[Hu Gadarn]

Puerto Rico is a pretty island.... But you cant get out of your car there or you get mugged.... They get no sympathy from me. They have been taking benefits from us like Social security, Welfare and the like and not paying one dime into the system they are taking from. Cut em loose or make them a state. If you cut them loose... they are on their own. If they become a state... well then I guess we can help. Until they make the next step to hell with them.

[RockinRight]

They won't cut it loose for fear of losing Hispanic votes.

So, the 51st state it is...

[squirt-gun]

People from the U.S and locals have tried but the problem is simply not correctable....Its a matter of genetics.

[wardaddy]

Puerto Rico as a state?

Think again...that would mean 3,995,000 instant Democrats.

We hardly need that.

Cut them loose. They will sink to their natural level like the Dom Rep in less than a generation without our subsidies. I'd rather have Cuba anyhow.

[Redbob]

Let's not make them a state; they're already enough of a welfare rathole as it is!

Cut 'em lose, let them become a part of Cuba if they want.

[FrankR]

Absolutely.

I went there several years ago on a week long company thing, and the most remarkable site I saw was all the homes with bars on the windows and doors, and usually a fence around them.

We stayed at the El Quistador hotel on the Northeastern shore, but were warned not to leave the grounds unless it was with an official tour, or in groups.

Well, even in Hawaii, we rented a car to tour the island of Oahu, and were warned not to go to the north end of the island, and to leave nothing of value in the car, and leave the car unlocked so they wouldn't break in.

And Hawaii IS a state and they can't even clean that up...so, not much hope for PR.

I think if tourists boycotted these islands, that some of the crime levels would be dealt with quickly...or simply have a Gun Rental Counter in the rent-a-car dealer, and a "temporary carry permit", and it would also cease.

[cll]

"taking benefits from us like Social Security"

I honestly thought that I could join freerepublic to participate in an intelligent exchange of ideas regarding conservative, constitutional and other national issues with informed people. Instead, I have found that, not most, not some, but many people here spread misinformation as does the loathed MSM and I have had to devote half my time here trying to debunk common stereotypes.

For your information, Hu, we do pay Social Security taxes at the same rate as you do in the lower 48, but only get a fraction of the benefits. Employers also pay FUTA or federal unemployment tax. Of the billions in "aid" transferred to PR from the benevolent federal government, how much of that is for pensions of military and federal employees? How much of that is for veterans' benefits? I could go on and on. There's no free lunch and we certainly do not have it.

On "cutting Puerto Rico loose", I'll remind you that you're talking about American citizens. Yes mostly native PR's but the four million also includes mainlanders and new citizens from around the world. Not to mention the large number of "American" businesses that operate here.

So as a fellow American, I ask you that before you go on your rants think that this place I call home is a couple of thousand miles from the Bronx.

On the article, "70% of murders are related to drug trafficking" is a conservative estimate. I would say almost all are and if it's drug traffickers killing drug traffickers, well, so be it.

Thanks,

CLL

[Sergio]

[i]Puerto Rico is a pretty island.... But you cant get out of your car there or you get mugged.... They get no sympathy from me. They have been taking benefits from us like Social security, Welfare and the like and not paying one dime into the system they are taking from. Cut em loose or make them a state. If you cut them loose... they are on their own. If they become a state... well then I guess we can help. Until they make the next step to hell with them.[/i]

Hi Hu Gadarn

The only federal taxes not paid by Puerto Rico are Federal Income taxes. This is because Puerto Rico has no representation in the House or Senate in Washington. It's the whole "No taxation without representation" thing only backwards. Puerto Rico has no representation at the Federal Government level, therefore they pay no taxes to the Federal Government.

They do however, pay Social Security and Medicare taxes just like everyone else in the USA. Come on now, have you ever known of a Washington politician who wouldn't take a dime when he was able to? lol!

Best Regards

Sergio