+5 Yes, Puerto Rico is widely considered a colony—or often described as the world’s oldest colony—due to its status as an unincorporated U.S. territory. While residents are U.S. citizens, they lack voting representation in Congress, cannot vote for president,
Wow, guys. I’m Mexican and not a fan of Bad Bunny at all, but you seem really out of the loop with this guy.
He is a Puerto Rican, and in that sense he is an American citizen, but Bad Bunny is a sovereignist that would very much prefer to be free from the USA. The song Ricky Martin sang during the SB halftime show is just beautiful (listen to the Tiny desk version!). The name of the song is “Lo que le pasó a Hawaii” (What happened to Hawaii) and the lyrics talk about a strong, deep feeling of belonging to the Puerto Rico island. He talks a lot about the simple life in there and some of their traditions. In the end, the song calls Puerto Ricans to hold their flag and don’t allow “them” to do to Puerto Rico what happened to Hawaii.
I was in awe to listen to at least some of these lines in the middle of the Super Bowl. Honestly, don’t even try to ask me about the rest of the show.
Why is it a problem if he sings about that? Being a Puerto Rican is something to be proud of and it’s appropriate if he has opinions on what future they should seek.
I personally think they’d be better off as a state and would welcome them, but it starts with people there deciding what they want to do
PR would be better off as a state, something they rejected doing at least 2x in referendums. There is zero chance the us lets them be independant, as a state they would be treated better. Although with the whole fascist one party state fixing elections thing it could be s moot point.
But not lately. They’ve been voting for becoming a state since Obama iirc, and they’ve been systematically ignored by Democrat and Republican administrations.
I must add, independent movements are rarely allowed by the oppressor. So, they shouldn’t be bothered about what the USA will “let” them do, if they were inclined for independence, which, I repeat, is not the case with PR.
Have they had a vote endorsing being a state? That’s news to me, I remember a vote losing, don’t remember one since. Yeah I mean PR could fight a guerrilla war to become independent if they didn’t want to concern themselves with what the US will let them do. They are stuck with the US, as we are.
Every ~4 years. Latest vote was taken in 2024, and they voted to become a state. It’s been like this for four consecutive plebiscites, but even before, it was kind of a popular option.
PR should get to decide if they want to join this clusterfuck or not. The bare minimum the US should do is allow PR to join if they want to, and guarantee military support if PR asks for it.
“Should” is neither here nor there.
- they will not let puerto rico be independent.
- PR would get treated better as a State
- The republicans will not admit PR as a State right now, unless they could be sure their people would be elected there.
I don’t know what you mean by military support. Are you saying if they are allowed to go independent? They won’t, there is zero chance they will be independent.
The dumbest man you’ve ever known is your boss? Maybe time to switch careers. What type of work do you do?
Wrong OP, I think.
Fucks sake!
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Most Americans are woefully undereducated
Americans elected a convicted felon and adjudicated rapist who is now tanking our economy and making enemies of all our allies.
Set your expectations low.
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Canada will give them a home. Lord knows we need a friendly southern escape.
That would be an incredible change for the island. Right now their economy is kneecapped by byzantine US shipping laws. The jones act gives american shippers complete control over goods going to and from the island, driving up prices.
Falling under the care of a sanier nation, one who will help them rollout a relaible solar grid instead of dismantiling it, would do wonders.
Maybe we’ll use it as a launching pad to adopt Cuba as well.
Puerto Ricans have been fighting for a long time for statehood. Taking a look at the US now, I suggest reversing course. Independance would be a better choice.
From what I’ve heard there isn’t really a consensus among Puerto Ricans on what they want their status to be.
Correct. The last vote barely failed. Think it was 51/49 or something close to that.
People indigenous to the island are very split between moving to closer alignment with the US via statehood or to move toward independence and ending the colonial commonwealth system. The only true consensus is that the current status quo is unsustainable and something needs to change.
I don’t spend a lot of time with Puerto Ricans, but the two I keep in semi-regular contact with have said that they don’t want Puerto Rico to become a state (they wave vaguely at the rules for imports/exports to South American countries; apparently the island has relaxed rules on that compared to states?).
What’s actually stopped them from.becoming a state in the past? Seems like ~2013 was the last time a movement for that had any real traction?
Puerto Rico is unable to import or export directly to any country without going through the mainland United States first. This is a result of the Jones Act of 1920, shortly after PR gained citizenship but not statehood.
The Jones Act has caused some very fucked up consequences for hurricane relief like after H. Maria wrecked the island in 2017 and relief could not be provided from neighbors without a long extra trip to Florida for processing.
From the first article you linked:
Under the Jones Act, any vessel can enter Puerto Rico. In fact, many foreign vessels enter Puerto Rico regularly, importing goods from countries around the world. However, transportation of goods between two U.S. ports must be carried out by a vessel that was built in the U.S. and operated primarily by Americans. This law doesn’t single out Puerto Rico – it applies to all U.S. ports, the only exception being the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Don’t get me wrong, I hate the Jones Act as much as any rational American would, but from what I hear, they get a grab bag of exemptions on taxes when moving goods to/from South America (I suppose via non-US ships and via aircraft).
I don’t have the time for proper research at the moment to try to find what my dudes have talked about when it comes to laxer import/export controls, but may revisit later today if I get some down time.
So it’s kinda No Taxation Without Representation situation? Or does that only apply to white people?
There are lower/no taxes there. That’s why so many conservatives move there, or buy property there - particularly after a hurricane. Disaster capitalism.
We all know the answer to that question
I mean DC has plenty of white people but they’re in a similar situation. Although at least they get to vote for president.
Still worth considering that DC is called “Chocolate City” for a reason. It’s a majority minory city. I’ve encountered at least a few political scientists who firmly believe that the biggest barrier for DC gaining statehood is that historically the American imperial project will support social goods until they’re extended to Black people (with the New Deal being the commonly referenced example of this, as well as why building a gentler form of capitalism through social democratic reform should be viewed as good, but not as enough)
A movement to turn pro sports into quasi nationalist rallies, with barely a peep about it, is far more alarming than ignorance about the vagarities of US territorial policy. Most people can’t even name the vice president! This is a very strange kind of manufactured outrage.
I missed the survey
Where you getting that 73% from?
I’m sure the number is ridiculously high, but it’s always funny to me when memes just throw a random percentage out there with no sources. This is done to make stupid people think this is a professional, real statistic.
It’s a real stat. Just like 49% of US citizens think we are not divided.
It’s amazing how many Lemmings claim to be above billionaire propaganda and yet sit here jerking themselves off about, both, knowing Bad Bunny is a U.S. citizen and him being at the Super Bowl.
Here’s a thought: don’t watch the fucking Super Bowl. Crazy, outlandish idea — but as a U.S. citizen I can guarantee that it is possible for you to do this. Break your chains.
I watched the Super Bowl for 15 minutes.
Can’t vote though, so only second class citizens I’d venture.
Tomi Lahren: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DPW89KfDIKN/
In a proper world, this would discredit her from being a pundit.
Wow. The ignorance is strong with that one
That “dear” came down like a ton of bricks.
To be fair, until a couple weeks ago, I didn’t know Bad Bunny is…
At all.
He was on a late night show with Linus from Linus Tech Tips. That was my first time seeing him. I’m glad Linus was able to give this small creator the break he needed (/s but it was the first time I saw him…)
