Puerto Rico is a U.S. colony since 1898.  We are American Citizens since 1917.  We do not have the right to vote for the President of the U.S.   Puerto Rico is located in the Caribbean and is the smallest of the Greater Antilles .  Our climate year round temperature is 70-85 degrees Fahrenheit and we have more than 300 miles of beautiful beaches.  We have a great Rainforest (El Yunque). Puerto Rico is a great tourist attraction. As proud American Citizens our soldiers have fought in the following wars: *WW I *WW II *The Korean War *The Vietnam War and other wars.  It might be said that the Armed Forces are on a voluntary basis now, but this was not so during these wars.  There are three political parties in Puerto Rico .  The Popular Democratic Party (PPD), which favors the Commonwealth (the actual status-colony).  Party members are about 700,000.  98 % of its members cherish their American Citizenship and are willing to vote for Statehood.  The Independence Party, which favors independence for Puerto Rico .  Party members are about 50,000 or less.  The New Progressive Party, which favors Statehood for Puerto Rico .  Party members are about 1.2 Million.

 The main purpose of this letter, is to expose the colonial situation in Puerto Rico , and of which the majority of Puerto Ricans are not proud of.  As American Citizens, the colony of Puerto Rico receives 22 Billion dollars yearly in Federal Funds without paying Federal taxes.  Our local budget is 9.2 Billion dollars of which 6 Billion dollars goes to paying government employees which number 260,000.  In the past 60 years Puerto Rico has received over 800 Billion dollars in Federal Funds and in spite of all these funds, Puerto Rico is a shambles.  Pot holes fill our city streets and main highways; scholar desertion is 40 %; We have a water crisis in which the department has a 400 Million dollar deficit and many of the 78 municipalities of Puerto Rico go without water for weeks and even months; An unemployment rate of 18 %; A health crisis in which the department has a 300 Million dollar deficit.  The Government Retirement Fund has a 9 Billion dollar deficit.  The colonial politicians have been digging into these funds for many years and that is why the system is bankrupt.  The colony is bankrupt!  Where has all your money gone?  It has been said in the political arena, that the leaders of the actual Commonwealth have even used these funds to pay filibusters in Washington , D.C. for them to derail any status solution in Congress.  Many U.S. politicians have come here to help the colonialists in their political campaigns and have even told voters that if we became a State we would have to pay very high taxes and that we could even lose our homes to the IRS.  This has helped the colonialists win elections and referendums on the status.    This is why Puerto Ricans always vote against Statehood for Puerto Rico, because they believe what these U.S. politicians say in the political campaigns here.  After they help the colonialists in their political campaigns, they leave with over $ 250,000 each for their campaigns in the U.S.   Puerto Rico is a “Political Goldmine” for some money-hungry U.S. politicians.  I don’t want to mention any names of these U.S. politicians so that this is not taken in a political sense, but maybe in the near future, we will.  The P.R. politicians who favor the Commonwealth (the colony), have become rich and famous thanks to these Federal Funds and have even founded corporations and live a lavish lifestyle; they live in $ 400,000 homes and their bank accounts are over the $ 200,000 mark.  This is the only place in the world where teachers become Millionaires if they belong to the Commonwealth Party (PPD) as leaders.  These leaders have maintained a high level of poverty so that Puerto Rico cannot become a State of the U.S.   Congress should investigate how these funds are being used here, because these funds come from the hard working American Taxpayers who are not aware that their tax dollars are being wasted here..  We  are planning on opening a WebSite showing the ghastly conditions that Puerto Rico is in.  I believe in Statehood for Puerto Rico because I believe in Equality and Justice for all, including paying federal taxes for the progress of the State and the U.S.    God Bless America !  Ricardo - Puerto Rico.

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