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Self-Determination: Origins and MeaningIn 1918 President Woodrow Wilson used the term [self-determination] in speeches to Congress. 'Self-determination' is not a mere phrase," Wilson told Congress; "it is an imperative principle of action which statesmen will henceforth ignore at their peril." American beliefs in this respect are defined by history. In 1776 the colonies asserted a right to independence from a government across the ocean in which they did not participate. In the Civil War the Union denied the right to secede to parts of the country that enjoyed the right of participation in the government. In our time, through the United Nations, the U.S. has taken part in the creation of a rule of public international law that gives colonies the legal right to independence from overseas empires but seemingly extends no such right in noncolonial situations. After both world wars in our century, the U.S. proposed creating a peacekeeping world organization on the basis that all existing states and boundaries be respected. In the American theory, peoples within a country must learn to live with one another, under a rule of law that protects them all. [A]s a general rule we believe in the integrity of countries, not in the independence of nations. David Fromkin, The Wall Street Journal
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Rossello Opposes Young Federal Tax Proposal Unless Accompanied By All Statehood BenefitsWashington D.C. -- House Resources Committee Chairman Don Young, Alaska Republican, is considering introducing a bill to force residents of Puerto Rico -- now a "commonwealth" rather than a state or territory -- to pay income taxes for the first time since the United States annexed the island in 1898. That might force islanders to choose between independence or statehood, a choice they have consistently refused to make. But even statehood advocates are not fond of Mr. Young's ideas. "We are more than willing to comply with responsibilities such as [paying income tax] as long as it comes hand in hand with all the benefits of statehood," said Alcides Ortiz, the Washington representative of Puerto Rico's pro-statehood governor, Pedro Rossello. Sean Scully, The Washington Times Rossello, Businesses To Seek Federal Tax BreakSAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP)-- [Gov. Pedro] Rossello and the Puerto Rico Manufacturers Association said they will lobby together to try to revive a measure known as Section 30a that provides a federal tax break to U.S. companies with operations in Puerto Rico , based on the amount of wages they pay to islanders. Congress voted in 1996 to phase out a larger package of tax breaks that includes 30a. Puerto Rico Changing Even As It Seeks To Stay The SameThe current governor of Puerto Rico had sought statehood as an important step in his economic-reform effort, turning the economy from an industrial base to a "knowledge" base. The voting population decided otherwise. However, his ambitious plan has already seen some success, since the privatization of many government companies has resulted in lower prices and improved service. The government sees ultimate success down the road, comparing the current reforms to "Operation Bootstrap," the policies under which the island moved from an agrarian-based to an industry-based economy. Those reforms, the government points out, took a decade or two to take effect. Financial Times Survey: Puerto Rico 
Nation's Governors Call on Congress to Pass Puerto Rico Self-Determination Legislation
White House: "None Of The Above" Win
Not A Clear Status Choice
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No One Has Established That There Is Any Limitation On The Power Of Congress To End Conferral Of U.S. Citizenship If It Determines That Puerto Rico's Ultimate Status Should Be Based On Separate Nationhood And Sovereignty[I]t is dangerously misleading to conclude that that so-called "collective naturalization" of Puerto Ricans in 1917 by federal statute, followed by a later federal statute that defined Puerto Rico as being part of the United States, gives Puerto Rico the same constitutional citizenship as those born in states of the Union. The fact that Puerto Rico… may be designated by Congress to be part of the United States for purposes of current or previous federal nationality and immigration laws, or any other federal statutes enacted under the Territorial Clause, does not create vested constitutional rights or give the U.S. Constitution application in Puerto Rico by its own force. That is why the Congressional Research Service's legal opinion of March 9, 1989 concluded "...the limitation of... the Fourteenth Amendment would not restrain Congress from legislating about the citizenship status of Puerto Rico." Certainly, if Congress could take away statutory citizenship conferred… at birth… it could end the conferral of U.S. citizenship by statute for persons born in Puerto Rico in the future. Herbert W. Brown III, President, Citizens Educational Foundation OUR OPINIONMaking IRS Section 30A Permanent for U.S. Firms Operating in Puerto Rico is Not the Best Way to Stimulate Sustainable Development on the Island In the past, an unhealthy reliance on tax credits created a crutch preventing the public sector reforms and economic liberalization needed to make Puerto Rico's economy productive and competitive. Puerto Rico should avoid a return to tax gimmick strategies, and push forward with a package of reforms that have demonstrated proven success: deregulation, privatization, fiscal reform, and heavy investment in people and infrastructure. In contrast to dire predictions, the Puerto Rican economy has not fallen into recession nor has unemployment skyrocketed since Congress voted to eliminate Section 936 in 1996. In fact, the economy continues to grow at a moderate rate and employment is increasing. This performance reinforces Congress' decision to repeal the ineffective and costly tax credit, and demonstrates that Puerto Rico can and should do without it. Puerto Rico's economic performance also reflects the success of badly needed government reforms initiated by Governor Rossello under the New Economic Development Model. These reforms have already yielded impressive results, reforming the fiscal system, promoting deregulation, investing in infrastructure, and reforming the public sector. The government has already made significant progress. It would be unfortunate if making section 30A permanent were to undermine the long term sustainability of the successful reform efforts now underway.
GUTIERREZ URGING INDEPENDENCE FOR PUERTO RICO LIVES PARADOX
Dangers of PDP "US" Versus "THEM" Opposition to Statehood:
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www.puertoricousa.com www.puertorico51.org www.prstatehood.com |
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Would Have Been |
Have Forked Over |
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Wealthier Today,
and
Commonwealth is Costing Them $6,000.00 More Every Year! |
Subsidizing Puerto Rico Commonwealth, and It's Costing Them $22,821,918.52 More Each and Every Day of the Year! |
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Puerto Ricans Earning Their Own Way Puerto Rico Paying Its Own Way |
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