As to the Puero Ricans themselves, do people come any lazier or stupider? They live right in the middle of hurricane alley. Each and EVERY year hurricanes hit or brush by Puerto Rico. It's hard to imagine a location any more susceptible to being affected by hurricanes.
Hurricanes have been doing this for tens of thousands of years. And a hurricane hits and we find the Puerto Ricans surprised and unprepared.
If we dispossess the island, what’s to stop the Russians or Chicoms from moving right in.
The problem with this bit of the American Empire now is that if it were “cut loose” their socialism, corruption and economic malfeasance would immediately seek another patron.
It would probably be China.
My former neighbor Mr. Del Rio was a very hard worker in his day.
He died recently at age 82.
He was the son of Puerto Rican immigrants and ran a contracting business in Westchester County before moving to Florida and doing factory work.