Puerto Rico is a colony of the U.S. since 1898. We are American Citizens since 1917. We do not vote for the President of the U.S. Puerto Rico is located in the Caribbean and is the smallest of the Greater Antilles. As proud American Citizens, our soldiers have fought in the following wars: *World War I *World War II *The Korean War *The Vietnam War. It might be said that the armed forces are on a voluntary basis now, but this was not so during the first four wars depicted above. There are three political parties in Puerto Rico. The Popular Democratic Party, 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 in a Congressional plebiscite. The Independence Party. Party members are about 50,000. 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 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 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 Colony is bankrupt! You name it, and its all here! Where has all YOUR money gone?! It has been said in the political arena here, that the leaders of the actual commonwealth (the colony), have become rich and famous, thanks to these Federal Funds and have even founded corporations and live a lavish lifestyle. This is the only place in the world were teachers become Millionaires if they belong to the Commonwealth Party (PPD). These leaders have maintained a high leve 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. We are planning to open a WebSite showing the ghastly conditions Puerto Rico is in. I believe in Statehood for Puerto Rico because I believe in equality and justice for all, including paying taxes for the progress of the State. God Bless America!
Ricardo I - Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico is the bankrupt Colony of the USA. The local budget of the Colony of Puerto Rico is 9.2 Billion Dollars of which 6 Billion goes to paying the government employees (260,000 of them-the government is an employment factory used for getting votes on election day) and the rest 3.2 Billion goes to paying for office equipment, maintenance, rent, telephones and other. How much of this money goes down the drain, no one knows for sure. The bankrupt Colony survives thanks to the 22 Billion Dollars it receives from the hard working American Taxpayers every year (See my post "The Colony Of Puerto Rico And The American Taxpayer" of may 15, 2006). The supporters of the Colony (the actual government and their leaders) are doing fine and their bank accounts too!

I think you should call your congressman, now!

Ricardo I
Puerto Rico
Statehood er and against the Colony