Reagan and Statehood  ( The Wall Street Journal, Feb 11, 198)

I.                   When I formally announced my intention to seek the

Republican nomination in1980, not only included a commitment to support

statehood forPuerto Rico if the people of the island desired statehood. It also

included a commitment that, as President, I would initiate  statehood

legislation, which really means that that I would take the lead in persuading

the people of Puerto Rico—the mainland United States- all American Citizens-

that statehood would de good for all of us.

II.                Fidel Castro hardly  let’s a speech go by without denouncing

“Yankee imperialism” in Puerto Rico and calling for total independence from the

United States. (Now they are Chavez, Raul Castro, Noriega, Evo Morales, etc)

III.             As Commonwealth, Puerto Rico is now neither a state nor

independent, and thereby has an historically unnatural status………. Its unnatural

status creating tensions around the idea of American “colonialism” Yankee

Imperialism”

IV.             In cementing itself to us as the 51st State, with unbreakable

bonds, Puerto Rico would represent a positive bridgehead into the Caribbean

Latin America and the developing world.

V.                The geopolitical concept of Puerto Rico’s exposed position on

the frontlines of  geoplitics isn’t new… It is understood by Gov, Carlos Romero

Barcelo and San Juan Mayor Hernan Padilla, the two dynamic advocates of

statehood, and profoundly understood by Luis Ferre. To these men, statehood is

an historic imperative.

VI.             About US: If we  en the United States cannot design a model for

a political economy that is sufficiently attractive, I f we can’t win over our

fellow citizens in Puerto Rico to the nuptial that statehood involves, how can

our model succeed as an instrument of foreign policy  anywhere in the world?

VII.          Puerto Ricans already face higher Tax Rates and they have shed a

disproportionate share of blood, relative to mainland citizens, in our wars.

VIII.       We must once again make economic policy an essential ingredient of

foreign policy. This is behind my idea of Statehood for Puerto Rico.

IX.             We should pick a peaceful battleground of competition between

economic systems, and…. a positive foreign policy. We can build from a

bridgehead in Puerto Rico.

X.                To show the world that the American idea can work in Puerto

Rico is to show that our idea can work everywhere!

 Gerald R. Ford: «Statement on Proposed Statehood for Puerto Rico,» December 31,1976. http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/?pid=5538.

IN OCTOBER 1975 the Ad Hoc Advisory Group on Puerto Rico, appointed jointly by the President of the United States and the Governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, recommended a new Compact of Permanent Union between Puerto Rico and the United States, to provide maximum self-government and self-determination for Puerto Rico.

The proposed Compact would institute fundamental and far-reaching changes in the relationship between Puerto Rico and the United States, and its provisions would affect a wide array of Federal programs and interests.

Members of my Cabinet have thoroughly analyzed the proposed Compact and made recommendations to me. After studying their comments and recommendations and giving deep thought to this important proposal, I have concluded that the proposed Compact, significant and important though it is, does not advance as rapidly as it might freedom and opportunity for the American citizens of Puerto Rico.

I believe that the appropriate status for Puerto Rico is statehood. I propose, therefore, that the people of Puerto Rico and the Congress of the United States begin now to take those steps which will result in statehood for Puerto Rico. I will recommend to the 95th Congress the enactment of legislation providing for the admission of Puerto Rico as a State of theUnion.

The common bonds of friendship, tradition, dignity, and individual freedomhave joined the people of the United States and the people of Puerto Rico.
It is now time to make these bonds permanent through statehood in accordance with the concept of mutual acceptance which has historically governed the relationship between Puerto Rico and the United States.

Of course, I would not make reference to a «relationship» or «friendship»
because Puerto Ricans are Americans.

Los puertorriqueños Ciudadanos de los Estados Unidos van las guerras en defensa
de la democracia y los valores de la nación Americana
y dan su vida, pero no pueden votar por el Presidente (Comander in Chief) ni por
los Congresistas  que toman la decisión.

Estos datos fortalecen nuestra posición de que el ELA territorial-colonial
discrimina contra los Ciudadanos de los Estados Unidos residentes
en Puerto Rico y es la causa principal del terrible déficit democrático que
afecta los derechos de los Ciudadanos Americanos en la Isla.

* Cortesía de Pedro Campos.

Hernan

* Statistics Off the Vietnam Memorial Wall

«Carved on these walls is the story of America, of a continuing quest to
preserve both Democracy and decency, and to protect a national treasure that we
call the American dream.»  ~ President George Bush

There are 58,267 names now listed on that polished black wall, including those
added in 2010.

345 WERE SECOND CLASS CITIZENS BORN IN PUERTO RICO

Bear in mind that Puerto Ricans who reside in the Island can not elect 2
Senators and 5 Congressmen or women and can not vote to elect our Commander in
Chief, POTUS
(A democratic deficit is worst than a fiscal deficit. The first one is related
to human rights, the second only to monetary issues).      Hernan padilla