Campus Reform: University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez

Editor's Note: This post was written by a student at the University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez.

When talking to the politically aware who live in the mainland United States, Puerto Rico is often a forgotten subject. I am of the opinion that if the conservatives were to pay more attention to Puerto Rico and adopt the pro-statehood position they would soon realize that it benefits the conservative movement. What many don't realize is that Puerto Ricans are conservatives by nature - especially on the island.

Most Puerto Ricans prefer to work and earn a living than to live in public housing projects and receive government aide. Unfortunately, almost fifty years of left-leaning governors created a system that forces the under-privileged to live depending on government aide, and penalizes the recipients if they try to progress. If you ask almost any Puerto Rican on the island if they trust the government, most would say no, regardless of whether it's a conservative or a liberal in power.

This is because Puerto Ricans are naturally skeptic of government.

Like many southern border-states, Puerto Rico has a large illegal immigration problem from Haiti, and the Dominican Republic. Thousands die each year in the Mona Passage between the west coast of Puerto Rico and the eastern tip of the Hispaniola. Hundreds more are captured by the Coast Guard and Border Patrol. The rest manage to enter the island and gain free access to public education, public state run healthcare services, and manage to gain false identifications to benefit from Social Security and Pell Grants.

Most of these illegal's look for the American Dream in Puerto Rico.  Even though many come to work, there is a sizeable portion of these illegal immigrants that commit criminal acts in response to the current economic crisis.

Aside from Puerto Ricans generally being against big government, conservative on social issues, and against illegal immigration, there is one issue that rises to the forefront of politics in Puerto Rico - status.

The real reason why Puerto Rico has had so many Democratic governors in Puerto Rico is tied to our status issue, and not to the way we view politics as a whole.  Currently, in Puerto Rico, the colonial or territorial political system is dominated not by the National parties, but by local colonial parties: the New Progressive Party (NPP), and the Popular Democratic Party (PDP). The the PDP is a majority of pro-territorial Democrats mixed with a left-leaning pro-independence faction. The New Progressive Party is divided between a majority of Republicans, and the pro-Statehood members of the Democratic Party. Out of the 4 NPP governors that have been elected 2 have been Republicans and 2 have been Democrats.

Conservatives should support Puerto Rico, and any other territory that has all the conditions to do so, becoming a State. Currently, 3.5 million natural born American citizens are unable to vote for the Commander-in-Chief. Any mainland born American that moves to Puerto Rico, or any of the American territories, loses his or her right to vote in the general or midterm elections. Also, the old maxim of no taxation without representation should be re-introduced into this debate.

It is true that Puerto Ricans on the island don't pay federal income taxes (at least those that are not employed by the federal government), but we do pay Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and other federal taxes. We receive less federal funds from the federal government as a result of our territorial status, which in itself is unconstitutional, as we're not a state and are a burden to the Federal government.

Currently more Puerto Ricans participate in the armed forces than residents of more than 40 States, and our veterans are not allowed to vote for their Commander-in-Chief, nor do they or any of us have voting representation in both Houses of Congress. 

Remember, Puerto Rico is a part of the United States.

Puerto Ricans value the rights and liberties of being an American citizen, but we lack the full benefits of said rights and liberties in our own home. Any Puerto Rican that moves to the States is guaranteed access to all rights, liberties, and responsibilities. 

Sadly, some members of the conservative movement have made alliances with the far-left to support territorial politics. Conservatives like Virginia Foxx, have been influenced by liberal lobbyists sent in by the pro-territory faction of the PDP, which is aligned to the Democratic Party, to stop any attempt of truly solving the status problem.  

However, others like Congressman Ron Paul and Congressman Don Young, have made clear by their actions that they endorse and support the self-determination and statehood for Puerto Rico. Even former presidents, like Reagan and George Bush Sr. have supported statehood for Puerto Rico. After all, support for self-determination and statehood for Puerto Rico is in the Republican National Party platform. 

If Puerto Rico were to become a state, I believe it would be a shining beacon of liberty and conservative principles to the rest of the United States and to Latin America.

Are you a conservative student in Puerto Rico? Do you want to get involved in the conservative movement? Contact your Regional Field Coordinator Brittney Morrett today!