Can anyone tell me

[liberty]

Can anyone tell me how much the US federal government spends on Puerto Rico? Whatever it is it is too much we need the money for our own people, not to mention our debt. I was thinking our foreign aid budget is about fifty two billion dollars. If we could eliminate our connection to Puerto Rico and end foreign aid we would have a considerable amount of money we could use for or own people. In the past I have supported foreign aid, but I feel we can no longer afford it in a time when social security is in trouble.

[Crackpot]

They are "our people" as they are US citizens.

Asshole.

[Scooter]

I posted this previously, apparently the village idiot was too dumbfounded to respond to it, because he didn't even bother to try:

In 2006, federal transfers to the government of Puerto Rico totalled $2.2 billion (source). That represents less than 25% of the Puerto Rican budget, far less than the federal contribution to the budgets of many states. Specifically, in FY 2010 the state of Louisiana received $14.9 billion in federal funds in a total budget of $29 billion, or 51% of the total(source).

If we're going to cut loose anyone because they are a drain on the Treasury, it should be your home state where taxpayers of other states pay more than the residents of your own state to run the government. You should be hanging your head in shame rather than demonstrating such gross hypocrisy by daring to point the finger anywhere else.

When your home state can manage to operate on the same subsidy as Puerto Rico, rather than sucking up almost seven times as much in tax money contributed by other states to feed your black hole of a budget, then perhaps you will have earned the right to talk. Until then, you're pissing straight into the wind.

[Sue U]

Now now, Scooter, I'm happy to contribute my tax dollars if for nothing else than to ensure that New Orleans remains a going concern. Mostly pleasant weather, you can't get a bad meal and every bar has a live band. What more could you want in a city? Laissez les bontemps etc.

[Crackpot]

Yeah but that's the problem with keeping NO and ditching LA?

[Joe Guy]

Great idea! Cut Puerto Rico loose from Federal funding and it will ensure that future generations of REAL Americans will get their Social Security benefits.

Why didn't I think of that?

Better yet, why didn't Romney think of that?

Or maybe he did....

[Sue U]

Yeah but that's the problem with keeping NO and ditching LA?

The Cajuns are alright, for much the same reasons, so I'd keep the bayou country as well, at least as far west as Lafayette. But you can give Lake Charles to Texas.

[liberty]

They are "our people" as they are US citizens.

Asshole.

Sorry you feel that way, but they are only citizens because Puerto Rico is an US territory and congress granted them that right; when Puerto Rico has it freedom they lose it. Individually they could keep US citizenship by moving to the US before independence, absence fraud of course. Puerto Rico is a separate nation; they represent themselves in the Olympics.

[Crackpot]

could you try that again in English?

[liberty]

IIn 2006, federal transfers to the government of Puerto Rico totalled $2.2 billion (source). That represents less than 25% of the Puerto Rican budget, far less than the federal contribution to the budgets of many states. Specifically, in FY 2010 the state of Louisiana received $14.9 billion in federal funds in a total budget of $29 billion, or 51% of the total(source).

Idgit, There is huge difference between Louisiana and Puerto Rico. Louisiana is a state and Puerto Rico is not. The status of a state is settled and status of a territory is open to change. Hell Puerto Rico is not even US property; they can leave any time they want if Louisiana tried that people would die.

[liberty]

could you try that again in English?

what part? sorry about the typos

[Scooter]

There is huge difference between Louisiana and Puerto Rico.

You're right, there is. You're on the federal government dole to the tune of almost seven times what Puerto Rico gets. Your state is one big welfare queen.

[Guinevere]

Love New Orleans. We must keep the the Big Easy and the bayous. But Baton Rouge and most of the rest can go.

[Gob]

we petition the obama administration to:
Peacefully grant the State of Louisiana to withdraw from the United States of America and create its own NEW government.

As the founding fathers of the United States of America made clear in the Declaration of Independence in 1776:

"When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation."

"...Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, that whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or abolish it, and institute new Government..."


https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petiti ... t/1wrvtngl

[Scooter]

They should be careful what they wish for, because no one will be crying over the loss of that asshole of creation.

[MajGenl.Meade]

. . . where he's gone?
He freed a lot of people
but it seems the good die young, yeah.
I just looked around and he was gone.

[rubato]

Love New Orleans. We must keep the the Big Easy and the bayous. But Baton Rouge and most of the rest can go.

Agreed. Everything north of Baton Rouge is a fucking hellhole and would be better off after a thermonuclear blast erased all human vestiges from it.

Mean, dumb, and stupid. Feed them all to the 'gators.

yrs,
rubato

[RayThom]

It was a bit chilly yet the French Quarter still smelled like stale booze, fresh puke, and steaming urine. I couldn't believe how underwhelming the whole celebration was. And now that I've been sober for 31 years (November 15th 1981) I have absolutely no reason to return to that hedonistic toilet.

Thank you, Jesus, I have seen the light. Hallelujah!

[oldr_n_wsr]

And now that I've been sober for 31 years (November 15th 1981)

Good for you RayThom

Anniversary celebration coming up?
Coffee and cake rather than the usual coffee and cookies?

[Big RR]

Well, there is a big difference between Louisiana and Puerto Rico, Lousiaina is a state whose residents poay federal income taxes, while PR residents pay only payroll taxes (social security)--the best figures i could find shows that PR residents paid in around $2.5 million dollars to the federal government, while LA residents paid around $36 million in 2007. This changes the net outflow picture. Add in the fact that La has about twice (or more) the population of PR, and you'll see PR has a much bigger per capita net payment to PR. Do we get enough back to justify the expenditure--I guess that depends on what you want, the military base(s) in the Carribean and the radio antenna in Arecibo are pretty valuable, and we get the right to use Vieques as a sea bombardment practice site (maybe). But the value is debatable (as it is for many states).

by the way liberty, can you show any law that will automatically strip Puerto Ricans of their US citizenship should it cease to become a US territory? US citizenship is their birthright, and while they can renounce it, I don't think it can be stripped away (except by the courts for cause), just as US citizens living abroad do not lose their citizenship because they are not living on american territory.