19 votes

Puerto Rican government acknowledges hurricane death toll of 1,427

5 comments

  1. [5]
    enso
    Link
    Up from the original estimate of 64, the death toll for Hurricane Maria is now estimates to be 1,427, just 400 short of Katrina. I know I'm probably preaching to the choir here but the response...

    Up from the original estimate of 64, the death toll for Hurricane Maria is now estimates to be 1,427, just 400 short of Katrina. I know I'm probably preaching to the choir here but the response from the US government to help their own citizens recover has been unacceptable.

    10 votes
    1. [4]
      pleure
      Link Parent
      Puerto Rico really either needs full statehood or independence, I’m opposed to colonialism in general but the federal government has now clearly demonstrated that they can’t be trusted to manage...

      Puerto Rico really either needs full statehood or independence, I’m opposed to colonialism in general but the federal government has now clearly demonstrated that they can’t be trusted to manage colonies in anything resembling an acceptable way. End colonialism, then while we’re at it end imperialism and neocolonialism too.

      5 votes
      1. [3]
        Comment deleted by author
        Link Parent
        1. [2]
          JayJay
          Link Parent
          What does the USA gain by allowing Puerto Rico statehood? Aside from a huge increase in debt, poverty, crime and unemployment rates?

          What does the USA gain by allowing Puerto Rico statehood? Aside from a huge increase in debt, poverty, crime and unemployment rates?

          1 vote
          1. [2]
            Comment deleted by author
            Link Parent
            1. JayJay
              Link Parent
              For what it's worth, I wasn't just making a statement, it's an honest question. Do we gain anything from making them a state? I do agree that the current situation is not ideal. But I don't know...

              For what it's worth, I wasn't just making a statement, it's an honest question. Do we gain anything from making them a state? I do agree that the current situation is not ideal. But I don't know if statehood is the answer. I imagine there must be other options we could take to make Puerto Rico more prosperous, which would in turn make them more appealing for statehood in the future. But then again, Hawaii is still the number one welfare recipient in the USA (afaik). I guess it can be argued, like Hawaii at the time we made them a state, that it's worth having Puerto Rico as a strategic position. But i'd really need to be convinced of that. Otherwise I see a lot of downsides and not much good for us.

              1 vote
      2. 39hp
        Link Parent
        I honestly don't know if that would help. I still remember the mainstream articles arguing we should let New Orleans drown.

        I honestly don't know if that would help. I still remember the mainstream articles arguing we should let New Orleans drown.