Puerto Rico is part of United States
Apr
I was surprised to see that a small item about Puerto Rico that was squeezed between news from Afghanistan and Somalia — in the World section. What happens in Puerto Rico is world news, not national?
Last time I checked, Puerto Rico was a part of the United States, and had been for over a century.
True, it is not a state; Puerto Ricans do not pay the same taxes, and they cannot vote in presidential elections. On the other hand, a Puerto Rican could become president. All persons born in Puerto Rico are citizens of the U.S.; they carry U.S. passports when traveling abroad.
They pay for their food in U.S. dollars. They pay into, and in turn receive, Social Security. They have a (non-voting) representative to Congress. Their defensive forces are a part of the U.S. military. Young Puerto Rican men are subject to the draft and have served with distinction for generations. The historical and environmental sites of the island are administered by the National Park Service.
In other words, Puerto Rico is roughly on par with the status of Hawaii on Dec. 7, 1941. Is it not part of the nation?
