deep dives with edgard: puerto rico's quest for political status

statehood, independence, or status quo? the never-ending political debate

tl;dr: puerto rico's been stuck in political limbo for over a century, bouncing between statehood, independence, and "it's complicated" status. congress holds the keys, but seems content to leave puerto rico on read. it's messy, it's frustrating, and it's far from over. let’s unpack this complex saga that affects 3.2 million u.s. citizens.

⚠️ heads up, mi gente! this email is longer than abuela's telenovela recaps. it might get cut off in your inbox. trust me, you don't want to miss it! 😘

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Photo by Ovidio Soto on Unsplash

¡saludos, mi gente!

bienvenidos to the latest episode of our deep dive series about puerto rico! it’s been a while since the last installment - so today, we're gonna catch up and really dive into a political soap opera that's been running longer than "days of our lives" - puerto rico's quest for a defined political status.

imagine it: it's 1998, and 11-year-old me is sitting cross-legged on the floor of our home in san juan, surrounded by a cacophony of passionate voices. my abuelos are waving their fists in the air, championing independence with the fire of a thousand suns. my mom and most of her siblings are rallying for the popular democratic party, defending the status quo with tenacity. meanwhile, my dad, my brother gus, and i are dreaming of stars on the american flag – 51, to be exact.

welcome to a typical domingo dinner in puerto rico during referendum season.

fast forward to today, and here i am, still grappling with the same questions that divided my family's dining room over two decades ago. but life has a funny way of complicating things, doesn't it? after witnessing the aftermath of hurricane maria and the years of struggle that followed, i find myself questioning my once-steadfast support for statehood.

whether you're gringo, or a member of the diaspora trying to understand your roots, or a puerto rican tired of explaining your passport situation at airports – this deep dive is for you.

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check out the previous deep dive episodes: (4) puerto rico's economic exploitation and migration | (3) puerto rico in the 20th century | (2) the colonization of puerto rico | (1) the start of the series!

episode 4: puerto rico's quest for political status

to understand puerto rico's current situation, we need to rewind to 1898. after the spanish-american war, spain ceded puerto rico to the united states. in 1917, the jones-shafroth act granted u.s. citizenship to puerto ricans, but the island's political status remained undefined.

deep dives with edgard: puerto rico in the 20th century

A timeline of Puerto Rican history between 1898 and 1950.

the status quo: what even is a "commonwealth"?

imagine you're at a family reunion. there's the main table where all the decisions are made, and then there's the kids' table. puerto rico? we're stuck at the kids' table, but we're old enough to drive and pay taxes. that's essentially what being an "unincorporated territory" or "commonwealth" means.

here's the deal:

• we're u.s. citizens (thanks, jones-shafroth act of 1917!)

• we can't vote for president (unless we move to a state or the district of columbia)

• we have one non-voting member in congress (our resident commissioner, who's basically the kid waving their hand in class but never gets called on)

• we don't pay federal income tax

• federal laws apply, but sometimes congress treats us like that cousin they conveniently "forget" to invite to the wedding

as my abuela would say, "ni de aquí, ni de allá" (neither from here nor there). it's a political limbo that's about as comfortable as doing the limbo in a three-piece suit.

A timeline of Puerto Rican history from 1950-2024.

the three-way tug of war: statehood vs. independence vs. status quo

now, let's meet our contestants in this political pageant. picture a three-way tug of war, but instead of rope, they're pulling on the future of 3.2 million people:

1. team statehood: these folks are like that friend who's always trying to make the relationship official. "51st state, baby! put a ring on it!"

2. team independence: imagine your friend who's always talking about sovereignty and social justice. that's these guys, but for an entire island.

3. team enhanced commonwealth: the "it's complicated" relationship status of puerto rican politics. they're trying to cherry-pick the best parts of both worlds, like wanting to go to the party but not help with cleanup.

each option comes with its own flavor of hope and headache. let's break it down:

statehood: the american dream™?

pros:

• full representation in congress (hello, voting rights!)

• full presidential election participation (no more watching from the sidelines)

• guaranteed federal funding and programs (show me the money!)

cons:

• potential dilution of cultural identity (puerto rico loses miss universe and olympic teams, national faves)

• pay federal income taxes (goodbye tax haven status, hello irs nightmares)

• possible resistance from mainland politicians (looking at you, republicans who say statehood is “socialism”)

independence: ¡viva la revolución!

pros:

• full sovereignty (we make our own rules, baby!)

• preservation of cultural identity (keep the salsa music pumping)

• ability to make independent trade deals (economic freestyle)

cons:

• possible loss of u.s. citizenship (depending on the deal struck)

• economic uncertainty (who needs stability when you have... freedom?)

• potential brain drain to the united states (which is already happening anyway)

enhanced commonwealth: the "it's complicated" relationship status

pros:

• maintain current benefits of u.s. association (have your flan and eat it too)

• some additional autonomy (like a teenager with a later curfew)

• no federal income taxes (keep swimming in that tax haven, scrooge mcduck style)

cons:

• continued lack of full representation (still stuck at the kids' table)

• dependence on congressional whims

• perpetuation of colonial relationship (colonialism with a fresh coat of paint)

the neverending story: a history of plebiscites and referendums

alright, pop quiz: how many times do you think puerto rico has voted on its status?

if you guessed "more times than i've tried to stick to a diet," you'd be right. let's break it down:

• 1967: commonwealth wins (60.4%);

• 1993: commonwealth squeaks by (48.6%);

• 1998: "none of the above" takes the cake (50.3%);

• 2012: a two-part question where change wins, and then statehood? inconclusive;

• 2017: statehood landslide! ...with 23% turnout;

• 2020: statehood wins by a nose (52.52%).

each vote has been like watching a cat try to catch a laser pointer - lots of movement, but not getting anywhere. why? because...

congress: the ultimate ghosting expert (featuring the racist insular cases)

here's the kicker, mi gente: all these votes are basically puerto rico sliding into congress's dms, and congress leaving us on read. but the problem goes deeper than just congressional inaction. enter the insular cases, a series of supreme court decisions from the early 1900s that are about as racist as your tío's facebook posts.

these cases, decided in the wake of the spanish-american war, essentially said that the constitution doesn't fully apply to territories like puerto rico because... wait for it... they were "inhabited by alien races" and couldn't understand "anglo-saxon principles." yep, you read that right.

Political cartoon from Puck magazine; January 25, 1899. This captures the racist mind-set of the Insular Cases and the thinking at the time. See “Porto Rico” sitting next to Hawaii. Source: Library of Congress.

the insular cases are the legal backbone of puerto rico's current status, creating a bizarre limbo where we're "foreign in a domestic sense." it's like being told you're part of the family, but you have to eat at the kids' table. forever.

article iv, section 3 of the u.s. constitution gives congress the power to admit new states or change territorial status. in other words, we can vote until the coquís (our tiny but loud tree frogs) evolve into dinosaurs, but it's congress who holds all the cards.

deep dives with edgard: puerto rico in the 20th century

why the holdup? well, it's complicated:

1. political balance: admitting puerto rico could shift power in congress. some politicians, like mitch mcconnell and other republicans, are about as excited about this as a teenager is about their parents joining tiktok.

2. cultural and linguistic differences: some argue that puerto rico's distinct culture and spanish-speaking majority make it too different. porque learning spanish would be soooo hard, right? 🙄

3. economic concerns: with billions in debt, puerto rico's economy is shakier than a jenga tower in an earthquake. this makes some in congress nervous.

4. status quo inertia: changing puerto rico's status would require effort. and we all know how much politicians love extra work, right?

so here we are, stuck in a political limbo created by century-old racism and maintained by modern-day political convenience. it's like being trapped in a bad sitcom where the laugh track is just the sound of coquís mocking us. but hey, at least we have good music to dance to while we wait for congress to remember we exist, right?

the puerto rico status act: a saga continues into 2024

in march 2021, rep. darren soto and puerto rico’s then-resident commissioner jennifer gonzalez introduced h.r. 1522, the puerto rico statehood admission act. if passed, it would make puerto rico a state faster than you can say "despacito."

at the time there was also a rival bill, the puerto rico self-determination act, calling for a status convention. it's like when two djs are fighting over the playlist at a party - nobody's dancing, and everyone's confused.

fast forward to december 2022, and we got a new player in the game: the puerto rico status act. introduced by rep. raúl grijalva, this bipartisan bill aimed to let puerto ricans choose between statehood, independence, or sovereignty in free association with the u.s. but here we are in 2024, and guess what? we're still waiting. the bill passed in the house back in 2022, but it's been stuck in senate limbo longer than that tupperware of months-old arroz con gandules in the back of your fridge.

with each new congress, it's back to square one – the bill needs to be reintroduced and start the whole process over again. it's like a political groundhog day, but with more plátanos and less bill murray.

meanwhile, debates rage on about the best path forward. it's like when two djs fight over the playlist at a party - nobody's dancing, and everyone's confused. but this isn't just about music; it's about the future of 3.2 million people.

so, will 2024 be the year puerto rico finally gets to update its relationship status? there is yet another non-binding referendum this year alongside the general elections. at this point, your guess is as good as mine.

diaspora perspectives: puerto ricans on the mainland

now, let's talk about the 5.8 million puerto ricans living in the u.s. - that's more than on the island itself! they're in a unique position, often straddling two worlds.

puerto ricans are americans, but they don't enjoy all the rights and privileges of full american citizenship.

many in the diaspora are passionate about the island's future, but opinions are as varied as abuela's frituras platter. some push hard for statehood, seeing it as the path to full rights. others champion independence, dreaming of a sovereign borinquen. and still others prefer commonwealth status, fearing loss of culture with statehood or economic instability with independence.

deep dives with edgard: the colonization of puerto rico

international context: how does puerto rico compare?

puerto rico isn't the only place in this situación. let's look at some global comparisons:

• u.s. territories: like guam, american samoa, and the u.s. virgin islands, puerto rico is part of the u.s. but not a state.

• free association: places like the marshall islands and palau have a "free association" deal with the u.s. they're independent, but the u.s. provides defense and some financial support.

economist josé caraballo-cueto emphasizes:

"any status change will have profound economic implications for puerto rico. the key is to ensure that whatever path we choose leads to sustainable economic growth and improved quality of life for all puerto ricans."

future scenarios

imagining puerto rico in 2050 under different statuses:

1. as a state: fully integrated into the u.s., with increased federal funding but also increased taxes. spanish and english are official languages, with a vibrant bicultural identity.

2. as an independent nation: a sovereign caribbean state, facing initial economic challenges but developing unique trade relationships. strong cultural identity, but potential population decrease due to migration.

3. as an enhanced commonwealth: similar to today, but with more local autonomy. whether this is a good deal or not will depends on the final negotiated terms with the u.s.

deep dives with edgard: starting off!

what can you do? a call to action for puerto rico

mi gente, we've journeyed through a century of political limbo, but our story doesn't end here. it's time to turn knowledge into action, to transform our collective voice into a force for change. here's how you can make a difference:

1. stay informed: dive deep into puerto rican news sources and information. knowledge is your weapon in this fight for justice.

2. speak up: your voice matters. contact your representatives and demand they address puerto rico's status. silence is complicity in the face of injustice.

3. support puerto rican businesses and culture: our economy and our identity are intertwined. every purchase, every shared song, every celebrated tradition is an act of resistance.

4. visit the island responsibly: see beyond the tourist traps. engage with our communities, listen to our stories, and carry them back with you.

5. have conversations: spread awareness like wildfire. make puerto rico's struggle a topic at your dinner tables, in your classrooms, at your water coolers.

for those hungry for more, feast on these resources:

• book: "puerto rico: a national history" by jorel melendez-badillo

• documentary: "the last colony" (2015)

• podcast: "la brega" by wnyc studios and futuro media

but remember, mi gente, this isn't just about politics or history. this is about 3.2 million lives hanging in the balance of congressional whims and outdated, racist legal doctrines. this is about a people yearning for self-determination, for dignity, for a voice in their own future.

to ignore puerto rico is to deny america itself.

let this be your rallying cry. challenge those who would dismiss us as a mere tropical getaway. remind them that democracy rings hollow when millions of citizens are left voiceless. decolonization is not a metaphor—it's a moral imperative. make this your mantra. in a world striving for equality, the continued colonization of puerto rico is a stain on the conscience of every american.

so i challenge you, whether you're boricua by blood or ally by choice, to make puerto rico's fight your own. let your actions echo louder than words, let your solidarity bridge oceans.

because in the end, puerto rico's struggle is america's struggle. it's a test of the very ideals the united states claims to uphold. and in this test, inaction is failure.

pa'lante siempre,

edgard 🇵🇷✊🏽

p.s. if this deep dive ignited a fire in your soul, fan those flames. share this knowledge, spark these conversations. because the first step towards change is awareness, and the second is action.

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coming up next: episode 5 - modern challenges and the path forward

mi gente, our journey through puerto rico's history isn't over yet. in our next episode, we'll dive into the turbulent waters of recent years:

• the economic crisis and promesa: we'll unpack how puerto rico found itself drowning in $72 billion of debt, and how the controversial promesa act has impacted the island. spoiler alert: it's not pretty.

• hurricane maria and its aftermath: we'll relive the devastation of 2017's hurricane maria, exploring how the island's political status affected recovery efforts and amplified long-standing inequalities.

• the ongoing fight for decolonization: finally, we'll look at the growing movement for decolonization in puerto rico and discuss concrete ways that americans, both on the island and the mainland, can support this crucial fight for self-determination.

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