Valgorie 44 Posted March 31, 2017 Share Posted March 31, 2017 Guys, I'm from Puerto Rico and I need for people to read about our current situation. Right now, Puerto Rico is going through what is arguably our worst social and political situation in our modern history. Our current governing party, the New Progressive Party, is our equivalent of the Republican Party and it is one that throughout their governments has proven to be filled with corruption. The situation is broad, so I'm going to have to summarize it with bullet points. I'm going to try to note the most recent/important details. It's a lot to take in so I hope there's no limit to how long this topic can be. - Puerto Rico currently has a debt of $72 billion. In response to this, former President Obama assigned a financial management board with the purpose of structuring and "helping' Puerto Rico pay its debt. The problem with this is that this board was not elected by the people and has complete financial control over Puerto Rico. It decides how our government spends its money. Basically, it has power over the Puerto Rican government. Controversy has also risen due to Puerto Rico's government having to pay for all the expenses of the members of this board, currently amounting to $3 million. - The board has issued some "suggestions" to our government on where it should cut funding in order to alleviate the debt. One of these suggestions is to cut $450 million of the funding of the University of Puerto Rico system, of which I am a student, our only public university system. This is about 45% of its funding. A cut like this puts in jeopardy the university's accreditation and could lead to the system collapsing and not being able to continue operations. - This suggestion has caused an uproar in the university's student body. In February, the student body from all 11 campuses held a manifestation in front of the nation's capitol building. Among the claims were the audit of the debt, which our government continues to refuse to do. People theorize that it is because the audit would lead to politicians being exposed for selfish financial management. - After the manifestation, the largest of the UPR campuses started a stoppage at their university and proposed a strike that would last an indefinite amount of time. Next week, all 11 campuses will hold an assembly where it will be decided if the strike will go or not. This would not be the first time the university system goes on strike, it did back in 2010 due to then-budget cuts and the introduction of a proposed $800 quota for students. Other situations include: - The Financial Management Board has also proposed cuts to the our healthcare and Social Security, both of which are expected to collapse in the upcoming years. - Our governor, Ricardo Rosselló, is a staunch supporter of Puerto Rico joining the United States as a state (it is currently a commonwealth). If this were to happen, Puerto Rico would be the poorest state in the union. - Rosselló has also repealed a motion for public schools to promote gender equality in their courses and also repealed a motion that allowed for public school students to wear the uniform that aligned with their gender identity. He also presented a labor law that lowers the minimum wage to $4.25; the order was approved. - The Puerto Rican government now includes a "Base of Faith", composed of religious leaders, that grants them influence in state decisions. Religion has always been greatly involved in the government, but this takes it to another level. - The mayor of one of the nation's biggest cities, Guaynabo, has been accused of sexual harassment. In the lawsuit, it is stated that he allegedly masturbated in front of one of his workers and also threw his semen on a woman while on government property. He is a member of the New Progressive Party, whose members have evaded directly addressing the subject. The governor asked for his resignation, but the mayor refused and still currently holds the title of city mayor. There is so much going on right now, I'll try to keep the thread updated as stories develop. I don't have time right now, but I will later edit this post to include sources for the points. We're in dire need for our situation to be known internationally, so please send us positive energies. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evan Peters 10,776 Posted March 31, 2017 Share Posted March 31, 2017 so this is what my parents were talking about when they said they might be coming home late from puerto rico emma roberts is an abuser Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valgorie 44 Posted March 31, 2017 Author Share Posted March 31, 2017 3 minutes ago, Evan Peters said: so this is what my parents were talking about when they said they might be coming home late from puerto rico It's a certified mess, so probably. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SychosSoChic 9,995 Posted March 31, 2017 Share Posted March 31, 2017 How does one even start sorting this out omg mess Let's start with throwing out religion and state getting mixed together That noise belongs in the 1800s. Life ain't Hollywood for any one of us. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evan Peters 10,776 Posted March 31, 2017 Share Posted March 31, 2017 7 minutes ago, Valgorie said: It's a certified mess, so probably. my step-dad sent me pictures from their hotel of what looks like riots and cop cars so ... mess. I hope ya'll find some solutions. I didn't know PR was this bad emma roberts is an abuser Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Fame Joanne 5,985 Posted March 31, 2017 Share Posted March 31, 2017 The situation with the high debt and the Financial Management Board reminds me a lot of Greece, which also is kind of ruled by a group installed by EU, EZB and IMF Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sneaky Oliver 22,985 Posted March 31, 2017 Share Posted March 31, 2017 I think you just summarized whats happening in latin america in general Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ricardo 8,133 Posted March 31, 2017 Share Posted March 31, 2017 13 minutes ago, Sneaky Oliver said: I think you just summarized whats happening in latin america in general mte, hardly any real democracy and honesty in the government Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Economy 52,861 Posted March 31, 2017 Share Posted March 31, 2017 46 minutes ago, The Fame Joanne said: The situation with the high debt and the Financial Management Board reminds me a lot of Greece, which also is kind of ruled by a group installed by EU, EZB and IMF Portugal where I was formerly from is also in this situation tho it has been stabalizing last few years Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Fame Joanne 5,985 Posted March 31, 2017 Share Posted March 31, 2017 6 minutes ago, Economy said: Portugal where I was formerly from is also in this situation tho it has been stabalizing last few years Yes you're right. And Ireland too I think. Those two got better relatively quickly, but the situation in Greece was probably a lot worse to begin with, since they even tricked the other states to get into the Eurogroup Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOTNebraskaGuy 19,547 Posted March 31, 2017 Share Posted March 31, 2017 Because it's been a past debate, how would you feel if PR became the 51st state of America? Do you think it would improve your teritory? One, five, ten lay a million on me Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Economy 52,861 Posted April 1, 2017 Share Posted April 1, 2017 1 hour ago, The Fame Joanne said: Yes you're right. And Ireland too I think. Those two got better relatively quickly, but the situation in Greece was probably a lot worse to begin with, since they even tricked the other states to get into the Eurogroup I think I read Greece was actually lying and manipulating their statistics to make their economy appear bigger than it was so that their Debt To GDP Ratio didnt appear as high as it was Mess Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lavieenrose 410 Posted April 1, 2017 Share Posted April 1, 2017 2 hours ago, HOTNGaga said: Because it's been a past debate, how would you feel if PR became the 51st state of America? Do you think it would improve your teritory? it's more complicated than that, you see it can benefit the island's economic state in many ways but cultural and touristic matters are in stake. It will also preclude any chances or possibilities on PR being able to persevere on its own by doing exchanges (other than/by US ships) with other countries which can empower local businesses (something PR isn't able to do because of the Jones Act) which can be risky as well. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valgorie 44 Posted April 2, 2017 Author Share Posted April 2, 2017 On March 31, 2017 at 7:35 PM, HOTNGaga said: Because it's been a past debate, how would you feel if PR became the 51st state of America? Do you think it would improve your teritory? The country is pretty much 50/50 on the statehood vs. independence debate. The most beneficial part with statehood would be that Puerto Rico would start receiving more financial support from the United States, also including healthcare and first-class citizenship. But becoming a state would mean sort-of renouncing our image and losing international representation. I lean towards independence. Personally, I don't see statehood happening anytime soon since the current US government doesn't seem interested in adding a $72 billion debt to their already growing debt. Although, I read that Donald Trump said that he would let Puerto Rico decide on the topic and would work with our decision. But, he's Trump so... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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