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Show Hinckley Journal of Politics Spring 2000 What Should Be Done with Puerto Rico? By: Joshua R. Fotheringham Puerto Rico has been classified as one of the world's most beautiful islands. Its sandy, white beaches entertain thousands of tourists each year. It is commonly known as the "Hawaii of the East Coast." Statehood arguably should be a simple issue, but it is not. Because the political future of millions of Puerto Ricans is at stake, this decision cannot be taken lightly. This essay attempts to answer some of the political and economic questions that surround the future status of the island. Is there a way that the island can preserve its Latin-American culture and still be part of the United States! Could Puerto Rico survive as an independent country! Are the islanders content as a stagnant commonwealth! The answers to these difficult questions reveal possible solutions to the century-old question of "what should be done with Puerto Rico!" Introduction Take Spain and move it to a tropical island. Hire a cast of thousands to play friendly, welcoming people (most of whom speak English in addition to their native Spanish). Set design in strictly Cecil B. DeMille: graceful Old World buildings, Gothic cathedrals, and flower-filled plazas. When you're looking for exotic locations, miles upon miles of white sand beaches, plus an unbelievable rain forest and mountains, you come to Puerto Rico (Puerto Rican Travel Council 1996, 2-3). Puerto Rico, what a beautiful island! Many tourists have directed their sails 1,000 miles off the cost of Florida towards this enchanted land. It is approximately 3,500 square miles (VA times the size of Delaware) with nearly 3.8 million citizens. Known for its extraordinary beaches, the majority of the island is covered with mountainous terrain (60%) (Hawley 1998, 1). In addition to these beautiful mountains, it is the home of the only rain forest found within the United States (El Yunque). Upon landing on the island in 1493, Christopher Columbus was greeted by the Taino Indians. A big mistake was made when they showed him gold nuggets in the river and told him to take all he wanted. This to a man who once wrote: '"Gold constitutes treasure and he who possesses it has all he needs in this world. He has the means of restoring souls to the enjoyment of paradise"1 (Puerto Rican Travel Council 1996, 6). The newcomers originally called the island "San Juan," and the town Puerto Rico (the English equivalent being "rich port"). It was not until later that the two names were switched. Joshua R. Yotheringham graduated from the University of Utah with bachelor's degrees in Spanish and Economics. He served a Hinckley Internship in the Spring of 1998 on the Senate Judiciary Committee in Washington, DC. As the gold supply began to decline, the Spaniards struggled to gain a yield of any profits from their territory. In the late 1890's, the Spanish granted Puerto Rico semi-autonomy. Islanders celebrated when they elected their first free government, but a few months later the American Army invaded. In the treaty ending the Spanish-American War of 1898, Puerto Rico was ceded to the United States. Congress in 1900 passed the Foraker Act, to replace military rule with a civil government for the territory. Puerto Rico's residents became U.S. citizens in 1917, and in 1952 the island was assigned the status of a semi-autonomous "commonwealth voluntarily" associated with the U.S. On the island, the debate continues whether Puerto Rico should seek independence, become the 51st state, or continue with the commonwealth status. For many years, the political status of Puerto Rico has been disputed and debated. On March 19, 1997, Senator Larry Craig (R) of Idaho presented bill S. 472 to the U.S. Senate. This bill was proposed "to provide for referenda in which the residents of Puerto Rico may express democratically their preferences regarding the political status of the territory" (U.S. Congress 1997). Although the bill was read twice on the floor and died, its purpose is still an important part of legislation. As an intern for U.S. Senator Orrin G. Hatch (R-UT), the author was excited to research such a bill due to his course of study at the University of Utah: Economics and Spanish. Many controversial studies have been conducted in an attempt to answer the century-old question: What should be done with Puerto Rico? This essay presents evidence supporting and evidence combating the proposal that Puerto Rico become the 51st state of our union. Analysis of this question here begins with an examination of the economic history of the island including its industrial benefits to the United States. Next, the political party affiliations within 25 |