The Potential of a Sovereign Puerto Rico

Many in Puerto Rico have asked themselves whether Puerto Rico can “survive” and economically develop without federal funds and U.S. colonial rule. Since the US invaded Puerto Rico in 1898, this “we need the Americans to survive” narrative has sadly been promoted and repeated over and over again to generations of Puerto Ricans. This colonial narrative, for it to make sense, depends on Puerto Ricans accepting the “Colonial Mentality” - the belief that Puerto Ricans are an inferior and incompetent people that need superior American rule and tutelage to survive and progress”.

Thus, by accepting the colonial American narrative that Puerto Ricans are “inferior”, a colonized Puerto Rican will begin to think that they are worthless and can only be reach the pinnacle of civilization if they try to resemble or “ape the colonizer” … that includes thinking like them, speaking like them, and even discriminating against one’s own people. Such colonized Puerto Ricans (in society and government) are needed for US colonial rule to function properly.

In the past, those that denounced this colonial mentality and advocated for Puerto Rican pride, nationalism, and independence were persecuted, criminalized, arrested, exiled, silenced, assassinated, and much more… all to shut them up so that they do not convince other Puerto Ricans to reject the colonial mentality. Today, more and more Puerto Ricans are waking up, rejecting US colonial rule and the colonial mentality. These Puerto Ricans (younger and more professional generations) are not just rejecting colonialism, but they are also supporting Puerto Rico’s national sovereignty and freedom. They are also supporting sovereignty as the only viable way to promote Puerto Rico’s economic development.

While today’s pro-statehood and pro-colonial supporters promote more poverty and dependence as their only economic plan, pro-sovereignty Puerto Ricans have recognized the failures of US colonial rule and are promoting REAL economic development for ALL Puerto Ricans.

According to estimates and economic projections in Puerto Rico: The Economic Case for Sovereignty, a sovereign Puerto Rico with only a robust customs system at all ports of entry and a competitive 15 percent tax on multinational corporations—a tax rate defended by the United States overseas—would be able to generate $17.6 billion in revenues, which is almost double Puerto Rico’s current operating budget of $9 billion. The detailed economic development plan in this book shows how an independent Puerto Rico could potentially generate between $55 and $63 billion dollars in annual revenues. This, ladies and gentlemen, is true and viable economic development.

Outside of the colonial model, the opportunities for real economic growth and development for Puerto Rico are there. 

Along with combatting the nefarious effects of colonialism and the colonial mentality, it’s time to also reframe the discussion about Puerto Rico’s status on both the island and the United States—and to add some-needed dollars and cents to the conversation. The U.S. cannot continue to have colonies in the 21st century.

Instead, it must partner with Puerto Ricans in a meaningful process of deliberation and negotiation toward a transition to the political condition that Americans themselves fought and died for: freedom from colonialism and national sovereignty. Puerto Rico needs and deserves its FREEDOM in order to develop politically, democratically, and economically.