< Bilinguial Information About The Quest For An Independent Puerto Rico

Key Reasons for an Independent Puerto Rico

Puerto Rican Independence: A Growing Political Force

• Independence is the fastest growing status alternative in Puerto Rico. While support for other status formulas has sunk or plateaued, sovereignty has experienced tremendous growth in recent years, particularly among the youth.

• Several polls conducted in the fall of 2024 show that independence is heavily favored among young voters. For example, a poll conducted by El Nuevo Día, Puerto Rico’s largest newspaper, in October of 2024 showed that 41% of Puerto Ricans between the ages of 18 to 34 favored independence, followed by 27% who supported becoming a state of the U.S.; 18% s said to be in favor of sovereignty in free association and, 12% of those polled were undecided.

• In the most recent plebiscite, more than 40% of Puerto Rican voters chose sovereignty status options. Furthermore, in the general election for governor, the Puerto Rican Independence candidate for governor finished in second place with 32% of the vote.

Background on Puerto Rican Independence

• For more than 126 years, the United States has denied Puerto Rico the right to self-government, while at the same time forcing Puerto Ricans to live under laws and regulations enacted unilaterally by the U.S.

• Puerto Ricans have asserted their right to national freedom and sovereignty for over six generations. Puerto Rican independence is part of the larger liberation struggle, started in the 1800s by Simon Bolivar and other Latin American patriots. It is inconsistent to claim to be in "Support of Latinos" or have an "Agenda for Latinos" and at the same time deny Puerto Ricans the right to Bolivar's dream.

• Puerto Rico's status as a territorial possession of the U.S. is inconsistent with the ideals of freedom espoused by the American people.

• Puerto Rico's status issue is a colonial problem, not a denial of equal rights to a minority under the laws and the Constitution of the U.S.

Puerto Rico’s Current Economic Crisis

• In June 2015, Puerto Rico entered into a severe economic crisis when it was on the brink of defaulting on its $73 billion dollar debt.

• Puerto Rico suffers from rampant unemployment and an unhealthy dependence on U.S. federal funds. The current economic crisis has caused Puerto Rico to become one of the countries with the highest migration rates and the lowest fertility rates in the world.

• The privatization of government services, particularly the electricity network, has led to constant power outages, blackouts, and voltage fluctuations, causing severe economic damages to small businesses and making it difficult to attract foreign manufacturing investments.

• The "Merchant Marine Act of 1920" grants a monopoly to American container ship companies, dramatically increasing the costs of bringing goods to Puerto Rico. Due to this law, Puerto Rico loses approximately $1.5 billion dollars a year and it has lost approximately $73 billion since its enactment in 1920.

• The pattern of economic extraction favoring foreign capital continues to this day, with many Puerto Ricans being forced to sell their properties to foreign speculators who take advantage of a tax shelter known as Act 22, which allows mega-millionaires to move to Puerto Rico, and pay less than 4% in local taxes and zero percent in federal taxes.

Neither Commonwealth nor Statehood are Viable Options for Puerto Rico

• Puerto Rico’s relation to the U.S., as a Commonwealth, squarely fits the legal definition of a colony. Under Commonwealth, Puerto Ricans have not yet attained a full measure of self-government and, live under laws and regulations enacted unilaterally by the U.S.

• Since the current Commonwealth status is colonial in nature, the first step to towards resolving Puerto Rico's status question should be to exclude the existing Commonwealth formula from consideration in any future decolonization processes.

• The option of Puerto Rico becoming a State of the U.S. faces strong opposition in Puerto Rico and the United States because Puerto Rico is culturally a distinct nation, with a different language (Spanish), as well as an immense sense of pride in its distinct traditions, history, idiosyncrasy, and its long-standing struggle for independence.

• Historically, those advocating for statehood present their alternative as an economic bonanza, claiming that Puerto Rico would receive an exorbitant amount of additional federal funds under their formula. However, any benefits obtained from any increase in funding would be offset by the cost of having to pay federal taxes. The new funds potentially received by Puerto Rico under statehood would come primarily from two welfare programs: SSI and Medicaid, which do not promote the economic development that Puerto Rico desperately needs.

Colonialism is the Main Cause of Puerto Rico's Economic Crisis

• As a colony, Puerto Rico’s government does not have the necessary powers to develop long-term plans that promote a self-reliant economy. Although government corruption and mismanagement are to blame for many aspects of the current fiscal crisis, the principal cause of Puerto Rico's economic debacle lies in its colonial status, which has allowed large amounts of capital to flee without sufficient reinvestments in the local economy.

Independence is the Rightful, and Most Pragmatic, Alternative for Puerto Rico

• Independence provides Puerto Rico with the power to control its own commerce and promote the creation of local capital.

• The government of an independent Puerto Rico would be able to control a wide range of areas that affect commerce that it cannot currently control.

• Under independence, Puerto Rico would have the power to create its own monetary policy, set interest rates, control territorial waters and airspace, and enter into international trade agreements, all of which are a key component to economic development.

• Puerto Rico can move away from its dependence on U.S. welfare programs and establish its own sources of revenue. For example, every year U.S. companies repatriate back home more than $36 billion dollars earned in Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico taxes a very small portion of these earnings. A fair tax of 10 to 15 percent on these companies could go a long way in helping to create a self-reliant economy.

• Puerto Rico's entry into the chorus of sovereign nation will result in a much-needed paradigm shift, bolstering its people's self-esteem and encouraging habits of self-reliance and economic responsibility.