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Show What Should Be Done with Puerto Rico Joshua R. Fotheringham Poverty is very common among Puerto Ricans, especially after the major hurricane damage that occurred in the summer of 1998. The island's 1995 per capita income of $7,296 was less than a third of that in the United States (Jenkins 1998, 46). Not only do the citizens of Puerto Rico suffer from low income, but also many outer areas do not even have sewage systems, let alone running water! Asphalt roads are needed throughout the entire island. In fact, environmental pollution is soaring partly because of a lack of information. The costs of bringing the island up to par with the rest of the United States must be considered. While on the island, we were entertained by many of the dance clubs that are available. Much as in Mexico, we found that it is very common for the youth of Puerto Rico to drink and smoke much before the age of 21. Although prostitution is not legal, many streetwalkers can be found within the major city limits. Gambling is one of San Juan's biggest attractions. By accepting Puerto Rico's statehood proposal, are we acquiring another Las Vegas? The issues of social structure as well as moral dilemmas should be addressed before statehood is established. Finally, will the citizens of the United States accept Latinos as mainstream Americans? Many Americans look down upon the Hispanic people because they are simply different. After spending a summer working in Southern California, I have realized that not all Americans are accepting of an alternate culture and people. In fact, many Americans have no idea that Puerto Rico even belongs to the United States. When all is said and done, will we have another racial hatred outbreak, or could there even be the kinds of problems as devastating as those that might have led to a civil war? These questions should be addressed before a final decision is made. I personally believe that Puerto Rico should not become a state, at least for the time being. The commonwealth status is the best option for all. As an economist, it is easy to see the financial benefits that both the United States and Puerto Rico would receive from statehood. But, by simply evaluating the numerical data, we are completely eliminating the most important aspect of life: people. Annabelle Rodriguez-Rodriguez mentioned two specific reasons why the commonwealth status is the best option for the people of Puerto Rico: It preserves the language and the culture of the island while granting a much-earned American citizenship (U.S. CBO 1990, 26). Once the roots of a specific culture are eliminated, the people become culturally extinct. By "shoving statehood down their throats [as the Deseret News so eloquently put it], we are robbing their heritage in exchange for political power and money" (U.S. CBO, 28). In addition, although Puerto Rico's admission as a state is compatible with America's "melting pot" tradition, I do not believe that mainland Americans are ready to accept the Hispanic culture as their own. In South America, there is a widely known joke: Q: What do you call someone that speaks three languages? A: Trilingual Q: What do you call someone that speaks two languages? A: Bilingual Q: What do you call someone that only speaks one language? A: AMERICAN I believe that one of the major reasons that mainland Americans are not accepting of the Hispanic culture is the language barrier. A common misconception seems to be that, if someone does not speak our language, then he or she is not one of us. Until we can change this provincial mentality, the benefits of Puerto Rican statehood cannot be realized. Finally, Senator Orrin G. Hatch and the rest of Congress have resolved to allow the "residents of Puerto Rico [to] express democratically their preferences regarding the political status of the territory" (U.S. Congress 1997, 1). The people of Puerto Rico now have the chance to decide for themselves if statehood should be granted. Upon one's evaluation of the last five plebiscite votes, it is clear that statehood is not what the majority of Puerto Ricans desire. Should we fully incorporate a territory so ambivalent about statehood that getting half the people to support the idea is a mammoth undertaking? I think not. References Deseret News. 1998. "Leave Puerto Rico As It Is." 19 December. Gallup Organization. Americans Divided over the Status of Puerto Rico, n.d., <http://198.175.140.8POLL_ARCHIVES/latest.htm:> (13 March 1998). Garcia, Fernando. 1998. Interview conducted by author, 22 June. Hawley, Chris. 1998. "Puerto Rico Goes to Polls on Statehood." Salt Lake Tribune, 13 December. Jenkins, Glenn. 1998. Puerto Rico: the Economic and Fiscal Dimensions, Boston: Harvard Institute for International Development Laney, Garrine P. 1998a. Puerto Rico: Political Status Options, Constitutional Research Service Issue Brief. 19 May. Laney, Garrine P. 1998b. Puerto Rico: A Chronology of Political Status History, Constitutional Research Service Report for Congress. 20 May. Matos, Hilia. 1998. Interview conducted by author, 22 June. Puerto Rican Travel Council. 1996. Puerto Rico: Discover What a Vacation Was Always Meant To Be, Puerto Rico. Roberts, James. 1996. Economic History of the United States, New York. 57-70. Rodriguez-Rodriguez, Annabelle. United States District Court Judge. Interview conducted by author, 20 June. U.S. Congress. 1997. Senate MS. 472. Washington, DC. 19 March. U.S. Congress. 1998. House of Representatives BiR H.R. 856. Washington, DC. 5 March. U.S. Congressional Budget Office (CBO). 1990. Potential Economic Impacts of Changes in Puerto Rico's Status under S, 712, Prepared for Senate Finance Committee. April. 32 |
