r/InternationalNews Nov 04 '24

Opinion/Analysis Americans excluded from the ballot: Puerto Ricans

276 Upvotes

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24

u/MrCalPoly Nov 04 '24

Make Puerto Rico the 51st state or give them independence. E d taxation without representation, end 2nd class citizenship.

6

u/upsidedownbackwards Nov 05 '24

I'm not sure which would be better. If they became part of the US they would still be looked at as second class citizens, but with the right to vote. I see a lot of the natives being pushed to the worst areas as the rich take over the island state. Or worse, it could become another Florida.

But being their own country probably wouldnt go well either. The corruption there runs so strong, and so deep. They'd probably end up being slave wage labor for companies that deal in/with america.

I'm not saying that staying a weird possession-colony of the US is a good thing. I think the terms are pretty scummy. But I think they're also set up to fail as soon as they try to change things.

-4

u/ClockwiseServant Nov 05 '24

Puerto Ricans are not required to pay federal tax unlike the citizens in either of the 50 states

5

u/notarackbehind Nov 05 '24

Consequently, while all Puerto Rico residents pay federal taxes, many residents are not required to pay federal income taxes. Aside from income tax, U.S. federal taxes include customs taxes,[1] federal commodity taxes, and federal payroll taxes (Social Security, Medicare, and Unemployment taxes).

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taxation_in_Puerto_Rico

2

u/goonsquad4357 Nov 05 '24

What are you talking about? Puerto Ricans do not pay federal income tax buddy.

1

u/notarackbehind Nov 05 '24

Consequently, while all Puerto Rico residents pay federal taxes, many residents are not required to pay federal income taxes. Aside from income tax, U.S. federal taxes include customs taxes,[1] federal commodity taxes, and federal payroll taxes (Social Security, Medicare, and Unemployment taxes).

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taxation_in_Puerto_Rico

-1

u/goonsquad4357 Nov 06 '24

Yes, as I said, they do not pay federal income tax.

1

u/notarackbehind Nov 06 '24

And the guy you replied to never mentioned an income tax, he said taxation without representation.

It was actually a frequent argument of Tories that the American colonists had little to complain about, as they were taxed far less than domestic subjects.

-2

u/YeOleDirty Nov 04 '24

That’s not up to the US it’s up to Puerto Rico. They have to vote themselves in

18

u/Trick-Teach6867 Nov 05 '24

Again, no, they voted for statehood in 2020. That power absolutely is up to the federal government of the US. It is a colony. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/2020_Puerto_Rican_status_referendum

Are you often wrong and confident or only in public?

4

u/Gildardo1583 Nov 05 '24

The is a episode of lady week tonight showing that the reason that the current US terrorist are not states is just pure racism. "Cant have brown people contaminate white America"..