Careful what you ask for
-
Posted by D. Moroco
09/01/2004 at 09:40 AM
I am a firm advocate for Puerto Rican independence, even to the extent of giving them Gitmo as a going away present. Getting rid of Clark and Subic Bay has been an unmixed blessing. With the Navy going nuclear, we no longer need coaling stations around the world, and with co-ed ships sailors no longer need to go ashore to get - satisfaction? Now is the time to get out of Okie, too.
Posted by Walter E. Wallis
09/01/2004 at 10:30 AM
Great post. If these countries and backwater entities want to continue allowing malcontents and misfits dictate their internal and foreign policies they should reap the benefits of those efforts. After all if they are strong enought to demand that the U.S. presence leave then they’re strong enough to make it on they’re own. Pull out all U.S. support and aid for those ungrateful parasites.
Posted by Jack
09/01/2004 at 10:45 AM
Fuggemall. There. I feel better.
Posted by dick
09/01/2004 at 12:03 PM
Dammit, I can’t properly type “Tschues” without an umlaut!
Posted by Heartless Libertarian
09/01/2004 at 01:35 PM
Puerto Rico has repeatedly been offered self determination. I don’t know how many plebiscites have been held. In the last plebiscite (1998) offering the choice of statehood, independence, commonwealth or none of the above, the winner was none of the above. Go figure.
“On December 13, In a non-binding referendum, which offered Puerto Rican voters [had] five choices, which included: (1) remaining a U.S. commonwealth, (2) entering into a “free association” with the United States that would be somewhere between commonwealth and independence, (3) becoming a state, (4) declaring independence, and (5) or none of the above. The option 5 “none of the above” obtained the majority of votes.
Option Votes Percent
1 993 0.06%
2 4536 0.29%
3 728157 46.49%
4 39838 2.54%
5 787900 50.30%
Others 4846 0.31%”You just have to admire people who know whar they want. Unfortunately the majority of Puerto Ricans don’t seem to know what the hell they want.
Posted by StinKerr
09/02/2004 at 02:38 AM
Hey, come on! They’ve been sucking on government tit for so long they know that if they declare statehood, the money stops and they’d actually have to pay for most of their benefits!
It’s like that saying: (paraphrased here) A democracy will fail when people begin to realize they can vote themselves largesse from the trea.
Same thing is happening with our tax laws and the fact that almost 50 million people pay NO TAXES in the US. The only thing saving our bacon is that they are too stupid or lazy to vote. Once they do and their numbers become a majority, how long before they all vote for the candidate that promises them “MORE” from the government knowing they do not have to pay for it?
The situation might have changed since I was in the army from ‘89-’92, but back then the PRs serving didn’t pay any US Federal income taxes. That’s rich. Even illegal immigrants pay those taxes.
Posted by skh
09/02/2004 at 01:47 PM