as well, just not enough in recent years. The island is left floundering and the economy has been ruined by the U.S. shifting Puerto Rico's pharm industry to Singapore, Ireland, China, etc. etc. after ending tax incentives for Pharm companies to operate in Puerto Rico. In actuality, more monies pour OUT of Puerto Rico to the U.S. than pours INTO Puerto Rico from the U.S. Read the Puerto Rico economy books about this by Javier A. Hernandez.
PR WILL NOT be a State never ever, WHY we are not a STATE?? /We should be part of SPAIN again or independent. The US needs us to be poor and dependant DON'T YOU SEE IT????? That has been our FINANCIAL FORMULA so far 126 year with the same fórmula
Maybe the US will trade PR. for debt forgiveness. So which nation owes the most US debt. Will check. The winner is Japan. Next place China, third place UK., fourth place Luxemburg and fifth place Canada. One thing is for sure, the Japanese like salsa music. Remember this - ua-cam.com/video/vL2dT-g-2J0/v-deo.html
Y tu formula es ir de una dependencia a otra... y la narrativa de que nos quieren pobres, esa te la han sembrado... arráncala de tu ser para comience tu libertad.
Puerto Rico has the look and feel of an Americanized version of the Spanish-speaking Caribbean yet its own culture and identity prevails. The population has a higher standard of living than the rest of Latin America yet Puerto Rico is much poorer than the average state in mainland US, average salaries significantly lower and cost of living higher because of trade, import restrictions and rules. PR lacks elected representation in the US that could give the island greater bargaining power and the model and incentives that pushed its industrialization, long gone. As things stand too costly already to relaunch a competitive tourism, services and manufacturing model...then after decades of stagnation, demographic and economic decline, a large swath of the population has moved to the mainland US further shrinking its strained autonomous tax base and sliding the island into cycles of bankrupcy and re-structuring, not to mention the havoc hurricane Maria brought in the middle of all that. Should the federal US goverment may further cut subsidies and cash flows toward healthcare, social security, military, other related government operations etc, how would the island manage, still politically and economically dependent on the US and unable to carve a practical path toward independence?
The US wanted PR as a coaling station per the Mahan doctrine of projecting naval power. They tried to buy it from Spain twice before tjev1898 war. Also, the Island was originally San Juan, and the port Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico is a US possession, not a foreign nation. It's population is all descendants of colonists and immigrants. No ancestral land argument other than: "they all died, so it's ours"... I'd like to see that case argued at the Hague. Also, if you base a few Arleigh-Burke destroyers and a squadron of P3 naval warfare aircraft there, with some supporting escorts, you'd be surprised how much of the Atlantic and Panama Canal you can control.
A substantial part of the genetic material of Puerto Ricans come from indigenous Taino race, so the ancestral land argument rightfully exists, despite the US that it's population is all descendants of colonists and immigrants as you well mentioned.
The reason why we're still a Territory? That is because we keep voting not to join. The reason why everything is expensive? Simply because we're 1000 miles away, on a island surrounded by poorer countries. The reason why we have no money? WE leave the island for the USA, because we're US Citizens. The reason why the GDP is so low? We're basically a Tax Haven, & living below the poverty threshold. Puerto Rico is our home, our soul, & our freedom. We just neglected it, but soon, things will change. But If we become independent, we will die or worse, become like Haiti. In essence, & in my opinion, we're the California of the Caribbean. Cost of Living is too high, real estate is too high, & tax is too high.
As residents of the island we do not pay federal income taxes, but we do pay the same federal medicare, social security, self-employment, unemployment, customs, and merchandise taxes as residents of the states. In 2022 the federal taxes paid by the residents of Puerto Rico to the US added up to $4.8 billion dollars.
This is a lie. The problem is with the local government. The people here we live incredibly good. PR is twice as rich as the wealthiest country within latin America. This is BS.
A bit of Puerto Rico history (with correction about British): Although Puerto Rico was temporarily occupied by the British, it never stopped being under Spanish control until 1898, when the island suffered a legal and political injustice, since it was granted full autonomy by Spain in 1897, so the U.S. had no legal right to ask Spain to cede Puerto Rico to the U.S. in 1898 and Spain had no legal right to cede Puerto Rico, because the island had already been granted full autonomy by Spain. This is a historical fact that is not taught to Americans by the U.S. and even to Puerto Ricans by Puerto Rico. Many good things have happened under U.S. control, but also bad things, such as second class citizenship, since the citizenship established in the 1917 Jones Act is not genuine citizenship, but "statutory" citizenship, which can be annulled in any instant by a simple act of the U.S. Congress. In a nutshell, Puerto Rico is still a colony, but invented in 1917 was "fake citizenship" because the U.S. had to hide that it still had a colony when it was fighting for "freedom" in Europe in WWI (and now they could draft Puerto Ricans into the Army) and in the 1950s invented the "fake Commonwealth status", which Puerto Ricans called Estado Libre y Associado (Free and Associated State), which in fact is not free, since all decisions come from Washington, D.C., whose say about Puerto Rico overrides the Puerto Rican will and government. For example, the government of Puerto Rico is not free to make its own business dealings with foreign governments. It cannot, for example, ask Japan and South Korea help improve its island infrastructure by hiring them directly. Also, all foods, etc., must come to Puerto Rico via U.S. Merchant Marine vessels, which on average ends up costing Puerto Ricans 18% more to ship because Puerto Rico can't have goods shipped via cheaper competitors: that is, the U.S. has a monopoly on all goods shipped to/from Puerto Rico, so the U.S. controls Puerto Rican exports as well, not just imports. But again, there have been some good things happening as well, just not enough in recent years. The island is left floundering and the economy has been ruined by the U.S. shifting Puerto Rico's pharm industry to Singapore, Ireland, China, etc. etc. after ending tax incentives for Pharm companies to operate in Puerto Rico. In actuality, more monies pour OUT of Puerto Rico to the U.S. than pours INTO Puerto Rico from the U.S. Read the Puerto Rico economy books about this by Javier A. Hernandez.
@@CarlosRodriguez-ey8zl Carlitos America is composed of North, Central America. United States is a whole another thing as to have its citizens called Americans. Or how you call the population of Brazil, Canada, Mexico and Nicaragua? Try to enroll at your nearest elementary school to learn some basic geography. Entendiste?
@@zioneer6422 really... Definición de Américas Comúnmente, la palabra Américas se usa para referirse a todo el Hemisferio Occidental, donde están ubicadas América del Norte, América Central, el Caribe y América del Sur. Es aparentemente un vocablo tomado del inglés, ya que en español es suficiente con decir América, para referirse a todo el continente.
@@zioneer6422 Americans were called that because tjeres the "Estados Unidos de America", and the "Estados Unidos Mexicanos". They're known as Mexicans. You should travel so you can reinforce the gringo tourist stereotype. Ignorant and gringocentric.
It appears that Puerto Rico has the 2nd largest economy in the Carribean ranked by GDP. I fail to see what action the US is taking to impoverish Puerto Rico. No self government, and bad government (probably), agreed, But- Puerto Rico is free to vote against remaining within the US- and has voted to continue to keep that status as recently as 2017. Puerto Rico is not on the US mainland it is in the Carribean and the comparatives should reflect this.
The USA's GDP is over 30 times larger than Switzerland's... but their population is 350 Million humans & Switzerland's is 8.7 Million. Puerto Rico has the status of being the #1 largest economy per capita in latin america. These are the Median household incomes (2019) & Quality of life rankings (2021): 1.Puerto Rico: $20,000 to $21,000/ year & Quality of life Index of 130.8 Points. 2.Chile: $17,000 to $20,000/ year & a Quality of life Index of 99.9 Points. 3.Uruguay: $16,000 to $18,000/ year & a Quality of life Index of 124.6 Points. Remember that Chile and Uruguay are the nations with the highest standards of living in Latin-america, If we compare PR with Caribbean nations the disparity would be extremely profound, The Dominican Rep. had a median household income under $9,000 (2019) & a Quality of life index of 93.02 (2024) and even the DR is doing great relative to other Caribbean nations. Being part of the wealthiest market in the world allowed PR to reach this status.
Its explained in the video. The money doesnt go to PR, it goes to US businesses where they use that money in mainland US. The trickledown effect basically doesnt happen in PR.
Switzerland is Switzerland, The US is the US and Puerto Rico is Puerto Rico. Each has many different factors that influence their national and per capita wealth. Legitimate economic comparisons should be made between countries with similar geographic locations and resources, as well as the economic priorities of the government. Even then many more factors apply.
Hum.. It is hard to see that trickledown works anywhere for individual workers. But things are not so clear. Multinationals dominate Ireland for instance but has the 2nd highest per capita income in Europe. Is Is there is a big divide between the nature of the US and international corporate concerns employing the Puerto Ricans and those employing the Irish. In all probability.
PR needs to take a lesson from Mexico and stop being so entitled. Sounds like it's easier to blame rather than fix it on your own, look at the life and struggles of all the other free nations and then move forward instead of looking for a welfare check. Other Latin nations don't get US citizenship while boasting your flag. They would never survive independent or under Spanish rule. Be careful what you wish for and start cleaning up.
Como joven Puertorriqueño (22 años) desde 2017 logre ver que aqui habia un movimiento de reunificación con España. El cual me dio curiosidad ver que hubieran personas que quisieran volver a España despues de lo que nos hicieron y como los americanos llegaron a salvarnos de ellos, segun como no los enseñaban en las escuela. Sin embargo al invesrigar pudo descubrir que logramos ser una provincia autónoma debajo de la bandera española con representación en el gobierno español algo que el gobierno americano ha negado desde que nos colonizó. Cuando mas me entré a la historia lo unico que los Yankees an hecho es menos preciarnos, ellos no nos quieren. A pesar de las grandes aportaciones que los boricuas han hecho por los Estados Unidos. Pero dicho esto claro esta que la independencia de Puerto Rico no es lo ideal, la incompetencia e ineptitud del gobierno deja claro que la isla no se pubiera subsistir por si sola. Aprecio mucho que enseñaras en el video como muchos países tanto caribeños como de la américa continental nos alla pasado el rollo. Me acuerdo cuando pequeño se burlaban de la República Dominicana y otros países y mirenlos ahora poco a poco mejorando e inclusive algunos sobrepasando. Y pues para concluir creo que la mejor opcion para el desarrollo económico para Puerto Rico es volver a España ya que no tendríamos las ataduras que Estados Unidos nos impone.
El gobierno actual de la isla es bastante inepto e ignorante, pero se debe considerar que ese gobierno está constituido por gente mayoritariamente de la generación "babyboomer" (más o menos de 40 años hacia delante) y literalmente toda esta generación fue fácilmente manipulable por la élite de ese entonces para demonizarles acerca de la independencia o de otorgacion de más soberanía para P.R. Por eso casi todos son muy fanáticos del bipartidismo, sin embargo con el futuro cambio generacional ahora existimos jóvenes con pensamiento crítico, acceso a la información y a la educación de calidad que estamos rompiendo con esos patrones absurdos que lamentablemente nuestros parientes han hecho. Todo pueblo inteligente y normal reconoce que la independencia es la aspiración insigne, y yo puedo creer que con el trabajo y la determinación correspondiente Puerto Rico la puede alcanzar, pero si no quieren pues que se queden con la manipulación status quo. Puerto Rico reincorporándose a España?? Hmmm sueño muy bonito, pero que al fin de cuentas se quedará en eso mismo..... Un sueño nunca a realizarse.
asi es amigo, Puerto Rico hoy seria parte de la Unión Europea, todos los puertorriqueños tendriamos pasaporte español y seriamos otra autonomia más como lo son Islas Canarias y las Islas Baleares. Eso de que solo existe estadidad o independencia para la isla está quedando en el pasado, otra alternativa se está levantando.
Será en tu circulo social (de tus padres) que ves lo de ese movimiento de reunificación... En Los Chavales comiendo chorizo, tapas y vino... y ya eran las 2:00am
Is not America. America is a continent, it is the united states the country that keeps Puerto Rico poor. Do not include the whole continent of america, is just the united states and its united statean government.
Yeah United I got you got that right United States is the problem they the one who is doing this to Puerto Rico but you know what I'm not stupid either I see a lot of Hispanic people of all different kinds even Asians and all that supporting United States keeping us in this condition okay because a lot of you are Hispanic people on businesses and when I go over there to ask for a job you're turning me down and if you're hire me you already plotting to fire me so stop the BS
Puerto Rico should apply for EU membership. There are already ultra peripheral territories like French Guyana, New Caledonia or St Pierre. It would be great for Puerto Rico, Europe and Cuba Who would better posed to integrate.
@@inigoromon1937 well, Puerto Rico is a US possession with no ancestral population. Those residents of the Island who wish to join the EU can go there.
@@CarlosRodriguez-ey8zlwhat if USA 🇺🇸 returns it back to Spain 🇪🇸 and admits it had no business invading and occupying it ? We literally have a Canary Islands accent.
@@BK_718 what if pigs could fly backwards? Lets try to limit speculation to events that are remotely likely to ocurr. The strong Canary accent is because a lot of the laborers were from there. Movers and shakers were Catalonian and Basque. Some Galician and andalusian moneyed sorts. But the Canary Island folks held little if any power.
Skip the waitlist and invest in blue-chip art for the very first time by signing up for Masterworks: www.masterworks.art/theinvisiblehand
@@TheInvisibleHandCo advertising and shilling have a place and it's usually a paid service.
A bit of Puerto Rico history (with correction about British): Although Puerto Rico was temporarily occupied by the British, it never stopped being under Spanish control until 1898, when the island suffered a legal and political injustice, since it was granted full autonomy by Spain in 1897, so the U.S. had no legal right to ask Spain to cede Puerto Rico to the U.S. in 1898 and Spain had no legal right to cede Puerto Rico, because the island had already been granted full autonomy by Spain. This is a historical fact that is not taught to Americans by the U.S. and even to Puerto Ricans by Puerto Rico. Many good things have happened under U.S. control, but also bad things, such as second class citizenship, since the citizenship established in the 1917 Jones Act is not genuine citizenship, but "statutory" citizenship, which can be annulled in any instant by a simple act of the U.S. Congress. In a nutshell, Puerto Rico is still a colony, but invented in 1917 was "fake citizenship" because the U.S. had to hide that it still had a colony when it was fighting for "freedom" in Europe in WWI (and now they could draft Puerto Ricans into the Army) and in the 1950s invented the "fake Commonwealth status", which Puerto Ricans called Estado Libre y Associado (Free and Associated State), which in fact is not free, since all decisions come from Washington, D.C., whose say about Puerto Rico overrides the Puerto Rican will and government. For example, the government of Puerto Rico is not free to make its own business dealings with foreign governments. It cannot, for example, ask Japan and South Korea help improve its island infrastructure by hiring them directly. Also, all foods, etc., must come to Puerto Rico via U.S. Merchant Marine vessels, which on average ends up costing Puerto Ricans 18% more to ship because Puerto Rico can't have goods shipped via cheaper competitors: that is, the U.S. has a monopoly on all goods shipped to/from Puerto Rico, so the U.S. controls Puerto Rican exports as well, not just imports. But again, there have been some good things happening as well, just not enough in recent years. The island is left floundering and the economy has been ruined by the U.S. shifting Puerto Rico's pharm industry to Singapore, Ireland, China, etc. etc. after ending tax incentives for Pharm companies to operate in Puerto Rico. In actuality, more monies pour OUT of Puerto Rico to the U.S. than pours INTO Puerto Rico from the U.S. Read the Puerto Rico economy books about this by Javier A. Hernandez.
@@CarlosRodriguez-ey8zl ua-cam.com/video/6ojOkPmm8lw/v-deo.html Of course, but unless a creator is Louis Rossman etc money trumps ethics.
I live in Puerto Rico - I moved here from San Diego.. and TRUST me when i tell you.. groceries here are MORE expensive than America's Finest City.... Fact!
What did you expect? We consume imported goods at a 90% rate; and local producers are scarse. The smaller the island, the more expensive it gets. Enjoy your rent rate at least.
It's comparable to NYC. But everyone must grow something at home. There is no excuses
Me too. I looked into this recently, as a matter of fact. We simultaneously contend with the highest poverty rate of any US Territory and the lowest purchasing power per dollar. It'd be nice to have some of these struggles alleviated by local industry and agricultural instead of relying on imports. However, the ongoing debt crisis and resulting obsession with increasing GDP has led to a corrupt focus on exports and foreign companies, as our own local businesses receive a petty fraction of the subsidies and tax breaks afforded to investors from the mainland. By the way, these investors are not required to hire Puerto Rican labor either, meaning they not only get away with near 0 contributions to the island itself, they aren't even expected to ease the burden of a single individual.
Everything is imported.
@@mara4787 yes, thanks to Jones Act. Has to go through Florida ports which makes it even more expensive.
I highly recommend the book “War against all Puerto Ricans” by Nelson A . Denis to anyone who wants to know more about our history and how we ended up here.
@@thannushkaperez3749 That screed is blame porn. Dennis is a purveyor of populist opium. Everyone who was anyone under the Spanish colonial rule, and could, left when the US offered them that option. When Myles arrived, my great grandmother had my grandmother living near Cadiz at the family's fighting bull cortijo. Only returned because her husband required it in 1903.
Puerto Rico is in its present straights because of the local elites. They control politics and who succeeds in it. As long as the lemmings care more about the status than about governance, they will holdvsway and the Island will not be worth making a state or able to self sustain as a sovereign purgatory on earth. Fix the problem and address the hierarchy of needs. Then, expunge the elites from power and reward outcomes. Not affiliation.
While we’re at it I’d also highly suggest the book Cruising the Caribbean: US influence and intervention in the twentieth century by Ronald Fernandez
Yes this book should be a must read for all Puertoricans ! Highly recommended
@@abelsanabria8163 It is mostly dribble.
I recommend a book called “La Batalla por el Paraíso” is from Naomi Klein a Canadian journalist that came after Hurricane Maria. I think a lot of people need to read to know what USA had made to us in all this years. It’s a book that you get literally very mad.
If any other country did this, you know the US would non-stop criticize them.
Puerto Rico's median household income is the highest in Latin America & they also score #1 in the Quality of Life index in Hispanic America.
These are the Median household incomes (2019) & Quality of life ranking (2021):
1.Puerto Rico: $20,000 to $21,000/ year & Quality of life Index of 130.8 Points.
2.Chile: $17,000 to $20,000/ year & a Quality of life Index of 99.9 Points.
3.Uruguay: $16,000 to $18,000/ year & a Quality of life Index of 124.6 Points.
Remember that Chile and Uruguay are the nations with the highest standards of living in Latin-america, If we compare PR with Caribbean nations the disparity would be extremely profound, The Dominican Rep. had a median household income under $9,000 (2019) & a Quality of life index of 93.02 (2024) and even the DR is doing great relative to other Caribbean nations.
Being part of the wealthiest market in the world allowed PR to reach this status.
@@luisangel444 yea but you do realize that you're just comparing poor to poor, right? It's like saying "well it's not as bad as [x]" or "it's better than [x]". It still doesn't justify the argument around state hood.
@@luisangel444 Quality of life doesnt matter. Its the fact how they can have a literal colony in 2024.
@@chimchim2_ I didn't delve into the statehood issue.
I'm talking Macro-economics, not politics.
The claim was that *"the relationship between the US and PR has Impoverished PR for 100 years"* , but all the evidence point to the contrary.
Their relationship with the US has risen them to an impressive prestigious status: Most developed region of Latin America; they enjoy the the highest human development index, the highest median household income and the highest standards of living.
Now, if you compare them with the continental US they do lag behind, it would be great for them to rise even further, but all the evidence points to the fact that they would not had attained the #1 status as an lone independent island.
PS: In your previous comment you referred to all of latin america as poor... you presumptuous fuck there are several countries here, some low income, some medium and some high income such as Chile, it seems like you are ignorant of the wealth and development of several latin american nations...
@@luisangel444Plus the purchase, the electricity and water bill, the rent and the transportation. That's nothing.
Our own politicians said "I see a glorious future, a Puerto Rico without Puertoricans".
Hawaii 2.0
Puerto Rico is absolutely nothing like the Hawaiian 🌺 Islands. In those islands it’s spectacularly clean, everything is manicured, everyone works, most every home are worth close to a million dollars. Homes by the ocean are worth ten times more. People are nice and friendly.
Puerto Rico is nothing like Hawaii, there is pot holes everywhere, half the island is on welfare, all they do mostly is party. Locals don’t want any change and don’t want housing to go up and don’t like Americans, won’t speak English. Many are uneducated but also a segment is very educated and are stand outs in the community also. Those people are rightly very proud. And should be, as that segment of Puerto Ricans are being overworked and highly taxed and eventually they get sense, leave the island and do great things on the mainland and get much better, high paying jobs and taxed less.
The only thing Puerto Rico has in common with Hawaii is they are very friendly, very proud people on the most part. But too much crime is on the island. Unlike the Hawaiian island. 🏝️ which is Paradise on earth and everyone from all over the world wants to buy homes and live there.
Not the case with Puerto Rico..
Shootings everyday in broad daylight. It’s that bad I do not want to visit there anymore. My wife is Puerto Rican and she puts her life in jeopardy every time she wants to visit there. I’ve been there 50 times. But no more.
@@jasonbrodierqevermy1998 if you look up you'll see the point flying way above your head.
@@jasonbrodierqevermy1998
Sounds like hate to me Jason lol you need a puerco rican hug 😂
@@jasonbrodierqevermy1998
You’re wife can do better than you. She should divorce you . And I bet every time she goes to the island she has fun and enjoys her culture her people
@@jasonbrodierqevermy1998 That's crazy. Thanks for your useless white american opinion, i think you should leave the talking to locals.
USA: yea let’s give them citizenship and we still treat them like second class citizens 😡
Let's end slavery and say all men are equal under the law. Yea right
I don't feel that way we where poor before 1917 and we use to go to Dominican republic for a better life once they gave us the citizenship thats when the immigration went to the bronx . If a puerto Rican tells there's poor in Puerto Rico ok also in United States but honestly they haven't gone outside united states to other latin countries.
Only reason we have citizenship is to be used in drafting
@@isfrom5169 yup
@@vampiroak47we are a territory of the United states and thats what they measure and the numbers that they use to compare as the poverty rate. They dont compare PR with numbers from the dominican republic but with the poorest state of the USA which is Mississippi. So the poverty that you feel that there isnt in PR is because youre comparing our numbers with the numbers of other Latin american countries. If you watched the video at all, it made comparisons WITH the actual USA.
Although I admit that US has responsibility for the situation of Puerto Rico, the local government have the biggest responsibility for our actual condition. We don't pay federal taxes but the amount of local taxes we pay is insane as an example 11.5% sales tax while the services becomes worse day after day and the solution the government came over with is always a new tax.
Couldn't say it better
couldnt say it better
Only federal tax not payed is fed income tax. All other fed taxes are payed.
Puerto Rico is the richest country in latinamerica seek info! Puerto Rico have more gdp than Spain and chile! Comparing to other countries we are in heaven
The main problem is the US stranglehold on the Island… bad management by the local government only worsens Puerto Rico’s economic issue. Puerto Rico citizens are smart, educated and hard working, they would become a caribbean super power if the US grants them some level of economic autonomy.
Also the government of Puerto Rico keeps its population poor by not promoting the development of infrastructure that will boost the economy. The local bureaucracy for establishing a business is ridicilous. The local mayors and politicians force business owners to pay illegal cash fees in addition to business licenses and taxes. Puerto Rico offers zero oportunities to its own young university graduates as it has no gratifying paying employment for them.
TRUE
It's because poverty equals dependency on federal aid and dependency on federal aid equals support for statehood.
Correct.
Yes that was the plan all along
YOU PATHETIC..PUERTO RICO HAS NO GOVERNMENT OF ITS OWN. THE U.S. CONTROLS THE GOVERNMENT OF PUERTO RICO WHILE LYING TO THE POPULATION OF THE ISLAND AND THE REST OF THE WORLD THAT PUERTO RICO GOVERNS ITSELF.
I'm Puerto Rican, trust me Puerto Rico not as bad/poor as is presented in the video. Just come and see for yourself
1. Puerto Rico was the name of the port city in San Juan originally. The island was known as San Juan Bautista until the late 1800s.
2. The Spanish American war, although did involve the transfer of Puerto Rico was mainly fought so the US could gain control over Cuba. Here on the island we welcomed the US army as we assumed that, like Cuba, they would fight for out independence in exchange for our cooperation.
3. Only about 1/3 of the island speaks English proficiently in modern times with that number significantly higher among the youth.
4. Gentrification by Americans is also a huge issue
1/3 of the island absolutely does not speak English proficiently. Like 1/10th of the island speaks English. Then out of that 1/10th, 1/4th actually understand the English they are speaking and listening to. That's the truth. Most English speaking Puerto Ricans do not understand English being spoken to them and when they speak English are not fluent and actually don't know what they are saying as they cannot properly respond to a question being asked to them in English. The ones that are truly fluent lived on the mainland or had a fully fluent English speaking relative inside the house who likely lived on the mainland.
@@nesq4104 I have never lived in the US . And I speak English fluently. I’m 29 years old. Remember that the younger generation consumes media, entertainment and information (books and studies) in english. The original comment is correct. Most of the older generation doesn’t understand the language very well. But most of the younger generation can speak some level of english.
Remember we were invaded by the US. PR never welcomed them nor their military, but had to surrender after almost 3 months of receiving bombardments and fighting against them.
Puertorricans are welcome to move to any US state and buy property just the same as anyone from the fifty states is able to move to PR and buy property. In fact, nobody with American citizenship has to move to any other place to buy, they can do it over the phone. So you can go and gentrify any of the 50 states just as much as they can gentrify PR.
Hmmm not quite as straightforward; only well-educated Puerto Ricans can make smooth transitions and frankly the brain drain continues... being English language fluency and vocational job standards a major hurdle for most other people who transplant to the US mainland...remember what happened to so many folks who moved to places like Florida after María...I know English language teachers in schools who, in addition to immigrant children from the usual backgrounds had to make room for quite a few Puerto Rican kids who despite being taught English in PR could not make it straight to mainstream classrooms due language fluency issues.
It is important to start mentioning what Puerto Rico really is: A United States Colony
Deviating from that reality takes away from the sole purpose of why we’re still here: Extract rich resources
Plus, anyone saying an independent Puerto Rico would be destroyed economically clearly has no understanding of our economy, labor talent and history.
The drug epidemic is worse there than it is on the mainland. The term is Zombie island. And they have a serious corruption issue. That’s Two issues that erode the territory from the top and the bottom. Puerto Ricans respond by running away to the mainland by the millions. If the Puerto Rican people don’t try to fix the island in the next 100 or 200 years the Puerto Ricans will cease to exist.
Interesting, from what I see in Puerto Rico there is a collosal problem with corruption within the government that has led the island into huge debt with no sign of hope in the near future. Not to say that the government in the U.S. does not have the same problem but to state that Puerto Rico would be self sufficient is amusing.
@@gianmerced what resources? What wealth? That is a false argument. The sole attractive of the Island is its location on the map.
@@CarlosRodriguez-ey8zl Do you know the purpose of colonies?
@@RobMaisonet There have been several books written about how an independent Puerto Rico would be like. All it takes is a Google Search
Im half Puertorican half Argentinian and let me tell you as someone how has lived in PR and South America, the average life standard in Puerto Rico is the best in Latin America. The island has poverty? Yes just like every country but you're making it sound like PR is Haiti....
Fr
Exactly!!
Yes however PR lives on its knees to the United States
Yeah this video is out of pocket. Im on a similar situation.And latín american as a whole cant even dream or understand how good the Puerto Rican middle class is.
@@EGQ-ox2gn There are also many rich people in those Latin countries.
I'm mexican a place where there is only poor, Rich and super rich. So when I moved to Puerto Rico 10 years ago I was mesmerised by the high quality standard of living of the middle class . something that my dear mexico and South america can only dream. with that said I think this video is not fair for the island. you are talking about Puerto Rico not about cuba or Bolivia.
Exactly what I think. This only portraits the disadvantaged places. Why not display the universities, the airport, which is iinternational and two other regionals, the diversity of living places: metropolitan, city, towns, or rural? Why not show the contrast of high class places? The hotels, the ports full with international cruises, why portrait us like this? This video ashames me as a Puerto Rican because it’s not like this everywhere.
The Puerto Rico West is the Best!! Aguadilla, BQN
This video compares PR to the mainland, not to latin america which is what youre doing. So youre comparing apples to oranges. The video compares apples to apples.
Thanks for the comments. I totally agree. Sad to say but still people at that border line poor, but I do hate laziness. I understand on this well documented video that P.R. failed for many years to recognize those very important issues or problems brought upon the puertorricans not letting us grow and be more self-productive . Called greed...it's takes anybody's soul.
@@itzkamikaze3081 If the P.R. government would had recognize many years ago and fought the many laws and agreements that kept P.R. from possibly becoming a better place than what it is now.I have to take my hat off for those puertorricans had the resiliency to work hard and focus to meet the a good standards of living possible.
Looks like a deliberate attempt to stall the place then gentrify it.
Yes. this is exactly what's happening.
Puerto Rico's median household income is the highest in Latin America & they also score #1 in the Quality of Life index in Hispanic America.
These are the Median household incomes (2019) & Quality of life ranking (2021):
1.Puerto Rico: $20,000 to $21,000/ year & Quality of life Index of 130.8 Points.
2.Chile: $17,000 to $20,000/ year & a Quality of life Index of 99.9 Points.
3.Uruguay: $16,000 to $18,000/ year & a Quality of life Index of 124.6 Points.
Remember that Chile and Uruguay are the nations with the highest standards of living in Latin-america, If we compare PR with Caribbean nations the disparity would be extremely profound, The Dominican Rep. had a median household income under $9,000 (2019) & a Quality of life index of 93.02 (2024) and even the DR is doing great relative to other Caribbean nations.
Being part of the wealthiest market in the world allowed PR to reach this status.
Yup
@@luisangel444Is the highest but everything is more expensive even products from the island like "aguacate" other Latino countries foods are much more cheaper even wood, cemento,ext
@@luisangel444ànd gasoline
These are half truths. Do a full hour video and tell the truth.
Oh why don’t you enlighten us then ?
@@dougrodriguez4977 He won't because he would have to lie. This video is pretty accurate. I wonder who pressured Clinton to abandon PR like that ? Full medicaid to PR and all territories should be in place.
I like living in Puerto Rico. My kids get to experience their Puerto Rican heritage on their mother's side. There are good and bad no matter where you go. We use as many of the local mom and Pop shops to keep our money here unlike using Walmart or other big companies that only a small amount of the money spend stays here.
You never go to Walmart stop camping like 80% of all stores in Puerto Rico are not owned by no Puerto Rican people they’re either Chinese Arabic or American you think you’re buying to Puerto Ricans but they work there but they don’t own the store
Minimum wage just went up it took 15 years for them to go up three dollars I have friends that live in public housing they make 1200 monthly and they have to pay $600 for rent in public housing. The government just takes how can you save a dollar when they take everything you make school suck it’s not like in the states but teachers don’t care about their work. They don’t care about teaching students they don’t have enough books, so the kids cannot take a book home. The little they have is to be shared in the whole school when school starts. You have to buy toilet paper, all kinds of stuff to give to the school every year because is part of the school list even printing paper for they can print the schoolwork because the schools do not have funds to pay for it .Where is all the US money going it’s not going to the people who live in Puerto Rico we’re poor and we’re struggling because the government takes everything from us and the US does nothing to stop them and because people have been conditions to do what the government tells them . They don’t even teach the people their rights not even job labor rights so you go to a job and nobody knows what’s their actual rights I still love living here, but I wish we could do something about the government
@glendaalgarin5120 I didn't say I don't go to Walmart I said I buy most of my stuff from the mom and Pop shops. IE the little man. Trying to keep as much of my money in the local economy versus giving it to Walmart and them taking it back to state's
@glendaalgarin5120 there are a lot of mom and Pop shops owned by Puerto Rican people. You have to look for them instead of the convenience of the big box stores. I also hand out bag lunches to the homeless. I put a bunch in my car when I go out. I use local contractors. You are trying to play the victim instead of trying to find a solution without depending on the government or someone else to do it for you.
Small shops buy their merchandise at Sam's and Costco and then resale them with the markup... Nope, I'm not going to pay the markup.
I’m born and raised in PR. To me it’s political because there would be 2 senators and more congressman than about half the states. They’re not going to give non-European people that much power without putting up a serious, very hypocritical, lie. Also, a lot of us don’t want to be a state. There are a good amount of people that want independence or to stay as it currently is. Also, it’s currently a tax haven for rich Americans and that status would be dropped upon becoming a state. So there you go, from a local.
"They’re not going to give non-European people that much power without putting up a serious, very hypocritical, lie."
Since when were the spaniards not european? you really are ignorant, wow. It's true that in PR we are a mixed and proud of it but we are still of mostly of european ancestry. only way we would be considered non-european is if you believe in stupid ideas like the one drop rule.
Ayudame a entender, segun los numeros PR tiene los estandares de vida y ingresos familiares medios mas altos de toda Latinoamerica.
Estos son los ingresos medios de los hogares (2019) y el ranking de calidad de vida (2021):
1.Puerto Rico: $20,000 a $21,000/año & Índice de Calidad de Vida de 130.8 Puntos.
2.Chile: $17.000 a $20.000/año y un Índice de Calidad de Vida de 99,9 Puntos.
3.Uruguay: $16.000 a $18.000/año y un Índice de Calidad de Vida de 124,6 Puntos.
Recuerde que Chile y Uruguay son las naciones con los niveles de vida más altos en América Latina. Si comparamos PR con las naciones del Caribe, la disparidad sería extremadamente profunda, la República Dominicana tenía un ingreso familiar promedio inferior a $9,000 (2019) y una calidad índice de vida de 93,02 (2024).
What are you talking about? Hawaii's senators and politicans tend to be Asian, and Hawaii is wealthy. Then again, Asians are often successful, while Latinos are much less successful.
@@luisangel444Sigues repitiendo lo mismo. La Gente aqui necesita dos trabajos para vivir Bien, a menos que vivan con familiares, o en una invasion. Las cosas cuestan caras, y las estadisticas se pueden manipular para que se adapten a la narrativa. Somos "los mas Ricos del caribe", pero la Gente se esta yendo para el mainland o incluso para la republica dominicana, porque esto esta brutal. Ya ni tapon se forma en la carretera, por tanta Gente que se fue de la isla.
Non European, the he'll are you talking about most Puerto Ricans are of Spanish or Portuguese decent. The issue is the mainland does not want 2 liberal senators. The issues with the Island are as such. No one wants to import and export to an Island with not natural resources. Agriculture is dead. You can do it in Brazil cheaper. Statehood would be the solution however all zamerocsn states currently are falling apart look at Detroit.
Puerto Rico has a corrupt government problem.
This is true sadly, but that corruption is linked to Washington and the US overall.
True
There is no denying that the government is corrupt. There are great examples of that in recent events.
Aside from corruption, we also have the mismanagement of funds, infrastructure, etc.
A bit of Puerto Rico history (with correction about British): Although Puerto Rico was temporarily occupied by the British, it never stopped being under Spanish control until 1898, when the island suffered a legal and political injustice, since it was granted full autonomy by Spain in 1897, so the U.S. had no legal right to ask Spain to cede Puerto Rico to the U.S. in 1898 and Spain had no legal right to cede Puerto Rico, because the island had already been granted full autonomy by Spain. This is a historical fact that is not taught to Americans by the U.S. and even to Puerto Ricans by Puerto Rico. Many good things have happened under U.S. control, but also bad things, such as second class citizenship, since the citizenship established in the 1917 Jones Act is not genuine citizenship, but "statutory" citizenship, which can be annulled in any instant by a simple act of the U.S. Congress. In a nutshell, Puerto Rico is still a colony, but invented in 1917 was "fake citizenship" because the U.S. had to hide that it still had a colony when it was fighting for "freedom" in Europe in WWI (and now they could draft Puerto Ricans into the Army) and in the 1950s invented the "fake Commonwealth status", which Puerto Ricans called Estado Libre y Associado (Free and Associated State), which in fact is not free, since all decisions come from Washington, D.C., whose say about Puerto Rico overrides the Puerto Rican will and government. For example, the government of Puerto Rico is not free to make its own business dealings with foreign governments. It cannot, for example, ask Japan and South Korea help improve its island infrastructure by hiring them directly. Also, all foods, etc., must come to Puerto Rico via U.S. Merchant Marine vessels, which on average ends up costing Puerto Ricans 18% more to ship because Puerto Rico can't have goods shipped via cheaper competitors: that is, the U.S. has a monopoly on all goods shipped to/from Puerto Rico, so the U.S. controls Puerto Rican exports as well, not just imports. But again, there have been some good things happening as well, just not enough in recent years. The island is left floundering and the economy has been ruined by the U.S. shifting Puerto Rico's pharm industry to Singapore, Ireland, China, etc. etc. after ending tax incentives for Pharm companies to operate in Puerto Rico. In actuality, more monies pour OUT of Puerto Rico to the U.S. than pours INTO Puerto Rico from the U.S. Read the Puerto Rico economy books about this by Javier A. Hernandez.
La culpa es del pueblo pq siguen en la oscuridad sin darse cuenta de los engaño, los PNP, Populares y PIP son la misma lacras creados para dividir el pueblo y nunca encontrar su independencia, USA es mas corrupto q el gobierno de Puerto Rico ya q han mantenido esa isla en la pobreza mas siempre ha vivido un racismo por el idioma y cultura mas USA tiene a Puerto Rico como los bancos nos tienen cuando prestan dinero sacando miles de ganancias y nosotros perdiendo
I find it funny how many Americans keep saying if Hawaii or Puerto Rico were not Americans, they couldn't manage the country.
But it’s true. What do they offer/produce that is significant besides tourism
@@Sam-gs7ybTourism is viable nonetheless. There’s also a lot of industries Puerto Rico can potentially tap into with the right foundations-if American companies pull out for example. Perhaps independence could be the vector that allows boricuas to actually explore profitable avenues to sustain their economy.
@@Sam-gs7yb Pharmaceuticals and textiles. Also Greece and Spain also offer nothing other than tourism, yet I dont see you saying they should be annexed by a stronger and bigger neighbor? Keep in mind, Puerto Rico has a higher GDP per Capita than Spain. They wont be a superpower sure, but they would definitely be in better condition than Spain and other South American countries
@@rami8896 That their a textile and pharmaceutical is because of the US subsidies no US nothing is left. You cant compare PR with Greece as much as it has declined its cultural destination and they have way more to offer in shipping, olives and other products. Same with Spain. PR would compete with Haiti, Barbados, Cuba even DR has more options. You should be grateful the US has you as a colony.
@@celestial1756 With the work culture you guys have highly doubt it. It would be a bigger chaos than it is now. Look PR is beautiful island but thats it no US no $$$
I used to work for a pharmaceutical company in PR. They paid us about half of what they paid a BSc graduate in the US... and I had a Master's Degree at the time. There were few job alternatives back then (about none right now) so it was pretty much a one sided deal.
They got away with it by declaring Puerto Rico as part of their "international division".
And those were the "Good Old Times"
@@CptFugu were the good old times better than the present?
If you were not satisfied with your income, did you pursue other employment to increase your rebenue? Then who's to blame for your choices?
I left the island and live my retirement in a 5 acre "farm" that I was able to afford because I left. My brother is country manager for a largest and commodities company because he left. You can't have it all. There are choices we make. Some of us live with them, ohers whine about them.
That’s why my parents are telling me go study outside a Master or PHD. That’s what I will be doing, but I think that is very sad. My mom did a master in planning in the UPRRP and when she worked “Departamento de Vivienda” she notice that one guy was getting pay way more than her, because he had a bachelor from an USA school. She told me that he didn’t knew how to do a lot of stuff that my mom needed to make for him, but he got a better pay than her. The inverse thing is that agency from the USA a searching for people bilingual, and the perfect thing is to get puertorricans.
@@geovalelepr my advice is stay in the US and vacation in the Caribbean.
To get a job at McDonald's in PR you have to know someone that knows someone in that McDonald's bro
@@josephaviles8289 That is correct. All the good jobs are locked in to, friends and family... The island is one giant dysfunctional economy because the handful of wealthy and influential,clans that run everything.
The Jones Act deducts around 1.5 billion dollars from Puerto Rico's local economy. Not being able to purchase fuel from foreign nations also contributes to this economic tragedy. However, corrupt bipartisan officials have also robbed federal funds for decades while promising growth through either statehood or maintaining the colonial status.
@@worldpeacearroyo8515 If we can agree that the Treaty of Paris of 1898 gave the US the island as a possession. Then the argument on the Jones Act becomes moot. It is not the source of the oil, but the registry of the vessel that makes it more, or less, pricey...
Yes, make it a state or set it free!
@@nildamendez2645 Why? It's the US's land...
There is no native population in the Island to claim ancestral rights over anything. We are all descendants of colonists or immigrants and our likely argument could be: "It's ours because we killed the natives"...
I am a Puerto Rican who has spent his whole life living on the island. I must say that this video very well summarizes the colonial exploitation relationship between the USA and PR, and also explains very well all the problems and poor decisions that have led us to where we are today. It is simply an excellent video for those who don’t know much about the political, economic, and financial situations that our archipelago has gone through. Thank you very much for your contribution.
Yeah but the problem is temptation is always there.
Would you prefer Independence from the United States?
@Elplaceteno yes I would...
Fantastic video! I have incurred so much losses trading on my own....I trade well on demo but I think the real market is manipulated.... Can anyone help me out or at least tell me what I'm doing wrong??
Same here, My portfolio has been going down the drain while I try trading,l just don't know what I do wrong. .
Investing with an expert is the best strategy for beginners and busy investors, as most failures and losses in investment usually happen when you invest without proper guidance. I'm speaking from experience.
I think l'm blessed if not I wouldn't have met someone who is as spectacular as expert mrs Janet..
Highly recommended🙌
Wow, I'm surprised to see Janet mentioned here as well. I didn't know she had been kind to so many people
I'm also a huge beneficiary of her..
I thought myself and my family were
the only ones enjoying Janet
trade benefits
You're confusing the Jones-Shafroth Act of 1917 with the Jones Act cabotage law. They are not the same thing.
A bit of Puerto Rico history (with correction about British): Although Puerto Rico was temporarily occupied by the British, it never stopped being under Spanish control until 1898, when the island suffered a legal and political injustice, since it was granted full autonomy by Spain in 1897, so the U.S. had no legal right to ask Spain to cede Puerto Rico to the U.S. in 1898 and Spain had no legal right to cede Puerto Rico, because the island had already been granted full autonomy by Spain. This is a historical fact that is not taught to Americans by the U.S. and even to Puerto Ricans by Puerto Rico. Many good things have happened under U.S. control, but also bad things, such as second class citizenship, since the citizenship established in the 1917 Jones Act is not genuine citizenship, but "statutory" citizenship, which can be annulled in any instant by a simple act of the U.S. Congress. In a nutshell, Puerto Rico is still a colony, but invented in 1917 was "fake citizenship" because the U.S. had to hide that it still had a colony when it was fighting for "freedom" in Europe in WWI (and now they could draft Puerto Ricans into the Army) and in the 1950s invented the "fake Commonwealth status", which Puerto Ricans called Estado Libre y Associado (Free and Associated State), which in fact is not free, since all decisions come from Washington, D.C., whose say about Puerto Rico overrides the Puerto Rican will and government. For example, the government of Puerto Rico is not free to make its own business dealings with foreign governments. It cannot, for example, ask Japan and South Korea help improve its island infrastructure by hiring them directly. Also, all foods, etc., must come to Puerto Rico via U.S. Merchant Marine vessels, which on average ends up costing Puerto Ricans 18% more to ship because Puerto Rico can't have goods shipped via cheaper competitors: that is, the U.S. has a monopoly on all goods shipped to/from Puerto Rico, so the U.S. controls Puerto Rican exports as well, not just imports. But again, there have been some good things happening as well, just not enough in recent years. The island is left floundering and the economy has been ruined by the U.S. shifting Puerto Rico's pharm industry to Singapore, Ireland, China, etc. etc. after ending tax incentives for Pharm companies to operate in Puerto Rico. In actuality, more monies pour OUT of Puerto Rico to the U.S. than pours INTO Puerto Rico from the U.S. Read the Puerto Rico economy books about this by Javier A. Hernandez.
9:37 What you're referring to is law #22, which was approved by governor Fortuño. This project was approved to benefit & attract American business owners to set up shop on the island for either a massive tax cut or accommodations. Meanwhile, local business owners have to wait nearly a year for permits & pay more taxes, decimating the autonomy of the island furthermore.
This pisses me off. The other day an American came to my job to brag that in 3 months he set up 4 smoke shops.
My boss was salty af! It took him 3 years to set up each of his 2 bussiness!
The chinese and young white rich Americans are taking over the island and displacing many Natives....
What your not explaining is that Puerto Ricans can live and work in any state mainland USA
ah right, because there is no racism or discrimination in the states... like really great "black jobs"? like a little accent won't close doors at the outset? like often employers are surprisingly far less educated and lack language skills?
@@medusapr2011stay in where you at then buddy. I know plenty of people with an accent that have good jobs here in the US. Citing discrimination as the reason you are poor is such a cheap cop out. Think of something new. I see Bóricas pulling up in their Ferraris flying out on their private jets and riding jet skis all day every day in PR. Why are they flourishing and you complaining?
@@dearjohn8789 darling, not to brag, I pull up in my own Ferrari, but I know most people don’t. Why are you so angry?
Government mismanagement in the island has been perpetrated by the same seats in Congress across generations in order to maintain this same stranglehold that is mentioned in the video. It is a vicious cycle that must be stopped.
A bit of Puerto Rico history (with correction about British): Although Puerto Rico was temporarily occupied by the British, it never stopped being under Spanish control until 1898, when the island suffered a legal and political injustice, since it was granted full autonomy by Spain in 1897, so the U.S. had no legal right to ask Spain to cede Puerto Rico to the U.S. in 1898 and Spain had no legal right to cede Puerto Rico, because the island had already been granted full autonomy by Spain. This is a historical fact that is not taught to Americans by the U.S. and even to Puerto Ricans by Puerto Rico. Many good things have happened under U.S. control, but also bad things, such as second class citizenship, since the citizenship established in the 1917 Jones Act is not genuine citizenship, but "statutory" citizenship, which can be annulled in any instant by a simple act of the U.S. Congress. In a nutshell, Puerto Rico is still a colony, but invented in 1917 was "fake citizenship" because the U.S. had to hide that it still had a colony when it was fighting for "freedom" in Europe in WWI (and now they could draft Puerto Ricans into the Army) and in the 1950s invented the "fake Commonwealth status", which Puerto Ricans called Estado Libre y Associado (Free and Associated State), which in fact is not free, since all decisions come from Washington, D.C., whose say about Puerto Rico overrides the Puerto Rican will and government. For example, the government of Puerto Rico is not free to make its own business dealings with foreign governments. It cannot, for example, ask Japan and South Korea help improve its island infrastructure by hiring them directly. Also, all foods, etc., must come to Puerto Rico via U.S. Merchant Marine vessels, which on average ends up costing Puerto Ricans 18% more to ship because Puerto Rico can't have goods shipped via cheaper competitors: that is, the U.S. has a monopoly on all goods shipped to/from Puerto Rico, so the U.S. controls Puerto Rican exports as well, not just imports. But again, there have been some good things happening as well, just not enough in recent years. The island is left floundering and the economy has been ruined by the U.S. shifting Puerto Rico's pharm industry to Singapore, Ireland, China, etc. etc. after ending tax incentives for Pharm companies to operate in Puerto Rico. In actuality, more monies pour OUT of Puerto Rico to the U.S. than pours INTO Puerto Rico from the U.S. Read the Puerto Rico economy books about this by Javier A. Hernandez.
Minute 00:25 Unincorporated territory is a fancy Word for colony.
Totally convinced that the United States is the worst thing that has happened to Puerto Rico, imagine belonging to a country that treats you as if you were less than them and with racism that is how they treat us Puerto Ricans.
Although Puerto Rico has a substantial debt of approximately $37 billion, no country in the past decade has surpassed the United States' record for the highest external debt, which currently stands at around $34 trillion. The key difference lies in the POWER and economic autonomy. The USA, being an independent country, can print its own currency whenever needed and maintain an artificial economy, even if it leads to inflation. It has control over its imports and exports. In contrast, Puerto Rico cannot event vote for the president, and everything that arrives on the island must first pass through the mainland, increasing the cost of all products. Also, can't control wich who do business without the bless of Uncle Sam. Puerto Rico cannot print its own currency like Uncle Sam, and to add to this, there is also poor government administration, a problem shared with the USA, but the latter has far more resources to manage it.
Sad that the DR's has surpassed PR's. That was not always the case. I would say that although the legal relationship with the U.S. plays a role, I believe political corruption and mismanagement is probably a significant factor. The P.R. of the 70's and 80's had better infrastructure and seemed to be progressing. Another thing I have noticed is that Tourism doesn't seem to be as big a driver of the economy as before. Part of the reason is that the cost to tourists is higher than in the DR and in the DR you get better service. That is something that should be fixed. Renting a room for less money makes the owners more money than not renting it at all.
It is clearly visible, how Puerto Rico is treated as a colony by the USA. I just returned from a 5 week trip there. During this time, 3 powershut downs for over 10 hours each. Had nothing to do with the storm. The spirit of the Puerto Rico people is amazing. The USA government is clearly holding the island hostage.
False statement here. Puerto Rico was not taken by the USA from Spain. Spain granted Puerto Rico independence before the USA invaded PR and took the island and its people against their will!
That is false
Your comment at 6:34 is wrong! PR at the time of the American invasion was already a province of Spain with representatives and we were Spanish citizens. Spain NEVER had colonies!!! It was all Spain. Do not continue to spread the “Black Leyend”….
They were colonies
@@Lando-kx6so No, we were not just a colony under Spain, we were a Spanish Province with representation in the Spanish goverment. Google the term Provincias de ultramar, which Cuba and PR were back then, so you can have an idea on how that worked.
@@jr5tana the "Carta Autonomica was not fully implemented. Under it, the local legislativevwas comprised of a minority of members who were voted in and the majority, including the governor, who were appointed by "The. Crown".
Deploying "the black legend defense" is risible. Like most legends, Spain' s bad reputation is based in fact, even if some are somewhat exaggerated. At least they were not Belgium.
@@supersonica85it's just a fancy name lol at the end it was just another colony with a prettier name.....it took almost 400 years for Puerto Rico to achieve that "providence" status because Spain came guns blazing putting down any native cacique who tried to push back against the brute take over and the "evangelization" then they brought African slaves because the island natives were dying rapidly due to the harsh conditions and the forced labor imposed by the Spanish crown 👑 Spain just made a huge mess all over America same as the British and the French....the only one that gave a "fair" treatment to their colony was Portugal with Brazil
@@CarlosRodriguez-ey8zl In 1897 PR and Cuba were simultaneously the first autonomous regions of Spain even before Navarra. Plus the “vice president” of that congress was a Puerto Rican, Ramon Power y Giralt, and some of those legislators later on after the invasion went on to father some of the political parties that persist today. For example José Celso Barbosa who happened to be black. Spain was ahead of its time and PR had a much better political system then with the people that speak our language, share traditional and religious values and just happen to be related to.
The same reason they keep Africa poor even though is rich.
Corruption keeps Africa poor.
@@rhettdemille4404and corruption includes their own African government being sellouts to the European corporations that takes their resources
This is false, I live in Puerto Rico and the living standards here are one of the best in all of Latin America .
Puerto Rico's median household income is the highest in Latin America & they also score #1 in the Quality of Life index in Hispanic America.
These are the Median household incomes (2019) & Quality of life ranking (2021):
1.Puerto Rico: $20,000 to $21,000/ year & Quality of life Index of 130.8 Points.
2.Chile: $17,000 to $20,000/ year & a Quality of life Index of 99.9 Points.
3.Uruguay: $16,000 to $18,000/ year & a Quality of life Index of 124.6 Points.
Remember that Chile and Uruguay are the nations with the highest standards of living in Latin-america, If we compare PR with Caribbean nations the disparity would be extremely profound, The Dominican Rep. had a median household income under $9,000 (2019) & a Quality of life index of 93.02 (2024) and even the DR is doing great relative to other Caribbean nations.
Being part of the wealthiest market in the world allowed PR to reach this status.
Are you sure? Are you from Dorado, Condado, or Ponce? Because the rest of the island isn't doing too well.
@@EvilOtto580man, have you travel to Latin America ? We have a lot of opportunities in PR. Far from perfect place but still a lot better generally speaking than the rest of Latin America. Just go and look who are the one struggling. If you don’t put an afford to succeed then you are left behind. And no, I’m not from Dorado, Condado or Palmas de Mar.
@@luisangel444And the electricity bill is one of the highest in the world. And so they don't say, I'm from Puerto Rico.
@@JCROD5There will be opportunities to become poorer, because with the poor management that the big people here are doing it is outrageous.
@ 7 minutes and 17 seconds that's St. Thomas USVI ... I know Meagen's Bay when I see it
Wow, everything was going great until the advertisement.
Have you ever heard about the underground economy? , that's exactly what a lot of Puerto Ricans like to do. They report the very low income to the IRS and to the state from 1 job, but in reality, most of them have two jobs. They are doing this, so they can have the most help from the Us. At the other point, I rather be in PR; than Haiti, Cuba, or Venezuela.
We have to do something to survive, we are smart 😊
The only way to have a second unreported job is for your employer to not report your wages. Employers are subject to report wages paid within a year of $500+, even with less, you are likely to receive a tax for for wages.
I'm not saying it's impossible to guide wages, I'm merely saying employers are not putting themselves in the position to pay high fines to hide the wages of a mere human. It also doesn't benefit the employer as it's less deductions they can claim on their tax returns.
The underground economy is precisely underground because it's illegal activity, as in, sales of drugs or prostitution, as well as stolen goods, etc.
If you work for an employer, the employer is highly unlikely to hide your wages so you save on taxes, whilst them loosing money on saving on their taxes.
Seems to me like you are repeating a lot of street talk that lacks actual knowledge of the machinery of it all, because most Puerto Ricans DO have 2 & 3 jobs and pay their taxes accordingly. Even with 2-3 jobs they still barely make 50k or less a year, which still is less than the US average
Where you get the information for this video?? You are using super old pictures like 80 years old picture, is a lost of respect go to the internet and find for the most ugly and poor pictures
I was informed by several Puerto Ricans that Chinese millionaire's had bought companies in Puerto Rico, and had taken over everything, and gotten involved in government affairs within Puerto Rico, and this hurted the people very much. I guess it's true then, Puerto Rico's fall happened because of China wanting to control business there either to dismantle or hurt the U.S., or U.S. relations with Puerto Rico, or hurt Puerto Ricans.
* This was interesting to here from several Puerto Ricans because it brought remembrance to a video I had watched on UA-cam of how Chines Spies work to dismantle a foreign government like Puerto Rico. * Just listening to Puerto Rico debt on this video is just surprising.
* Puerto Ricans should think very carefully of whom they appointed in office (government), and whom they allow to make contracts with, or sell there businesses too, because sometimes what might sounds like a good deal might actually be a bad and terrible deal for the state.
*Hopefully one day Puerto Rico's people will be able to prosper in there land again and not be left to the curb to be poor, by wealthy Chinese foreigners.
I am from Puerto Rico and just living here feels like an enslaved territory. Everything too expensive and we get very little income compared to other USA states, also many corps and stores online don't even want to ship to PR making it even more impossible to get by. Im hoping in the future this changes for our island.
Says Puerto Rico is absurdly poor, shows mainly pictures of it from the 1940s.
Ven y mira por ti misma.....
@@piratacofresi1 jamás está asi
Statistics say that about 40% live under the mainlands poverty rate. Regardless of whatever pictures they used, numbers and numbers and all of those people are on medicaid, food stamps, and many of those on govt housing. Thats our reality.
The answer to the titular question comes at the very last few seconds of the video: "When federal policies that aided Puerto Rico's economic development were repealed, no enduring replacements were put in place."
Definitely the makers of this video do not live or probably have never visited PR. From a distance, using the selected images shown in this video, it looks like a third world country. It isn't. The details of life there paint a different picture. Family members help each ither there. Community is big oart of life, compared to the states. While the federal government does not support PR as equally as a state, one of the ways PR has money come in is through the younger generation aending money to their parents and family which are still in PR. Or, visiting family.
Visually, it looks different because the houses are made of concrete. Modern, tall, woodframe houses are not going to survive hurricanes.
The Dunning Krugger effect.effect is a fascinating phenomenon in psychology. It refers to a cognitive bias where people who are incompetent in a particular subject tend to overestimate their own abilities and performance, while underestimating the abilities of others. Commenting about Puerto Rico requires historical, social , political and economic knowledge.
As a American puerto ti am this shit breaks my heart man it’s bullshit and then America can’t say shit when the entire world ends up going against it then don’t wonder why
What have you done to help the island, you must start to educate yourself and the ones around and start fighting for your rights and lands.
Puerto Rico is a beautiful island. I lived there at one point for a few months (hell, my truck still has a PR plate on it 😎).
Unfortunately, PR is in limbo. It won't be a state with millionaire gringos moving there in droves _specifically_ for its tax haven status _within_ US jurisdiction. Yet, can't be independent because the US has pushed the island into poverty. PR would end up similar to Haiti if independent because the US likes to punish those who don't play ball. We wouldn't part on good terms, especially with the aforementioned gringo droves.
It would thrive if independent
Puerto Rico has the highest standard of living amongst all Latin American countries. I’m sure being a US territory has something to do with that
Thank you for making this video i hope it could shine a light for the people that vote for the political parties that have been responsible for the disaster on our beautiful island
The electricity have to replace for new one, the old one was make in 1952
The monopoly with Luma needs to end.
Poor? With a GDP of $41,000? Really? Puerto Rico is not poor; it has had poor public administration for the last 20 years.
Ignored everything explained on the video, did ya?
@@realtalk6195 The video's real message is the poor public administration of the last decades. No use of clickbait.
You guys are stupid he meant poverty.
Puerto Rico is a beautiful island with gorgeous beaches, people and food!!
Capitalism 101. Why rich countries are rich? Maybe... Colonialism
@@luisangel444so?
Hate Capitalism, try Marxism. Wonderful system Ask any Cuban-American
@@thiagovidal8972
Innitiative?
PR was an unproductive (no gold, silver or emeralds) colony for the Spaniards. They have not figured out how to capitalize on their human assets.
@@thiagovidal8972 literally the richest Latin American state who continually votes to remain a territory
Some idiot leftist on yt: “cOLoNiALisM dOg
Motorola International of Puerto Rico was 35 years in Vega Baja, Puerto Rico
I hate it here, our future is very uncertain is like every service is becoming privatized and we keep loosing and loosing more grip till the USA drown us in debts and is lack of medical services. We truly need help or this will be irreversible .
No one is going to save you, you must save yourself and fight for your rights and future. If Puerto Ricans continue waiting for a miracle they are going to get fucked permanently.
Nuestras deudas son por nosotros mismos...
@@edgonzalez186 parece que no viste el video. Mala tuya
The future may be uncertain but a lot of Boricuas are thriving right now through their talents, PR has boxers, reggaetoneros, musicians, actors, and even barbers that are making names for themselves. Us Puerto Ricans are so talented! Bad Bunny is literally one of the most famous singers in the world right now, i’m proud of the Boricuas that are putting PR on the map!
@@NewHaven203I understand that, but we need people that sacrifice for the benefit of the puertorican citizens that want to have a future in PR. All the talents are great, but if we see during the massive protests to get rid of the governor in 2019, there was a lot of celebrities that utilized the event for promotion. At the end of the day, nothing really happened and a person worse than Ricky got the power and the same party keep having the advantage. I hope we can see a person or at least a group of people that know what it feels to be on the edge everyday and that has gone through the issues that us boricuas have to deal with daily. Also, I would that there is a MAJOR issue with education and how people view this issues. They need to stop looking from the status point of view and start thinking of a well being point of view. Puerto Rico it’s a tough issue and topic… It’s complicated.
Americq dont keep puerto rico poor.
Is the same puertoricans and politicians who does it.
How about American companies paying us citizens half of what they pay in the states. Is that Puerto Ricans keeping Puerto Ricans poor? Your logic is shit.
@@joshvega4906 youndont know what you are talking about
The people who get paid low are government employees unless you are a friend of a politician
Or small business like bakery or stuff like that
It all depends were you go. Metropolitan area will pay more. While the rest of the island is screwed
Also in puerto rico people dont have to pay a monthly insurance on their property if they rent. Or their cars. Or if they own a home. A lot of people get paid cash so is not reported. 60% plus of the population recieve reform which is a free medicare plan
And the people who have that reform work with puertoricans business
When you talk american business paying half of what they pay in the states you are just coming up with whatever someone told you without knowing
What American business?? Burger king?? Thats franchise are owned by puertoricans.
Mcdonallds? The same
Walmart? The same
And in those places pay similar to other places in the states. Now if you are going to talk and compare to states like California they pay more an hour. But you have to look at the whole cost of living. In California 20 dollars an hour is like 9$ an hour in puerto rico.
You need to educate yourself and stop listening to marxist communist socialist who dont know what they are talking about.
millionaires get a free pass for 10 years to not pay taxes to puerto rico on any capital made :) and they nonstop buy houses and kick resident to make it in to air bnb nonstop all year
Here is a detail this video missed. Puerto Rico had chapter 9 but was removed by congress on the 1980’s but with no explanation why? When ELA was established, it was part of the agreement. But suddenly was removed. I wonder why? (Sarcasm)
A bit of Puerto Rico history (with correction about British): Although Puerto Rico was temporarily occupied by the British, it never stopped being under Spanish control until 1898, when the island suffered a legal and political injustice, since it was granted full autonomy by Spain in 1897, so the U.S. had no legal right to ask Spain to cede Puerto Rico to the U.S. in 1898 and Spain had no legal right to cede Puerto Rico, because the island had already been granted full autonomy by Spain. This is a historical fact that is not taught to Americans by the U.S. and even to Puerto Ricans by Puerto Rico. Many good things have happened under U.S. control, but also bad things, such as second class citizenship, since the citizenship established in the 1917 Jones Act is not genuine citizenship, but "statutory" citizenship, which can be annulled in any instant by a simple act of the U.S. Congress. In a nutshell, Puerto Rico is still a colony, but invented in 1917 was "fake citizenship" because the U.S. had to hide that it still had a colony when it was fighting for "freedom" in Europe in WWI (and now they could draft Puerto Ricans into the Army) and in the 1950s invented the "fake Commonwealth status", which Puerto Ricans called Estado Libre y Associado (Free and Associated State), which in fact is not free, since all decisions come from Washington, D.C., whose say about Puerto Rico overrides the Puerto Rican will and government. For example, the government of Puerto Rico is not free to make its own business dealings with foreign governments. It cannot, for example, ask Japan and South Korea help improve its island infrastructure by hiring them directly. Also, all foods, etc., must come to Puerto Rico via U.S. Merchant Marine vessels, which on average ends up costing Puerto Ricans 18% more to ship because Puerto Rico can't have goods shipped via cheaper competitors: that is, the U.S. has a monopoly on all goods shipped to/from Puerto Rico, so the U.S. controls Puerto Rican exports as well, not just imports. But again, there have been some good things happening as well, just not enough in recent years. The island is left floundering and the economy has been ruined by the U.S. shifting Puerto Rico's pharm industry to Singapore, Ireland, China, etc. etc. after ending tax incentives for Pharm companies to operate in Puerto Rico. In actuality, more monies pour OUT of Puerto Rico to the U.S. than pours INTO Puerto Rico from the U.S. Read the Puerto Rico economy books about this by Javier A. Hernandez.
I once read that Puerto Rico doesn't pay taxes to the US federal government. The article read that over 30% of the people collect Federal food stamps. If Puerto Rico wants to become a state and they think they'd be better off, then apply for statehood. If they want their independence, declare your independence and be responsible for yourselves.
Half truths are half lies. Yes, we can do better (I'm a born and a resident Puertorrican for 77 years). Our biggest problem is our elected politicians who established so many government handouts, almost nobody looks to get a job anymore. And that is what keeps going on right now.
A half truther is a half lier!
The people moved over to Florida. Orlando area ,now this once nice area is. becoming blighted with crime They moved to Florida during the last few years ,it’s sad our city is becoming crime ridden area no one wants to visit ,we pay high taxes in u.s. ,we can’t be bailing you all out because of poor management,we have bailed the island out many times ,it’s the same ole we need more ,what would happen if you were no longer part of u.s. They don’t bail us out if we don’t have a tax base ,the taxpayers don’t want to pay for people who don’t work , it’s hard to get food stamps or Medicaid ,we have a housing shortage for people in our states ,where is the money going to come from,there are a lot of needy people who worked for many and paid into the services ,it’s not fair for everyone to want us to pick up there messes,
I love all the gentrification comments. People tend to forget that for gentrification to occur, there has to be two parts: the buyer AND a willing seller... Same as corruption: there's the corrupt government party as well as the non-government party. It always takes two to tango.
Or someone who desperately needs the money. There's that too.
I was born in Puerto Rico. Lived there until I left for the military at 18 years old. Went back to live there after my 6 years of Active Duty service in 1993. You can say I lived there during the beginning of the end. I was forced to leave the island after all of the manufacturing left the island due to Bill Clinton's action of closing the "loophole" created Section 936 of the IRS Code. I am saying all of this to say that I am very familiarized with this topic because I lived it. So, I can honestly say that this video captures 100% the honest truth as to why live is so hard in Puerto Rico.
To the people behind this channel and the production of this video, I salute you!! I don't think I have seen anything quite like this; so complete and accurate.
This video is missing tons of information.
I have lived in PR since 1991 (and previously from 1978-1983: the "good years"). PRs economy woes are probably 75% self inflicted. Section 936 at the local level meant very good jobs (in local terms) but it was the pro-statehood party that led the charge to get it eliminated (see Carlos Romero Barcelo, the former pro-statehood governor and then our Resident Commissioner in Congress) since "PR could not become a state with that in place". Then in 2004, PR goes ahead and forces the military base closures depriving the local communities of that revenue (under the status-quo party). We get individual tax credits and don't pay Federal Taxes (sweet deal and an incentive not to work). Jones Act is just part of the cost of doing business: that's a protectionist measure that covers ALL US jurisdictions.
Our local government is HUGE accounting for some 20% of jobs which is insane for a small economy. Taxes are very high leading to a massive underground economy and underreporting. They added an 11.5% sales tax on top of keeping the high personal income tax structure (this time also thanks to the status-quo party). Starting a business is a Kafkaesque exercise and that's all on PR's central and local governments (protecting the already local established ones). There's little true competition at the local level and laws are in place to keep it that way (again, self inflicted).
The major political parties, each focused on its own status vision for PR, are far left (the pro independence one that openly admires the Cuban model) , and center-left (but using the compass as an analogy really more center-left-left) for the pro-statehood and pro status quo ones. There is not a SINGLE political alternative that's center-right... They all love throwing money around to buy votes every 4 years to "prove" that the population wants their status vision. So it's spend, spend, spend since - well - forever...
A Javier Milei type of politician/party is needed to help reset this economy. Slash government to a more manageable 10% of jobs (still too much but better; seriously, the central government has a full agency that funds a full symphony - and I like classical music but, really?), introduce real competition by removing all internal business protectionist measures, slash the ludicrous permit system that hinders business creation, and massively slash taxes so that underreporting is no longer incentivized (see how tax revenues went up in former Warsaw block countries as an example). Incentivizing local production of things currently "imported" from the US/world would be a start and mitigate some Jones Act costs.
I always get angry when I see these "it's all the US' fault" type of videos since they RARELY mention how much is self-inflicted and, if they do, only very passingly... But that what happens when a video is done purely from outside and only using macro information/data...
Well written and most likely all true.
Well said and agree wholeheartedly.
The job slashing would need to be done in stages and with economic measures in place to make sure the private sector can absorb that workforce. It would take several years to achieve that 10%, but it's technically doable.
I've always said, we don't pay federal income taxes, we get to use the defacto world currency, our healthcare system is pretty much entirely federally funded , and we get a safety net called FEMA. We can deal with the cons.
I like this better than the other two options.
I agree except for no right leaning politics. Some statehood politicians are conservative and lean right. Center right really.
@@GardenStateNJ27 Precious few. (yeah, I guess very light center-right). They are, at best, "New England Republicans" so, basically, useless (like Fortuño et all). Not a single one believes in small government. They might as well be Dems. (I m a Reagan Republican, so really party-less right now).
Very well said. It's is similar to what I say about the situation, .but there's some people who don't want to use their head to analyze by and for themselves
What happend to "NO TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION"?
In the 70s and early 80s, the PR was offered statehood. They refused.At the time, they were doing very well. Recently, they have taken on massive debt. The situation has reversed.
Untrue,show me information about that, congress always say no
@vicenterivera4648 look up the 1967 referendum, 1998 referendum, 2012 as well. Don't ask me to provide anything else. You should be able to do this simple task for yourself.
@@BamZoomRead smart ass!
What is a referendum in simple terms?
A referendum usually asks a question or questions to which all eligible electors must vote either 'yes' or 'no'. For electors, referendums are very similar to elections. On polling day, electors go to a polling place and cast their vote on a ballot paper.
Is not the same to ask a question than to offer something. If you can ask me if I want a million dollars, of course I would say yes. Still that would not make me a millionaire.
They were not legitimate referendums, they were only made to force the people vote for certain candidates, they always do the same shit almost every election. Promising state hood every single time, just to fuck you up after 4 years of corruption.
@@BamZoom They were local referendums; the House was not obligued to do anything wiht it in 1967 and in 1998... And in 2012, statehood won... but only 28% of the population voted... But nothing was offered... The reality... both sides want inertia.
The borrowing also applies to the CONUS, as the present debt of the Nation attests: $34 TRILLION dollars owed to the Wall Street Banksters (the "Fed")!!!
Viva Puerto Rico Libre!!! No Statehood!!! Free Puerto Rico!!!
Puerto Rico has more drawbacks than benefits for the US. Give them independence and do their own thing.
1:58 That picture is from Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Canary Islands (Spain), not from Puerto Rico.
I highly recommend the book
"La chilla del Tio Sam"
Puerto Rico is substantially more advanced than any other Carribbean Island and probably Central American countries too.
That being said, I also see the problems, and I am in full support of making Puerto Rico the 51st state, and hoping that will fill some of the gaps with funding.
Puerto Rican people are amazing, and always enjoy my time down there! A proud people with an emphasis on Family! ❤
Becoming a state will not solve the biggest issues we have,, it'll only make it harder to have autonomy over diversification of economy. The Jones act will still be there, act 2:22 and 60 will still be there, the fiscal control committee will still be there, and mismanagement will still be there. we need autonomy, gradually until we reach Independence
There are many Latin American countries, some in Central America that will rival and will soon surpass Puerto Rico's declining standard of living
Puerto Rico would be Haiti without the US.
You don't get the benefits of being a State when you are NOT a state. Those living on Puerto Rico pay no federal income tax...and are immune from many federal laws and regulations. Puerto Rico is poor because of corrupt politicians there and constant mismanagement. State run utilities guarantee poor service unlike all utilities on the mainland. My wife was born and raised there and I've visited multiple times. Puerto Rico has received many more dollars from the US government than what they contribute. This video does not paint the complete picture at all - clearly has an agenda but seems to conveniently ignore all the advantages Puerto Rico benefits from. San Juan airport is perhaps the best run airport in the USA because it is privately run.
Not true. Businesses and Independent Contractors pay federal income taxes in PR (IRS quarterly 941 and 1040s) like in the US. Uncle Sam’s rule apply to PR the same when it comes to taxes.
True!!
The only tax Puertoricans Don't pay is estate tax. Every business has to pay federal income taxes.
Many Businesses pay Federal taxes and SSI exempt taxes.... And as US citizens Puerto Ricans are entitled to a percentage of Federal Funds that are estimated by the Percentage of Island Contributions..... This Exists since Puerto Ricans are eligible for Military Drafts ... Which Entitles all Veterans for Benefits Earned.... Included in an Anti Veteran Discrimination Bill after World War 2. And in 1952 with the creation of the Commonwealth.... Extended Benefits to all Citizens on the Island and ended the Monopolization of the Sugarcane Industry that underpaid it's workers... And created a Taxation System that is regulated by the Federal government and Exercised by the Island Government and Guarantees the Island Federal Funds that equate the Percentage of Island Contributions.... Puerto Rico receives what it contributes.... This became about... Entitlements.... If Puerto Ricans can be Drafted to Fight Wars... And Die... Than it's Entitled just like the Rest of the US... The only Difference is .. the Amount of Entitlements.
Based on contributions.
The Poverty in Puerto Rico is not the same as in the majority of countries in the World. The Poverty comes with Funded Housing and Food ... And Schooling for Workforce Training.
This video is nothing but Propaganda.
People in Puerto rico pay more in tax then the island get back from the us government. You have no idea wtf you are talking about
I'm Puero Rican and some historic facts you got Right but the majority of economic especially de sections of How we live is wrong and inaccurate . And many of the pictures 📸 were old more that 50 years ago ,if you want to show the reality the best is to show the more recent . If someone want to learn about the islan this is not the channel.
P.R. is forced to have everything shipped only by U.S. boats which makes stuff expensive. We pay high taxes and at the end of the year we have to pay more istead of recievimg anything back. 😒
Yes that keeps us poor,it’s all US faults
Not true
It's not completedly the U.S. fault it's also been our own corrupt leaders, we have to rely on U.S. for everything we only produce 12% of what we consume 😟
You are exaggerating to a level that should ashamed you; is there poverty YES, is their people living solely of the government/projects YES, are there Mercedez Benzes all over the place too YES, so be transparent my friend not showing outdated videos or rural areas where farmers that obviously live limited or even projects as if that was the economy
How much in taxes does Puerto Rico pay, that’s what it comes down to.
the gpd can't pay the required taxes the US demands. When Bill Clinton suspended their incentives for 10 years PR has never been able to recover. Along with that US stripped Puerto Rico of Goya and gave it to the Mexicans. That was the final straw to PR economy.
You know that most people living in PR don't earn enough to enter the tax-paying brackets, right?
They pay through their noses to the US shipping companies though. Imagine paying a 20 to 30% markup on the point of entry for everything you wear or eat. Add to that transportation costs, etc. In a place where most wage-earners make just Federal Minimum wage and are only offered part-time jobs.
But that's okay. Keep your money. How about giving us some freedom to trade on our own? That way we wouldn't be basically a captive market where US corporations can make money without investing anything locally.
Who knows, there may even be some economic development here.
@@EROD1010 zero. Puerto Rico does not pay any federal income tax.
@@CptFugu idiot response, Puerto Rico is exempt from paying federal taxes, which even just on FICA alone would amount to 15% of every worker’s income, regardless of how much they make unless the amounts are in the six figures
What’s your point?
States can't file for bankruptcy either. They are sovereign entities.
Peurto rico is literally living under colonialism
@@hughporter2541 and they should be thankful for it. Without the US it would be another Haiti.
and what does colonialism has to do with local corruption from local politicians? Dominican republic, Haiti, Cuba, Jamaica are not colonies, do they have it better than PR..?
@@santimig127 colonies of the UK had their own local government were able to make laws but were subject to British law however couldn't vote in Britain Puerto Rico is in that same scenario hence they are literally USA colony but they just gave it a fancy name
@@Sam-gs7yb thankful for taxation without representation and being dictated to by the motherland? Who speaks on behalf of Puerto Rican interest in the US Congress or the Senate? Who is their elected representative? I don't think anyone or any territory should be happy that they are second class
@@hughporter2541 yes because being a filthy poor island with no work culture and depending on UN handouts is a lot better. Be grateful that Haiti/DR, and many others would trade second class to misery
“Unincorporated territory” is political slang for “colony”
A bit of Puerto Rico history (with correction about British): Although Puerto Rico was temporarily occupied by the British, it never stopped being under Spanish control until 1898, when the island suffered a legal and political injustice, since it was granted full autonomy by Spain in 1897, so the U.S. had no legal right to ask Spain to cede Puerto Rico to the U.S. in 1898 and Spain had no legal right to cede Puerto Rico, because the island had already been granted full autonomy by Spain. This is a historical fact that is not taught to Americans by the U.S. and even to Puerto Ricans by Puerto Rico. Many good things have happened under U.S. control, but also bad things, such as second class citizenship, since the citizenship established in the 1917 Jones Act is not genuine citizenship, but "statutory" citizenship, which can be annulled in any instant by a simple act of the U.S. Congress. In a nutshell, Puerto Rico is still a colony, but invented in 1917 was "fake citizenship" because the U.S. had to hide that it still had a colony when it was fighting for "freedom" in Europe in WWI (and now they could draft Puerto Ricans into the Army) and in the 1950s invented the "fake Commonwealth status", which Puerto Ricans called Estado Libre y Associado (Free and Associated State), which in fact is not free, since all decisions come from Washington, D.C., whose say about Puerto Rico overrides the Puerto Rican will and government. For example, the government of Puerto Rico is not free to make its own business dealings with foreign governments. It cannot, for example, ask Japan and South Korea help improve its island infrastructure by hiring them directly. Also, all foods, etc., must come to Puerto Rico via U.S. Merchant Marine vessels, which on average ends up costing Puerto Ricans 18% more to ship because Puerto Rico can't have goods shipped via cheaper competitors: that is, the U.S. has a monopoly on all goods shipped to/from Puerto Rico, so the U.S. controls Puerto Rican exports as well, not just imports. But again, there have been some good things happening as well, just not enough in recent years. The island is left floundering and the economy has been ruined by the U.S. shifting Puerto Rico's pharm industry to Singapore, Ireland, China, etc. etc. after ending tax incentives for Pharm companies to operate in Puerto Rico. In actuality, more monies pour OUT of Puerto Rico to the U.S. than pours INTO Puerto Rico from the U.S. Read the Puerto Rico economy books about this by Javier A. Hernandez.
PR WILL NOT be a State never ever, WHY we are not a STATE?? /We should be part of SPAIN again or independent. The US needs us to be poor and dependant DON'T YOU SEE IT????? That has been our FINANCIAL FORMULA so far 126 year with the same fórmula
Maybe the US will trade PR. for debt forgiveness. So which nation owes the most US debt. Will check. The winner is Japan. Next place China, third place UK., fourth place Luxemburg and fifth place Canada. One thing is for sure, the Japanese like salsa music. Remember this - ua-cam.com/video/vL2dT-g-2J0/v-deo.html
Amen !
Yes. PR should be a part of Spain. Your democrat politicians should petition them for that.
Sad thing is, Spain is a far left dictatorship. Not too far off from what Puerto Rico has become.
Y tu formula es ir de una dependencia a otra... y la narrativa de que nos quieren pobres, esa te la han sembrado... arráncala de tu ser para comience tu libertad.
Puerto Rico has the look and feel of an Americanized version of the Spanish-speaking Caribbean yet its own culture and identity prevails. The population has a higher standard of living than the rest of Latin America yet Puerto Rico is much poorer than the average state in mainland US, average salaries significantly lower and cost of living higher because of trade, import restrictions and rules. PR lacks elected representation in the US that could give the island greater bargaining power and the model and incentives that pushed its industrialization, long gone. As things stand too costly already to relaunch a competitive tourism, services and manufacturing model...then after decades of stagnation, demographic and economic decline, a large swath of the population has moved to the mainland US further shrinking its strained autonomous tax base and sliding the island into cycles of bankrupcy and re-structuring, not to mention the havoc hurricane Maria brought in the middle of all that. Should the federal US goverment may further cut subsidies and cash flows toward healthcare, social security, military, other related government operations etc, how would the island manage, still politically and economically dependent on the US and unable to carve a practical path toward independence?
They have a beautiful culture and way of life. They should get their independence and go their separate ways
No one keep no one poor only hard work and good leadership is the answer. What about the political parties that have stolen the money thru corruption.
The US wanted PR as a coaling station per the Mahan doctrine of projecting naval power. They tried to buy it from Spain twice before tjev1898 war.
Also, the Island was originally San Juan, and the port Puerto Rico.
Puerto Rico is a US possession, not a foreign nation. It's population is all descendants of colonists and immigrants. No ancestral land argument other than: "they all died, so it's ours"... I'd like to see that case argued at the Hague.
Also, if you base a few Arleigh-Burke destroyers and a squadron of P3 naval warfare aircraft there, with some supporting escorts, you'd be surprised how much of the Atlantic and Panama Canal you can control.
A substantial part of the genetic material of Puerto Ricans come from indigenous Taino race, so the ancestral land argument rightfully exists, despite the US that it's population is all descendants of colonists and immigrants as you well mentioned.
@@aury5794 Dream on. It's all mitochondrial. Female. Probably not more recent than 1620's
As a puertorican im so glad someone is actually bringing attention to the situation
The reason why we're still a Territory? That is because we keep voting not to join.
The reason why everything is expensive? Simply because we're 1000 miles away, on a island surrounded by poorer countries.
The reason why we have no money? WE leave the island for the USA, because we're US Citizens.
The reason why the GDP is so low? We're basically a Tax Haven, & living below the poverty threshold.
Puerto Rico is our home, our soul, & our freedom. We just neglected it, but soon, things will change.
But If we become independent, we will die or worse, become like Haiti.
In essence, & in my opinion, we're the California of the Caribbean.
Cost of Living is too high, real estate is too high, & tax is too high.
The reason the "United States" keeps Puerto Rico poor.
AMERICA is from Alaska to Chile and Argentina.
Puerto Rico has a per capita income lower than any US state. Yet, PR is the wealthiest nation in the whole Caribbean. That really says a lot!
Europeans never know what they are talking about when it comes to U.S. issues.
I wish every puertorriqueño on the island would see this and understand this, we can’t let these people step on us anymore
Start fighting for your rights, no one gives a shit about you, you must take action because no one is going to save you.
You want Russia to slave you all ????
So what are you going to do
@@dearjohn8789 eat shit like Cuba.
As residents of the island we do not pay federal income taxes, but we do pay the same federal medicare, social security, self-employment, unemployment, customs, and merchandise taxes as residents of the states. In 2022 the federal taxes paid by the residents of Puerto Rico to the US added up to $4.8 billion dollars.
This is a lie. The problem is with the local government. The people here we live incredibly good. PR is twice as rich as the wealthiest country within latin America. This is BS.
A bit of Puerto Rico history (with correction about British): Although Puerto Rico was temporarily occupied by the British, it never stopped being under Spanish control until 1898, when the island suffered a legal and political injustice, since it was granted full autonomy by Spain in 1897, so the U.S. had no legal right to ask Spain to cede Puerto Rico to the U.S. in 1898 and Spain had no legal right to cede Puerto Rico, because the island had already been granted full autonomy by Spain. This is a historical fact that is not taught to Americans by the U.S. and even to Puerto Ricans by Puerto Rico. Many good things have happened under U.S. control, but also bad things, such as second class citizenship, since the citizenship established in the 1917 Jones Act is not genuine citizenship, but "statutory" citizenship, which can be annulled in any instant by a simple act of the U.S. Congress. In a nutshell, Puerto Rico is still a colony, but invented in 1917 was "fake citizenship" because the U.S. had to hide that it still had a colony when it was fighting for "freedom" in Europe in WWI (and now they could draft Puerto Ricans into the Army) and in the 1950s invented the "fake Commonwealth status", which Puerto Ricans called Estado Libre y Associado (Free and Associated State), which in fact is not free, since all decisions come from Washington, D.C., whose say about Puerto Rico overrides the Puerto Rican will and government. For example, the government of Puerto Rico is not free to make its own business dealings with foreign governments. It cannot, for example, ask Japan and South Korea help improve its island infrastructure by hiring them directly. Also, all foods, etc., must come to Puerto Rico via U.S. Merchant Marine vessels, which on average ends up costing Puerto Ricans 18% more to ship because Puerto Rico can't have goods shipped via cheaper competitors: that is, the U.S. has a monopoly on all goods shipped to/from Puerto Rico, so the U.S. controls Puerto Rican exports as well, not just imports. But again, there have been some good things happening as well, just not enough in recent years. The island is left floundering and the economy has been ruined by the U.S. shifting Puerto Rico's pharm industry to Singapore, Ireland, China, etc. etc. after ending tax incentives for Pharm companies to operate in Puerto Rico. In actuality, more monies pour OUT of Puerto Rico to the U.S. than pours INTO Puerto Rico from the U.S. Read the Puerto Rico economy books about this by Javier A. Hernandez.
Not America…
United States of America!
@@zioneer6422 Neither was Alaska. What's your point, or are you limited to a dozen syllables?
@@CarlosRodriguez-ey8zl Carlitos America is composed of North, Central America. United States is a whole another thing as to have its citizens called Americans. Or how you call the population of Brazil, Canada, Mexico and Nicaragua?
Try to enroll at your nearest elementary school to learn some basic geography. Entendiste?
@@zioneer6422 really...
Definición de Américas
Comúnmente, la palabra Américas se usa para referirse a todo el Hemisferio Occidental, donde están ubicadas América del Norte, América Central, el Caribe y América del Sur. Es aparentemente un vocablo tomado del inglés, ya que en español es suficiente con decir América, para referirse a todo el continente.
@@zioneer6422
Im pretty sure you are bringing a stick to a gun fight...
It's up to you how ill equipped you want to let yourself be seen.
@@zioneer6422 Americans were called that because tjeres the "Estados Unidos de America", and the "Estados Unidos Mexicanos". They're known as Mexicans.
You should travel so you can reinforce the gringo tourist stereotype. Ignorant and gringocentric.
It appears that Puerto Rico has the 2nd largest economy in the Carribean ranked by GDP. I fail to see what action the US is taking to impoverish Puerto Rico. No self government, and bad government (probably), agreed, But- Puerto Rico is free to vote against remaining within the US- and has voted to continue to keep that status as recently as 2017. Puerto Rico is not on the US mainland it is in the Carribean and the comparatives should reflect this.
The USA's GDP is over 30 times larger than Switzerland's... but their population is 350 Million humans & Switzerland's is 8.7 Million.
Puerto Rico has the status of being the #1 largest economy per capita in latin america.
These are the Median household incomes (2019) & Quality of life rankings (2021):
1.Puerto Rico: $20,000 to $21,000/ year & Quality of life Index of 130.8 Points.
2.Chile: $17,000 to $20,000/ year & a Quality of life Index of 99.9 Points.
3.Uruguay: $16,000 to $18,000/ year & a Quality of life Index of 124.6 Points.
Remember that Chile and Uruguay are the nations with the highest standards of living in Latin-america, If we compare PR with Caribbean nations the disparity would be extremely profound, The Dominican Rep. had a median household income under $9,000 (2019) & a Quality of life index of 93.02 (2024) and even the DR is doing great relative to other Caribbean nations.
Being part of the wealthiest market in the world allowed PR to reach this status.
Its explained in the video. The money doesnt go to PR, it goes to US businesses where they use that money in mainland US. The trickledown effect basically doesnt happen in PR.
PR has no voice in whether it becomes a US state. The plebiscite status votes are essentially a survey of sentiment but represent no legal standing.
Switzerland is Switzerland, The US is the US and Puerto Rico is Puerto Rico. Each has many different factors that influence their national and per capita wealth. Legitimate economic comparisons should be made between countries with similar geographic locations and resources, as well as the economic priorities of the government. Even then many more factors apply.
Hum.. It is hard to see that trickledown works anywhere for individual workers. But things are not so clear. Multinationals dominate Ireland for instance but has the 2nd highest per capita income in Europe. Is Is there is a big divide between the nature of the US and international corporate concerns employing the Puerto Ricans and those employing the Irish. In all probability.
PR needs to take a lesson from Mexico and stop being so entitled. Sounds like it's easier to blame rather than fix it on your own, look at the life and struggles of all the other free nations and then move forward instead of looking for a welfare check. Other Latin nations don't get US citizenship while boasting your flag. They would never survive independent or under Spanish rule. Be careful what you wish for and start cleaning up.
Como joven Puertorriqueño (22 años) desde 2017 logre ver que aqui habia un movimiento de reunificación con España. El cual me dio curiosidad ver que hubieran personas que quisieran volver a España despues de lo que nos hicieron y como los americanos llegaron a salvarnos de ellos, segun como no los enseñaban en las escuela. Sin embargo al invesrigar pudo descubrir que logramos ser una provincia autónoma debajo de la bandera española con representación en el gobierno español algo que el gobierno americano ha negado desde que nos colonizó. Cuando mas me entré a la historia lo unico que los Yankees an hecho es menos preciarnos, ellos no nos quieren. A pesar de las grandes aportaciones que los boricuas han hecho por los Estados Unidos. Pero dicho esto claro esta que la independencia de Puerto Rico no es lo ideal, la incompetencia e ineptitud del gobierno deja claro que la isla no se pubiera subsistir por si sola. Aprecio mucho que enseñaras en el video como muchos países tanto caribeños como de la américa continental nos alla pasado el rollo. Me acuerdo cuando pequeño se burlaban de la República Dominicana y otros países y mirenlos ahora poco a poco mejorando e inclusive algunos sobrepasando. Y pues para concluir creo que la mejor opcion para el desarrollo económico para Puerto Rico es volver a España ya que no tendríamos las ataduras que Estados Unidos nos impone.
El gobierno actual de la isla es bastante inepto e ignorante, pero se debe considerar que ese gobierno está constituido por gente mayoritariamente de la generación "babyboomer" (más o menos de 40 años hacia delante) y literalmente toda esta generación fue fácilmente manipulable por la élite de ese entonces para demonizarles acerca de la independencia o de otorgacion de más soberanía para P.R.
Por eso casi todos son muy fanáticos del bipartidismo, sin embargo con el futuro cambio generacional ahora existimos jóvenes con pensamiento crítico, acceso a la información y a la educación de calidad que estamos rompiendo con esos patrones absurdos que lamentablemente nuestros parientes han hecho. Todo pueblo inteligente y normal reconoce que la independencia es la aspiración insigne, y yo puedo creer que con el trabajo y la determinación correspondiente Puerto Rico la puede alcanzar, pero si no quieren pues que se queden con la manipulación status quo. Puerto Rico reincorporándose a España?? Hmmm sueño muy bonito, pero que al fin de cuentas se quedará en eso mismo..... Un sueño nunca a realizarse.
asi es amigo, Puerto Rico hoy seria parte de la Unión Europea, todos los puertorriqueños tendriamos pasaporte español y seriamos otra autonomia más como lo son Islas Canarias y las Islas Baleares. Eso de que solo existe estadidad o independencia para la isla está quedando en el pasado, otra alternativa se está levantando.
Loco graduate antes de opinar lol
Será en tu circulo social (de tus padres) que ves lo de ese movimiento de reunificación... En Los Chavales comiendo chorizo, tapas y vino... y ya eran las 2:00am
@@edgonzalez186 busque el canal de Adelante Reunificacionistas por aqui por yt
Is not America. America is a continent, it is the united states the country that keeps Puerto Rico poor. Do not include the whole continent of america, is just the united states and its united statean government.
Yeah United I got you got that right United States is the problem they the one who is doing this to Puerto Rico but you know what I'm not stupid either I see a lot of Hispanic people of all different kinds even Asians and all that supporting United States keeping us in this condition okay because a lot of you are Hispanic people on businesses and when I go over there to ask for a job you're turning me down and if you're hire me you already plotting to fire me so stop the BS
Puerto Rico should apply for EU membership. There are already ultra peripheral territories like French Guyana, New Caledonia or St Pierre.
It would be great for Puerto Rico, Europe and Cuba Who would better posed to integrate.
Unfortunately Puerto Rican can’t. That’s up to Congress.
@@inigoromon1937 well, Puerto Rico is a US possession with no ancestral population. Those residents of the Island who wish to join the EU can go there.
it can if Puerto Rico reunifies with Spain, it is possible, i think that is the best solution for the US
@@CarlosRodriguez-ey8zlwhat if USA 🇺🇸 returns it back to Spain 🇪🇸 and admits it had no business invading and occupying it ? We literally have a Canary Islands accent.
@@BK_718 what if pigs could fly backwards? Lets try to limit speculation to events that are remotely likely to ocurr.
The strong Canary accent is because a lot of the laborers were from there. Movers and shakers were Catalonian and Basque. Some Galician and andalusian moneyed sorts. But the Canary Island folks held little if any power.