Puerto Rico's Future: Statehood or Independence?

We asked locals and visitors of Old San Juan whether they prefer Puerto Rico gain Independence, Statehood, or to remain a territory and commonwealth of the United States Government. Puerto Rico first became a US territory in 1898 after the Spanish-American War, in which the US defeated Spain and gained control of its colonies, including Puerto Rico. As a US territory, its residents are US citizens, but they do not have full representation in Congress or the right to vote in presidential elections unless they move to the states. Some supporters of independence argue that Puerto Rico is a colony and that independence would give it autonomy over its own political and economic future. Some supporters of statehood also argue that Puerto Rico is a colony but should instead become a state to gain full political representation in congress and equal treatment under US law. Others believe Puerto Rico should keep its status.
#PuertoRico #IndependenceForPuertoRico #StatehoodForPuertoRico #TerritoryOfUS #USCongress #USLaw #SpanishAmericanWar #OldSanJuan #PuertoRicoStatus #USCitizenship #PoliticalAutonomy #EconomicFuture #EqualTreatment #USPresidentialElection #Colony #PuertoRicoStatehood #PuertoRicoIndependence

[@Jay92master]

I want Puerto Rico to become our own country. It should of been country since 1898. Well we need independence we must have a new president and vice president. We must use Euros as second currency.

[@dougkalagian]

Why do you want to use Euros?

[@beep9733]

Great ideas and amazing conversations🥳 I Would love to see more content like this 🇵🇷

[@dougkalagian]

You got it!

[@dougkalagian]

Any topics you would like to see?

[@Jonas-nf2bc]

Seems like Independence is leading by 9-1 ratio in this video. Yet, every time there’s a vote, 60% is always in favor of statehood or keeping the status quo.

[@dougkalagian]

Right? We were surprised by the result.

[@GardenStateNJ27]

Keep in mind the referendums are held by the Statehood party every time, and voter turnout is low because opposing parties protest the PNP party (pro statehood). Also, the decision is ultimately up to congress so every one knows the “elections” are non-binding.

[@dougkalagian]

@GardenStateNJ27 exactly!

[@GardenStateNJ27]

@@dougkalagian thanks for using your platform to share this information! A lot of people are uninformed about Puerto Rico, especially those in the United States… many don’t even know that they are US citizens!

[@dougkalagian]

@@GardenStateNJ27 My pleasure! Thanks for tuning in and engaging in the comments. To be honest, having grown up in California, I wasn't too aware of Puerto Rico before beginning work in disaster recovery. But since then I have fallen in love with the island and the people. I hope the political situation can one day be resolved.

[@tonytech5520]

Couldn't see the final results because the freaking links are blocking the information on the screen. All I know is that if you ask the same question outside of San Juan, you'll find that the vast majority of people support statehood, followed by the current status, and independence in last place.

[@dougkalagian]

Just fixed the links blocking the tallied votes. Feel free to revisit for the results. Thank you for letting us know!

[@tonytech5520]

@@dougkalagian Thank you...That was freaking fast.😄

[@dougkalagian]

@@tonytech5520 Gotta give the people what they want 😎

[@bobbyboy1797]

​@@dougkalagianGreat vid, be proud.

[@dougkalagian]

Thanks Bobby, many more videos to come. Hope you subscribe ;)

[@charlinbutter6191]

Wow! great video

[@dougkalagian]

Thank you!! We’ll be posting our next video soon. ^^ thank you for subscribing 🏝️

[@giovannacastro8395]

An important issue. Thank you for covering it!!

[@dougkalagian]

Absolutely! Looking forward to sharing more content in Puerto Rico 🇵🇷

[@jaycasado5029]

I love how the younger generation is for independence. 💪🏽💪🏽💪🏽💪🏽🇵🇷🇵🇷🇵🇷🇵🇷🇵🇷The older generation is for statehood and dying off. I personally think PR is fine the way it is. But if you gave me the option between Statehood or independence? Independence ALL DAY 🇵🇷🇵🇷🇵🇷

[@dougkalagian]

That seemed to be the trend with the people with whom we spoke! Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Would love to have you as a subscriber to keep you in the dialogue as we continue to post new content 🔥

[@Stitchez_YT]

YEAHHH WE WILL END UP POOR AND TERROBLE LIKE VENEZUALA =D

[@familyandfriends3519]

Puerto Rico dad is USA and grandfather is UK brothers are Canada and Australia and new Zealand

[@joselvelezpagan9903]

Statehood 🇺🇲⭐⚖️

[@dougkalagian]

Why do you prefer statehood?

[@joselvelezpagan9903]

@@dougkalagian The Statehood Win 2012, 2017, 2020 (State 51🇺🇲⭐⚖️)

[@joselvelezpagan9903]

@@dougkalagian I'm King 🇺🇲 Forever 24/7

[@dougkalagian]

Nice! Thank you for sharing. In what ways do you think Puerto Rico would benefit from statehood?@@joselvelezpagan9903

[@eachannel5409]

LET GO PUERTO RICO INDEPENDENCE 🇵🇷✊

[@dougkalagian]

Why do you support independence?

[@ernestovasquez2274]

No independent independiente de los estados unidos como emos estados Todo El tiempo es que nos conviene

[@GardenStateNJ27]

I support Sovereignty with Free association but ultimately want independence!

[@sbpusa]

💙

[@Jay92master]

Independence will win for this year

[@dougkalagian]

Is it being voted on this year?

[@jess97724]

I'm from the U.S. & I say absolutely not I don't want it to become a state because we will have to fund money to them every time they have a hurricane & we need to take care of our own people here in the U.S. let Puerto Rico take care of their own people they have a horrible justice system & lots of crime, the jobs are low pay, the domestic violence is worse than the mainland is & a lot of the homes are run down from the hurricane & need to be fixed up the place is looking really dumpy so if they became a state we'd have to give them funding for all these things because they're a really poor country & they can't afford to fix things up but they're going to have to learn how I've been to PR before & I wasn't impressed I was so happy to get back to the mainland. No I don't want it to be a state either & I'm sure a lot of other people in the U.S. feel the same way!!!!

[@JahLives]

The problem with independence is PR would become a third world country. The problem with statehood is within one generation the culture of PR would be gone.

[@dougkalagian]

What option do you think would provide the best future for Puerto Rico?

[@JahLives]

@@dougkalagian I think independence would be best I also think it would force a lot of people off the island because they won't want there future kids to not have US citizenship.

[@dougkalagian]

@@JahLives Thats an interesting point! I wonder if people would still want independence if it meant no US citizenship. Also would it bring Puerto Ricans from the US back to Puerto Rico? I'm not sure.

[@wilfredoperez6807]

It already is a 3rd country dum dum

[@jlm3744]

I also believe in Independence, I don't think Puerto Rico will become a third world country, I believe it will stay the same for a while after Independence and then we have the potential to improve when we have the ability to do things on our own and not need permission from the US government for everything. Statehood is never going to happen and it never should. The US government has no interest in making us a state, the ones who do say they want too only say that because they want to virtue signal because statehood for Puerto Rico is being thrown around the US as if it's some civil rights movement. And we need to get out of this limbo status because it is destroying our economy by the US just neglecting us. So Independence is the only way, even if it is guaranteed that we will be a third world country, thats our only path, but at least we'll be able to improve ourselves and not wait for the IS government to decide everything for us.

[@reucat24]

Reunification with Spain is an option that is growing (16% favor this option according to a 2021 Demoscopia poll), check the reunification movement, this means reunifying Puerto Rico as an autonomous region of Spain (btw, Puerto Rico was in the 19th century Spain`s 1st autonomous province) this means Euro as currency, Spanish and European Union passport and benefits like the right to work and live in the 27 countries of the EU, same language, same hispanic culture, shared ancestry and history.

[@dougkalagian]

Thank you for highlighting this thought - I’ve actually heard this from a few others off camera as well. Very interesting insight!

[@familyandfriends3519]

Puerto Ricans aren't Spanish and Hispanic and Latino until given back to Spain and getting independence only from Spain they are Americans now not Hispanic and Latino and Spanish

[@familyandfriends3519]

@@dougkalagian Puerto Ricans aren't Spanish and Hispanic and Latino until given back to Spain and getting independence only from Spain

[@tonytech5520]

It is growing so fast that I only heard about it through social media, and usually by the same people.

[@ismaelmad1]

​​​@@Fascistdictator373Lo de los catalanes es puro egoísmo. Es como si la mejor región de Puerto Rico se quiere independizar por ser más ricos y no querer pagar impuestos para favorecer a otras regiones más pobres. Es como si tu pareja te dejara porque gana más que tú. Eso eso lo que pasa verdaderamente. Curiosamente muchos catalanes que tenían intereses en Cuba, al perder y quedarse más pobre España, es cuando empezó ese sentimiento nacionalista de la región catalana. Son unos interesados nada solidarios. Pero no son mayoría los catalanes que piensan así

[@pabloalvez915]

Mallorca ❤ Puerto Rico por siempre. En el año 1939, más de 15000 mallorquínes llegaron a Puerto Rico, aunque casi todos regresaron a las Baleares tras el fin de la guerra. Un abrazo con mucho cariño.

[@jess97724]

That's great we won't have to fund you anymore for all your disasters & hurricanes & we can finally take care of our own United States people yay!!!!!

[@dennisvera2802]

IF PUERTO RICO GOES INDEPENDENCE WHO GOING TO STOP THE POLITICIANS FROM STEALING MONEY, WHO GOING TO PAY FOR MILITARY DEFENSE, POST OFFICE, HEALTH CARE, WHERE ARE PUERTO RICAN GOING WHEN THE NEXT HURRICAIN COMES, NO LATIN COUNTRY HELP PUERTO RICO, THERE ARE 6 MILLION PUERTO RICAN LIVING IN AMERICA THERE WILL BE A BIG DIVIDE, ALSO MOST BUSINESS WILL CLOSE DOWN AND UNEMPLOYMENT WILL GO SKY HIGH . GOOD LUCK WISH EVERYONE WELL,

[@dougkalagian]

Thank you for sharing your thoughts Dennis! May I ask what option you support?

[@familyandfriends3519]

Puerto Ricans aren't Spanish and Hispanic and Latino until given back to Spain and getting independence only from Spain

[@mariacarolina9050]

❤

[@dougkalagian]

❤️

[@abhranilgoswami9433]

​@@dougkalagian Instead of begging for independence or statehood from the Americans, Puerto Rico should remain a US territory. Politicians should focus on how to take advantage of US policies to improve the current status quo. Puerto Rico lacks resources and the political system is extremely corrupt, so independence is not a viable option. Statehood would be costly to manage and there is a fear of Democrats having an unfair advantage over Republicans in the House and the Senate. Therefore, I believe the current status is the most favorable option.

[@adancruzgames]

Viva mi puerto rico Cuándo es las playas llegó Colón Vamos Puerto Rico Independencia

[@dougkalagian]

🇵🇷

[@familyandfriends3519]

Puerto Ricans aren't Spanish and Hispanic and Latino until given back to Spain and getting independence only from Spain

[@adancruzgames]

@@familyandfriends3519 we are Hispanic because our dominant language is Spanish

[@familyandfriends3519]

@@adancruzgames your not you have to gain independence from Spain it shows that we colonized this island your Americans

[@adancruzgames]

@@familyandfriends3519 Hispanic is a Spanish speak territory or country learn your facts straight

[@KUarentaKILLA]

Women with their opinions

[@dougkalagian]

What do you mean

[@CarlosRodriguez-pt3hq]

This poll means (nothing)..because everytime you have elections every four years the Independence party..el PIP has never once won an election..its either PPD which is maintaining the island as a commonwealth or The PNP the Statehood party which had won in the last 2 elections. The (silent majority) wants Statehood and that is a fact...but I think we have other problems to tackle before statehood..we have the electrical grid that needs to be replaced..we have rampat crime and delincuency..out of control..political corruption.. poverty.. inflation..these are more important issues..for the people of Puerto Rico..

[@dougkalagian]

Which of these topics would you like us to make a video about? I appreciate your input!

[@CarlosRodriguez-pt3hq]

@The Near Horizon I think you should do a video on the delincuency and crime wave that is pushing many Puerto Ricans to leave the island..and ways to combat crime.by toughfer sentences more police officers and putting tracking devices on vehicles..to prevent car jackings..

[@jlm3744]

The silent majority does not support statehood. The corrupt PNP puts up those BS referendums every couple of years just as a political ploy to bring more people out to vote for them and most of everyone who doesn't support statehood mostly boycotts them. Really if you do the math with all the results statehood support is around 30%. Also in the last election the statehood parties candidate Pedro Pierluisi got the lowest support ever for a governor election the last election, 33%. And the independence party for the first time broke out if the single digits and got 15% of the vote, and with the two new parties candidates who were also Pro independence candidates got a combined 35%, support for Independence is growing big time. I do also see pro commenwealth growing a little bit, but its just statehooders who switched sides and don't believe in joining the US anymore but still have that fear of independence so they just want to stay in the middle. Independence is the silent majority, you also see in the video some say they want independence but choose commenwealth or statehood because they are scared that independence won't work.

[@CarlosRodriguez-pt3hq]

@JLM Cry all you want Pueroi Rico will never get independece from the US simply because there are too many lazy Puerto Ricans who do not want to work..and get checks from the federal government for fake health issues/ illnesses..and those who receive medicare..social secutity..are going to give all that up once Puerto Rico becomes a independent country/island...(I THINK NOT).but keep hope alive ..😆😆and I'm Puerto Rican..

[@AlfonsoPerezBorroto]

@@dougkalagianmake a video about statehood! That’s the majority of voters pick 😊

[@yvetteapicella4153]

Independent

[@dougkalagian]

Por que?

[@yvetteapicella4153]

@@dougkalagian Because Of our culture our music 🎵 our language Spanish because we Are different we don’t Mmm Mmm

[@yvetteapicella4153]

@@dougkalagian Belong em

[@saltyrainbowpike820]

I like the idea of independence, but I am also afraid El Capitolio will become a seat of communist dictatorship like Venezuela. I also don't like the current politicians kissing the unholy feet of America's Democrat Party. We need a friendly alliance with latin-america but with each country respecting each other's boundaries and not inter-mingling with with their communist/socialist/marxist ideals. I undestand there is concern of a dark side to capitalism but Puerto Rico can make build a constitution to oversee that no obvious extreme's reign... if the current politicians cared about this place and not about stealing cash from the people that is.

[@jlm3744]

I'm Puerto Rican. We should go Independent. Statehood is never going to happen and it never should. With statehood taxes are going to skyrocket and real native Puerto Ricans are going to be driven out by wealthy gentrifying Non-Puerto Rican Americans with more buying power. They are already doing it with Act60, Puerto Ricans are being displaced everyday by wealth Non-Puerto Ricans coming to the island to exploit the land. Congress is never going to make Puerto Rico a state, it so divided that both the democrats and republicans within their own parties cant even decide. Puerto Rico is a different country with its own history, culture, and Spanish is the majority spoken language. Statehood will be terrible for both the US and PR financially, culturally, and politically. The statehood party is very corrupt, the referendums they put up are just political ploys for more people to come out and vote for them most of the island boycotts them because everyone knows they are total BS. They are also non binding so the US government never approved of them to happen in the first place. That's why it always comes out as statehood winning the referendums, but if you do the math with all the referendum numbers, you'll see that its really like only 30% of the island wants statehood. I'm very interested to see what most people say, I've seen a bunch of videos like this, people going around San Juan asking what people want and most say independence or commonwealth then give long factual answers on why it should be those options. Then the Statehooders always give short vague answers and never backup what they say, and answers like "I just want more money", "I want to vote for the President", "If we become Independent we'll become a third world nation". I also hope The Near Horizon doesn't skew this video to favor statehood, because in the US a lot of people are throwing around statehood for Puerto Rico as if its some civil rights movement when really its not, and its a way more complicated issue than people in the US think it too be.

[@dougkalagian]

Thank you for taking the time to write this thoughtful comment. We tried to keep our own opinions out of the commentary and instead just asked our question, listened, then compiled the answers here. Looking forward to hearing your thoughts on Wednesday!

[@jlm3744]

@@dougkalagian Excited to see and give my opinion in the comment. I keep a look out everyday for new uploads on the Puerto Rico status issue, its very personal to me and a lot of other Puerto Ricans because its talking about the future of our homeland. Also thank you for including Independence and not just statehood, seen a bunch of videos made by non-Puerto Rican channels and they only talk about statehood and talk about it like its the only option and promoting it like a civil rights movement.

[@dougkalagian]

@@jlm3744 I respect that! And of course, we also included the option for Puerto Rico to remain a US territory/commonwealth, similar to the plebiscite - but we needed to shorten the KZbin Title for mobile. May I ask what other Puerto Rican political issues you're interested in? We'll be filming more content in PR and I'd love to tap more into your interests

[@jlm3744]

@The Near Horizon The only other big issue happening on the island is the Act60 tax breaks bringing in wealth people to the island and they are buying up all the land and properties and turning them into private resorts to profit themselves. It also plays into the status issue too, because all Puerto Ricans hate the tax breaks and the US government hates them too because it's losing the US millions of tax dollars, and when asked to take it down the current corrupt governor is open about using it for leverage to push for statehood saying "If the they want it taken down congress needs to make Puerto Rico a state first". I'll send you other videos talking about it. It's actually happened to me too, when my grandmother passed away, some German guy gave his condolences then asked to buy the house from us, we said no, that house has been passed down for generations, some families aren't so lucky, other Puerto Ricans have had to leave their family homes or leave the island entirely. It would be very cool if you made a video bringing awareness to that issue too.

[@dougkalagian]

Yes please share any links or videos you would recommend I watch on the issue. I am aware of the issue but not too educated on it yet. I’d love to see what’s been done already and see if there is an angle of the story that hasn’t been told yet

[@ThePuertoRican]

Independence W 🇵🇷

[@dougkalagian]

Why independence?

[@ThePuertoRican]

@@dougkalagian because Puerto Rico is a colony of the United States, which treat us like second class citizens and the only reason we are American is so we can fight in there wars and be exploited. The United States takes from the island and gives back very little and each time there was a independence movement the U.S. brutally suppressed it and made a lot of Puerto Ricans think we can’t make it on our own. I know that the Puerto Rican independence movement has been very small but I hope that it can become big again. And I hope I can follow in the footsteps of Pedro Albizu Campos which was killed by the United States. And the blood of the people killed in the masacre of Ponce won’t be killed in vein.

[@dougkalagian]

Thank you for sharing your thoughts! Do you think Puerto Rico will have enough resources, infrastructure, and defenses to go independent? I’ve heard that these are concerns

[@ThePuertoRican]

@@dougkalagian they are concerns but if Puerto Rico can become a independent country it can unite with other Caribbean countries. In the late 1800’s there was a idea called the “Antillean Confederation” which United Cuba, the Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico and if that happened the three countries can protect each other politically, militarily, and economically but the idea never became reality because the u.s. invaded and kept Puerto Rico promising independence which never happened.

[@jess97724]

@@ThePuertoRican Hate to say this but the reunited thing with other countries won't do it why? Because the US has much more money than they do duh lol

[@VirtousoForGod]

Didn’t Puerto Ricans have a chance to vote on being independent and breaking away from the U.S. but voted overwhelmingly to stay ? In that case, the majority of P.R’s want to stay the way they are. They know that in the event of invasion by a hostile force they would not survive without the protection of the U.S. Also, if the U.S. leaves them they will become a third world country just like their Dominican and Cuban neighbors.

[@dumbphonemom]

The US made Cuba a communist country and the Dominican Republic would be the same as Cuba if they allowed the US to stay in. The Dominican Republic has one of the best economies of the Americas right now, and is in much better social conditions than Puerto Rico. PR would do just fine without the US as long as people are willing to give up welfare and work instead.

[@norbertosuarez5722]

Puerto Rico never had a chance to vote for independence 🤣🤣😂😂😂 and if Puerto Rico votes for independence the united states'will do the same thing they did to trump vs Biden they will hide all the votes because they can't let Puerto Rico go 😂🤣since they make 71,000,000 millions a year from Puerto Rico a gold mining island imagine they sell everything double or triple to Puerto Rico

[@Jay92master]

That's right Puerto Rico will become a country and have a new president. Even a vice president

[@Jay92master]

We will have Puerto Rican Soliders, Coastguard, Military and Army to protect the Puerto Rican country. Remember to manage and invest federal loans to put it in process. Same with Puerto Rican Citizenship and Passport.

[@Jay92master]

It should of been a country since 1898. But I believe I'll become a country in. 2024 just keep the resources strong so we can fight our rights to gain this island to country.

[@eclipseUFO]

Puerto rican have decision to decide to vote whether or not to vote on the island, Wether if they going to vote with sovereignty states. Or commonwealth states Or Independence states Or stateshood.. they have decision vote, or whether they wanted to or not. It's they're indigenous native boricua tianos island, it's they're revolution of native island.

[@dougkalagian]

Even if they vote, they still need congressional approval

[@eclipseUFO]

🤔 Congressional approval?.......

[@dougkalagian]

@@eclipseUFO Puerto Rico can't legally impact their own future, the power ultimately lies in the US congress.

[@eclipseUFO]

Yes your right, you can blame the government puerto rico.

[@dougkalagian]

@@eclipseUFO why blame them?

[@fnyack]

No Revolution.

[@yeche1202]

Independence! The Philippines got away so can Puerto Rico!

[@dougkalagian]

Through revolution?

[@yeche1202]

Pressure on the government to make a decision, decades of indecision and the rich looking to turn it into a tax haven, resorts and force natural born out or put them in low paying jobs.

[@adancruzgames]

@@dougkalagian it will be Puerto Rico revolutionary war I’m going to start it I’m going to bring back el grito de lares us Puerto Ricans we help Dominican Republic 🇩🇴 and Cuba 🇨🇺 To gain independence so they will help us too🇵🇷🇩🇴🇨🇺

[@familyandfriends3519]

@@adancruzgames Dominican republic got independence from Spain and Cuba got independence from Spain this is the Spanish family ♥️🇨🇴🇵🇦🇨🇷🇸🇻🇬🇹🇳🇮🇻🇪🇪🇨🇵🇾🇨🇱🇺🇾🇬🇶🇵🇪🇧🇴🇦🇷🇭🇳🇲🇽🇪🇸🇩🇴🇨🇺🇦🇩🇳🇱♥️

[@adancruzgames]

@@familyandfriends3519 also 🇵🇷

[@TheBoricuaGamer]

Independence🦾

[@dougkalagian]

Why do you prefer independence?

[@acx4548]

We would never survive as being independent. For various reasons but I’ll give a few of my favorites: 1) the average age in Puerto Rico is 44.5. With only a population of 3 million that means that we do not have enough young women in child bearing years to produce a population of we were to go independent meaning that we would die out in less than 15 years. 2) another point with our average age being 44.5 is that we would not have enough able body young men for military and trades and or public servant jobs. This is already an issue for some police departments on the island. That if we 1) went into conflict we would not have the ability to fight anyone and 2) no future generation to train bc only 3 million population and not enough fertile women. 3) the young women that we do have are very left leaning politically meaning if we were to go independent we could not rely on them getting married repopulating the island because most young women in PR are not having kids and staying in PR. Most are moving to the USA if they do. 4) economically we do well with tourism because of the fact that Americans that don’t have passports and or cannot get them can come to PR and vacation and get a carib experience. If we go independent we cannot compete with our neighboring island Dominican Republic when it comes to tourism. Americans wouldn’t come to PR if they needed a passport to come here when they could go to a relatively bigger island where their dollar goes further and where it’s more tourist activities. The reason we do well in tourism os bc Americans don’t need passports to come here. 5) going independent would make a lot of Puerto Ricans buy one way tickets to Florida. Yes this video has a lot of young people agreeing with independent but anecdotally the people around me are for our status remaining the same and or statehood. Other than that I have heard many mention they would simply leave for the US. Puerto Rico would be another Haiti if it goes independent and or Venezuela. 6)it sounds like the reason people want independence is to preserve the culture because gringos are buying in Puerto Rico but what makes you think that will stop them after independence? US companies would take their stores and companies out of Puerto Rico therefore what jobs would we have. Tourism? With that that would make the game easier for gringos to buy up land because we wouldn’t be able to afford it if we all get funneled into tourism industry. In all, the status should remain the same. New generation Puerto Ricans hate it because they get their feelings hurt by Dominicans by getting called “US little btch”. There’s no solid reason for Puerto Rico’s independence other argument than “Protecting the culture from gringos 🥹” which is an emotional low iq argument. Puerto Rico status is fine the way it is. With our generally left leaning young men and women, we do not have the traditional and conservative values like most countries were established with centuries ago. And my biggest theory is Puerto Rico would be a target for m*rx1st-l3n*n countries like ******

[@dougkalagian]

Woh, very impressed by your thoughtful reply. Thank you for sharing your thoughts!

[@familyandfriends3519]

Puerto Rican aren't Spanish and Hispanic and Latino until given back to Spain and getting independence only from Spain Puerto Ricans are gringos

[@kelvinhernandez1976]

Your wrong we can survive with independence because we will preserve our culture and decide the fate of Puerto Rico without have the USA on us 24/7 and this will also stop with white peoples because we can decide who can come and who cannot and where we change the rules making white people leave but we can have a relationship with the USA but not fall under the USA rules we could also get rid of the jones act if we are independent leavening is the ability the trade worldwide with our countries and mostly our connection to Spanish speaking countries which would benefit our economy so much and poverty especially we produce a lot of money hence why we give more to the USA then the USA give to us back and we can build more jobs and more schools for people who need opportunities on the island

[@AlexanderRodriguez-pk4cg]

Independiente the USA is using us

[@dougkalagian]

What for?

[@AlexanderRodriguez-pk4cg]

@@dougkalagian They do pay federal payroll taxes and help fund Medicare and Social Security. Puerto Ricans contribute more than $4 billion annually in federal taxes to the United States

[@gustiefenthaler4964]

Well let's seal the deal and make ya a State and give you full benefits and representation, because ya'll have already paid in, helped foght our wars, ect. You have been Americans really get along with us this whole time, it's time we pay it back a bit, our national government and state and territorial governments have been corrupt, and using all American citizens, we just need to take our government back, I don't feel it would be fair to the Americans of Puerto Rico to let them go off and not have enough resources and ect. We are all American together with our own regional cultural differences because we are such a massive country

[@RicardoMartinez-zh4qp]

Statehood is ideal for Puerto Rico

[@realBryanAlejandro]

If Puerto Rico became a state I’ll just become another Hawaii, if it became independent it should definitely imitate Singapour which is a great example for small nations after becoming independent and also becoming successful.

[@tonytech5520]

It's not just the system that makes the difference; it's the people, and Asians are known for their strong sense of collaboration and working together for the collective well-being. That is how Japan rebuilt the country in record time after World War II.

[@dennis771]

Doubtful

[@jess97724]

Hate to say this but PR will never be successful not on their low paying jobs there compared to the U.S. never will they!!!

[@jess97724]

@@dennis771 True

[@dennisvera2802]

NEAR HORIZON ASK WHO DO I SUPPORT EITHER STATEHOOD OR STAY THE SAME. INDEPENDENCE IS OUT OF THE QUESTION. WHY LOOK AT CUBA TODAY LOOK AT VENEZUELA THE PEOPLE ARE STARVING AND WANT TO LEAVE THE COUNTRY. LOOK AT THE POLITICIANS IN PUERTO RICO MANY ARE THIEVES, LUCKY THE FBI PUTS THEM IN JAIL BECAUSE OF AMERICA. THE MOST IMPORTANT THING FOR PUERTO IS TP MAINTAIN YOUR AMERICAN CITIZEN EITHER WAY GOOD LUCK WITHE YOUR DECISION.

[@dougkalagian]

Thanks for sharing! We included independence because it is still the preferred option for many Puerto Ricans on the island, and is still being debated nationally. We will definitely revisit the topic in future videos and will keep your advice in mind 👍 subscribe for more

[@familyandfriends3519]

Cuba got independence from Spain Venezuela got independence from Spain they are Spanish Hispanic and Latino country Puerto Rico is American you might as well vote for state hood

[@jlm3744]

You know there's other countries in the world other than only Cuba and Venezuela right? You statehooders are so fearful and pessimistic about Independence you only bring up those two countries and sometimes Haiti, and always want a dominant power to control our own homeland, and you ignore all the other Latin American nations. Independence doesn't make countries poor, communism makes countries poor, before Castro and Chávez rose to power, Cuba and Venezuela were actually doing pretty well. And before you say independence supporters support communism, No, its the other way around, Communists support independence. Lots of Independence supporters including myself love the US and don't agree with communism, but we know statehood is never going to happen and it never should because it would be detrimental to both the US and PR financially, politically, and culturally. Independence is the only way out of this limbo, and if most Puerto Ricans don't want communism then how would Puerto Rico become a communist country?

[@joselvelezpagan9903]

PR USA State 51 🇺🇲⭐⚖️

[@norbertosuarez5722]

Definitely independence or remove the Jones accts is killing us

[@dougkalagian]

How is the jones act harming?

[@norbertosuarez5722]

@@dougkalagian ???? How 🤣🤣🤣🤣 it won't allow us Puerto Ricans to sell nothing to other countries orrr buying food from other countries just the USA 🤣 imagine a ship full of food passing by Puerto Rico to stop in USA and taking all the food and putting the food back in to a USA ship to send it back to Puerto Rico??? Is that making sense??? Why isn't easy for the ship to be stop at Puerto Rico and then keep going to USA 🤣 is because the USA don't allow no others to stop in Puerto Rico please we are paying for the most expensive food just because this none sense the Americans need to take that stupid law because is wayyy shipper for Puerto Rican to buy food from our closses Spanish speakers countries butt the USA won't allow no one to sell or buying from us so this is how the Jones accts is killing us Puerto Ricans

[@dougkalagian]

I’m doing research for a video about the Jones act now (should be posted sometime this month), and it’s helpful having your insight. Thank you!

[@norbertosuarez5722]

@@dougkalagian great thanks

[@norbertosuarez5722]

@@dougkalagian if they take the Jones accts we will be able to sell our food and product to others imagine that every person making money and finely All my people can go back to agriculture we were great agriculture people back in the days before the gringos invaded Puerto Rico

[@luicaine202]

Puerto rico should become independent im the first generation of puerto rican born in the mainland U.S. i know that comes with alot of benefits but thats why i feel independence is better. my grandfather was born in 1939 and served in the military he came home and couldn’t even eat at the same restaurants as white Americans not only that even to this day 13 odd years after he passed and over 50 years since he served this country he still cant vote for the president has no representation in government and wouldnt recieve 100% of the benefits a stateborn citizen can. They said wed go bankrupt without their loans but they give 4 billion aid a year and we pay 4 billion in taxes a year to them, so thats null. not to mention all their companies they have there for tax breaks we can tax those even if at lower rates then the us does just to keep them there. We have all the resources to be self sufficient and the only reason our economy isn’t booming is the insular cases and the jones act a bunch of old racist laws and bills by the USA that prevent fair trade and imports and exporting from puerto rico

[@AlfonsoPerezBorroto]

Boricuas are US americans by birth, #PR51

[@adancruzgames]

Why do support #PR51 I support independence but not peacefully no we are doing a guerra that why I want to be part of the popular boricua army it is a political party that wants independence but through a guerra

[@familyandfriends3519]

Puerto Ricans aren't Spanish and Hispanic and Latino until given back to Spain and getting independence only from Spain

[@mariaramirez2889]

Remain as a commonwealth we the only country that doesn't cross the border.

[@janetmatos1725]

We need to become a STATE OF THE UNITED STATES.

[@dougkalagian]

Why?

[@jess97724]

No way!!!! & I'm from the United States.

[@gustiefenthaler4964]

Statehood is the best interest

[@jlm3744]

Its never going to happen and it never should. The US government does not want Puerto Rico because Puerto Rico statehood would be detrimental to both the US and PR financially, politically, and culturally. A vote for statehood is just another vote for remaining a commonwealth.

[@jaycasado5029]

Never gonna happen bud

[@familyandfriends3519]

@@jlm3744 Puerto Rico is American culture

[@jlm3744]

@family and friends No we aren't, Puerto Rico is Puerto Rican.

[@jaycasado5029]

@@familyandfriends3519 HELL NO Lmfaooo

[@ernestovasquez2274]

O stado 51

[@fnyack]

Independence, just like the Philippines.

[@dougkalagian]

Revolution?

[@Jay92master]

We’re not giving up for independence we getting our island to a country. We are from Spain, they must create strong army of Puerto Rico plus soldiers. Will soon get a prime minister or president. Will work on getting natural resources. I’m fighting for the island no matter what. They should create Puerto Rican secure grants. They should temporary used usa money to get resources they need so it doesn’t get fucked up. We need guards to prevent prime minister and president from being shot they must protect them

[@familyandfriends3519]

Your not from Spain Puerto Ricans aren't Spanish and Hispanic and Latino until given back to Spain

[@adrianrivera5934]

Puerto Rico need statehood! Will happen soon! The referdum of statehood in on the senate!!! Will soon sign by a president no matter what party will be sign! Puerto Rico soon will become the 51 state! All the steps are been done on congrees!

[@kelvinhernandez1976]

Yeah it not gonna happen anyways and that would most likely kill us even more

[@ASSASAIYELNA]

STATEHOOD 🇺🇲🇵🇷

[@dougkalagian]

Thank you for sharing! Sub for more Puerto Rico Content 🇵🇷

[@familyandfriends3519]

Puerto Rican aren't Spanish and Hispanic and Latino until given back to Spain and getting independence only from Spain your Americans now

[@Badass377]

Statehood is the best option, but if they want to go at it alone. Then adios. 🫡.

[@dougkalagian]

Why do you believe statehood would be the best option?

[@Badass377]

@@dougkalagian simple answer is, it’s probably a good idea to be a state in the most powerful and wealthy country in history.

[@GardenStateNJ27]

@@Badass377statehood is irreversible. Puerto Rico’s culture and history would assimilate and cease to exists. We are separate nation with a separate race that the US would never want to become a majority

[@Badass377]

@@GardenStateNJ27 Why would Puerto Rico’s history and culture not exist? That’s up to Puerto Ricans to keep their own culture alive if they want statehood. If Puerto Rico wants to be a separate country then great for them. Go be a separate country and see how that works out. Have you heard the phase strength in numbers? Puerto Rico would be a very small country.

[@alien3180]

Independent

[@dougkalagian]

Why independent?

[@alien3180]

@@dougkalagian because Puerto Rico use to be independent before and Puerto Rico is a Caribbean island it not usa island

[@familyandfriends3519]

@@alien3180 Puerto Rico never was independent