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Show Hinckley Journal of Politics Spring 2000 You must also consider the underlying efforts the approval of S. 472 or H.R. 856 will create. Some are under the mistaken assumption that this will atract the Hispanic voters. I can assure you that the opposite will eventually occur. You cannot eliminate the Hispanic vote by disconnecting half of the population of Puerto Rico from the ballot. In addition, the bill now pending in the Senate denies the vote of those Puertoricans that live in the United States. If an example of justice and responsibility is to be given, then this bill cannot have your support (Vila 1998). Many of Puerto Rico's citizens agree with PDP president Acevedo Vila. During a weeklong stay on the island, I had the opportunity and privilege of interviewing a small sample of Puerto Ricans. Annabelle Rodriguez-Rodriguez is one such citizen who sides with President Vila. She is a senior partner with the law firm Martinez, Odell & Calabria (located in San Juan), and has recently been nominated to be a District Court Judge for the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Even though the interview was quite short, it was interesting to learn the view of a prominent local Puerto Rican. The following is a complete recap of our interview: 1. To what political party do you belong? •Answer: the Popular Democratic Party (Estado Libre Asociado or Commonwealth party). 2. Why do you support the Commonwealth status? •Answer: I believe that it represents the best option for the people of Puerto Rico. 3. Comparatively speaking, why wouldn't statehood or independence be a better option for the people of Puerto Rico? •Answer: Basically, for two reasons (well, actually one reason for each option): Someone asked the former Governor why he was neither pro-statehood nor pro-independence. He gave an answer that I find fascinating. He said that he was not pro-independent because he cherished his American citizenship-and that's not something that we are willing to give up. He was not pro-statehood because he cherished our Hispanic heritage. In many ways, I think that I like that answer because our American citizenship and our relations with the United States are something that is non-negotiable. By the same token, our Hispanic culture, our language, and our idiosyncrasies are something that we are not willing to give up. So, in many ways, by favoring commonwealth, we have the best of two worlds. 4. What do you think will be the final outcome of the political status of Puerto Rico? •Answer: Commonwealth. That is basically how it's going to be. I have no doubts about that 5. How would your life be different if the commonwealth option was instated? •Answer: My understanding of what "enhanced commonwealth" would offer is that we will have more say on matters related to economics. So, I don't think that it would change in any way. That's another reason why I support commonwealth-my life is just how I want it and I'm not looking for a change (Rodriguez-Rodriguez Annabelle represents the most educated citizens of the island. But not all of the high-class, well-educated citizens support commonwealth. The most recent Gallup Poll has this to say: Education a Factor in Opinion: Support for admitting Puerto Rico as a state is related to respondents' level of education. Those with higher levels of education are most likely to favor making it the 51st state, although even among the most highly educated group, opinion is basically mixed (Gallup Organization Although the results are often mixed, commonwealth seems to always be the leading choice. H.R. 856 called for a national plebiscite in Puerto Rico by the end of 1998. The Deseret News Editorial section described this vote (and expressed its own preference) as follows: Every time Puerto Ricans are asked to vote on whether to become the 51st state, fewer than 50 percent of the people say yes; a few more favor keeping things as they are, with the island remaining a U.S. commonwealth; and a tiny faction favors independence. Earlier this week [Dec. 1998], the folks down there held another vote, and the results were the same, only with a twist The pro-commonwealth people urged their followers to select "none of the above" to protest the wording of the ballot As a result, that category received 50 percent of the vote. Statehood received 47 percent. Many Puerto Ricans have fought and died for the American flag. The island deserves commonwealth status. But until the people overwhelmingly desire it, statehood should not be shoved down their throats (Deseret News The Independence View The Puerto Rican Independence Party's (PIP) views on independence are as follows: • "Independence is the right of our people to govern themselves on our own land, enjoying all the powers and attributes of sovereignty. • In exercising this inalienable right, which cannot be renounced, Puerto Rico will be governed by a constitution that establishes a democratic government, protects human rights, and affirms our nationality and language. • Puerto Rico will have the powers to achieve development and prosperity, including stimulating our industry, agriculture, and commerce, controlling immigration, and negotiating international agreements to expand markets and promote investments from other countries. • A treaty of friendship and cooperation with the U.S. and a process of transition to independence in agreement with legislation already approved by Congress will provide for continued Social Security, veterans' and other benefits; Puerto Rican and, for those who want to conserve it, U.S. citizenship; the right to use our own money or the dollar; free access to the U.S. market; tax incentives for North American investment; U.S. federal aid at current levels for a minimum of 10 years; and the eventual demilitarization of the country" (Laney 1998a, 3). 29 |