Puerto Rico On Verge of Electing First-Ever Pro-Independence Governor #NationalDivorce
People will only tolerate federal overreach and neglect for so long. Eventually, the desire for self-determination becomes too powerful to ignore...
Puerto Rico, long under the United States’ jurisdiction, stands on the cusp of an historic moment. Juan Dalmau, a dynamic candidate running on a pro-independence platform, is giving Puerto Ricans something they’ve rarely seen in modern history—a real possibility of breaking free from Washington’s control. As Texans, we should take note, for the success of Puerto Rico’s sovereignty movement would offer a vital lesson in reclaiming the inherent right to self-rule.
The Struggles of Federal Control
The island of Puerto Rico has been entangled in a 125-year relationship with the United States, one marked by broken promises and unfulfilled aspirations. Despite numerous referendums on its political status, the island remains a colony of the U.S., with its people lacking the full rights of U.S. citizenship yet unable to chart their own independent course. This echoes our own frustrations here in Texas. Under federal oversight, Puerto Rico has suffered through disaster mismanagement, the imposition of crippling financial boards, and the denial of essential benefits to its citizens.
We, too, have seen the results of federal failures. The inability of Washington to secure our border, uphold the rights guaranteed to us as a sovereign state, or respond adequately to the needs of Texans has led us to a similar conclusion: Texas must chart its own course. Much like Puerto Rico, we recognize that our relationship with the United States has become untenable. The only way forward is…