Independence Is the Progressive Solution to US Colonialism in Puerto Rico

[TexasTowelie]

1. While there are issues of civil rights for citizens of Puerto Rico,

I doubt that independence issue would be successful for Puerto Rico. The territory carried $74 billion in bonded debt and $49 billion in pension liability debt as of 2018. The sales tax rate is at 11%. All payments for Social Security and food stamps would end. The economy of Puerto Rico would resemble that of Haiti without the flow of U.S. dollars into the island.

If another binding referendum was held, I believe that the people of Puerto Rico would give priority to the economic issues over the civil rights issues since the civil rights issues would be addressed with statehood. It should be noted that the article from Truthout barely addressed the economic issues other than José López expects reparations from the United States for their time under colonialism. That idea has no traction among most Americans.