Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
of course, there are people with money in P.R., somebody has to manage and run the colony, they are the elite class, the rich, corporations and the political class.....you know there is always a class or groups in society that benefits in the Colonies. It was the same thing when Puerto Rico was a colony of Spain.
George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams and the rest of the "traitors" (lol) were rich slave owners in the 13 colonies. The reason they rebelled was that they didn't want to pay a new tax to the King for protection and realized they can make much more money by stealing lands and resources from the Natives out West and cutting out the Brits.
I don't want to get into a boring discussion about the American Revolution, my point is after 50 years of a tax haven for corporations and the rich in Puerto Rico and low wages for the working class who do you think that benefits in the island? the rich, elite class and corporations, the same groups that rule the political class in P.R......the same groups that want to keep the status quo and most of them are Puerto Ricans just in case some get confused here and blame it on the gringos.
in their view, they get to keep more of their wealth and not pay federal taxes like the states and they get to manage the billions of dollars in federal aid and welfare the feds send a year to control the masses which they exploit.
If I was one of them, I probably think the same, keep the status quo, keep more of my wealth and control in P.R. and just let Washington keep throwing money at the social problems in P.R. for the masses, why not? it has worked for over 50 years for them, why stop now?.......they keep the population divided over the status because they know that's the only way to keep the status quo. They are the same class that donates to politicians in the U.S. and controls the political class in P.R. and the media and newspapers in the island.
That's why a sitting President in 2011 flew to Puerto Rico for 4 hours ate a sandwich and left. He got political contributions from the elite class and corporate class in Puerto Rico. That same President then later was so PRO status quo as an option for P.R. in his task force report to Congress and tilted the scales. Many politicians in Washington have done the same thing.
of course, there are people with money in P.R., somebody has to manage and run the colony, they are the elite class, the rich, corporations and the political class.....you know there is always a class or groups in society that benefits in the Colonies. It was the same thing when Puerto Rico was a colony of Spain.
George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams and the rest of the "traitors" (lol) were rich slave owners in the 13 colonies. The reason they rebelled was that they didn't want to pay a new tax to the King for protection and realized they can make much more money by stealing lands and resources from the Natives out West and cutting out the Brits.
I don't want to get into a boring discussion about the American Revolution, my point is after 50 years of a tax haven for corporations and the rich in Puerto Rico and low wages for the working class who do you think that benefits in the island? the rich, elite class and corporations, the same groups that rule the political class in P.R......the same groups that want to keep the status quo and most of them are Puerto Ricans just in case some get confused here and blame it on the gringos.
in their view, they get to keep more of their wealth and not pay federal taxes like the states and they get to manage the billions of dollars in federal aid and welfare the feds send a year to control the masses which they exploit.
If I was one of them, I probably think the same, keep the status quo, keep more of my wealth and control in P.R. and just let Washington keep throwing money at the social problems in P.R. for the masses, why not? it has worked for over 50 years for them, why stop now?.......they keep the population divided over the status because they know that's the only way to keep the status quo. They are the same class that donates to politicians in the U.S. and controls the political class in P.R. and the media and newspapers in the island.
That's why a sitting President in 2011 flew to Puerto Rico for 4 hours ate a sandwich and left. He got political contributions from the elite class and corporate class in Puerto Rico. That same President then later was so PRO status quo as an option for P.R. in his task force report to Congress and tilted the scales. Many politicians in Washington have done the same thing.
All true, so I guess someone better tell that federal bankruptcy judge handling the title III case to take it easy on the austerity bit, because handing PR the Greece treatment isn't gonna be particularly beneficial to the sustainment of said status quo you purport the elite is desperate to keep come hell or high water. 2018 is gonna be a year of reckoning for PR across all classes. If the elite doesn't think the divesture of the AAA and PREPA and the sheer paycut most of these public workers will recieve will not yield domestic terrorism by these workers on the infrastructure of the island, people have their heads so deep up their rear it's not even funny. No amount of poor diaspora depopulation to Florida is gonna fix that for the elite.
OK. Here's part of WTF is "happening in Puerto Rico" and frankly, it disgusts me!
So, I've been communicating with folks currently living in Urbanización Santa Rita in Vega Alta. According to my contacts, this is the 3rd consecutive day in which brigades of AEE Electrical Workers (AEW) arrive at Vega Alta's Kmart by 0900 (0900? Really??? - For you people from Vega Baja, 0900 means 9am). For starters, barring visibility or inclement weather, 0900 seems awfully late to begin this type of work.
From what my contacts tell, after AEW's 1-hour breakfast, they spend the morning roaming around Kmart and/or the Vega Alta Mall, "supposedly" waiting for orders specifying where they are to report to in order to commence repair work. Apparently, this "waiting" period tends to spill over into their 1-hour lunch.
OK. I will stop right there! If this is accurate, this is one of the most disgusting things I have ever read. Why? For 32 consecutive years, I have worked in the Generation phase of power generation. (FYI, the three phases are: Generation, Transmission, Distribution). Regardless of what phase an Electrical worker is devoted to, we all understand and accept the criticality of our work - well, at least that is how I was trained to perceive my job, regardless of whether we were unionized or non-unionized.
Those of us who labor in the Electric Power Generation phase DO NOT HAVE MEAL BREAKS. We work either a straight 8, 10, or 12 hour shift with no breaks. My shifts start at 0600, 1400, or 2200. I eat my meal as circumstances allow within my shift. If I am in the middle of eating lunch at 0300, and if there's a plant evolution or upset requiring my attention or assistance, I stop eating and get to work! This is what I agreed to and signed up for 32 years ago. In addition, I cannot number the amount of times I have been called to work due to an emergency during days off or holidays. This is the nature of our vocation, and the great majority of us respond when called out of a sense of duty for the greater good of society.
Right now, given the criticality of Puerto Rico's power supply/shortage, a few variations from the norm must be implemented.
All of a sudden, I’ve noticed that in many political forums, some in which rabid state holders participate , it seems all are speaking about, of all things, INDEPENDENCE.
What happened to statehood?
Was it Trumps tax reform which excluded Puerto Rico and left it as FOREIGN ENTITY, ignoring that Puerto Ricans were american citizens?
Was it Congress ignoring the PNPs suggestions to exclude the island from the destructive aspects of Trumps tax reform?
Was it the thousands upon thousands of Puerto Rican flags seen floating all over the island and only one or two old Glory seen in Housing Projects ( for obvious reasons ) and in Guaynabo and the Condado.
Why this fall of expectations for Statehood or is it my imagination?
All of a sudden, I’ve noticed that in many political forums, some in which rabid state holders participate , it seems all are speaking about, of all things, INDEPENDENCE.
What happened to statehood?
Was it Trumps tax reform which excluded Puerto Rico and left it as FOREIGN ENTITY, ignoring that Puerto Ricans were american citizens?
Was it Congress ignoring the PNPs suggestions to exclude the island from the destructive aspects of Trumps tax reform?
Was it the thousands upon thousands of Puerto Rican flags seen floating all over the island and only one or two old Glory seen in Housing Projects ( for obvious reasons ) and in Guaynabo and the Condado.
Why this fall of expectations for Statehood or is it my imagination?
Ah yes, the independenistas with their mythical independence around every corner ... and then we turn the corner and there's no independence in sight.
First they claimed Congress would declare Puerto Rico independent after the 2012 status referendum ... they didn't
Then they claimed Congress would declare Puerto Rico independent as a result of the debt crisis ... and they didn't
Finally they claimed Donald Trump would declare Puerto Rico independent ... and it turns out that Trump is actually pro-statehood and was the first president in history to hold a press conference with a Puerto Rican in the Oval Office.
BTW: All territories have always been foreign for tax purposes. Congress applied Federal income taxes to Hawaii in 1927 but kept the island chain foreign for corporate tax purposes. Nothing new there.
All of a sudden, I’ve noticed that in many political forums, some in which rabid state holders participate , it seems all are speaking about, of all things, INDEPENDENCE.
What happened to statehood?
Was it Trumps tax reform which excluded Puerto Rico and left it as FOREIGN ENTITY, ignoring that Puerto Ricans were american citizens?
Was it Congress ignoring the PNPs suggestions to exclude the island from the destructive aspects of Trumps tax reform?
Was it the thousands upon thousands of Puerto Rican flags seen floating all over the island and only one or two old Glory seen in Housing Projects ( for obvious reasons ) and in Guaynabo and the Condado.
Why this fall of expectations for Statehood or is it my imagination?
Puerto Rico has always been treated as a FOREIGN ENTITY when it comes to corporate taxes, where have you been for the last 65 years? it has been a tax haven for corporations, elites, rich and the political class in the island while exploiting the working class....you know the ones that can buy $$$$$ politicians and Presidents to keep the status quo or push for statehood.
Don't get fooled by forums. No way in hell that the political class, corporations, elites and the rich class in P.R., you know the groups that make up the economy and runs everything in the island will ever allow independence. For the past 65 years they have it good in their tax haven paradise under the U.S. protection and get to manage billions of dollars a year in federal aid......why would they give all that to be a banana republic that probably socialists will run the island?
You know who was the force in the Territory of Hawaii pushing for statehood? the Big Five Corporations in the islands, the elites and rich............they were the force pushing for statehood in Hawaii and like they say, corporations run Washington.
There is a price for admission in the Union, too bad the only class in P.R. that can push for that would rather keep the status quo.
Where are :
Banco Popular
Pueblo Supermarket
Cervecera of Puerto Rico
Destileria Serralles
Ponce Cement
First BanCorp
Topeka
Where are the 100 richest families in P.R.?.......all of them should be pushing for statehood and pretty much dictating Washington with their donations.
Checking Zillow there seem to be many properties for sale in millions of dollars range. Who can afford them? On the other hand there is very little acreage for sale - tracts of over 20 acres-farms etc. How come they aren't selling?
The market is confusing - to say the least.
Will prices continue to slide?
There aren't more 20 acre farms because of Puerto Rico's topography. It is an island that measures 100 X 35, with most of its acreage in the central mountain range that covers it from East to West (Cordillera Central). There isn't much flat land in the entire perimeter of the island, only beaches or rugged rocky cliffs. If you look at a map of PR you will be surprised how little land is between the shores and the foot of each of the mountain ranges. There is a valley between the Northern part of the range and the Southern part, and that's where most of the larger farms are. It's called the Valle de Turabo, and its major city is Caguas, where I hope the main bakery survived the hurricane, because it makes the best pan de agua on the island. Pan de agua = a long loaf of crusty bread with a dense interior... like a fat baguette!!!
The beaches are public property, too, so you can't buy property on it, only near it... and you must allow anyone access to the beach. I believe that the only beach property that is private is still the Caribe Hilton Hotel, and that's only because they created it by clearing tons of rocks along the edge of their buildings, and brought in truckloads of sand to shape it into a beach.
PR has so much to talk about... sigh...
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
