Puerto Rico in bad shape after storm

[Doc Safari]

I think US citizens should have a vote to cut them lose just as they have a vote to become a state, something they have voted no on repeatedly.

TOTALLY AGREE! And while we're at it let's cut loose California, New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, and maybe even my home state of New Mexico (I'll move to Arizona thank you very much).

[ABNAK]

That they have repeatedly voted no to becoming a state tells me they should be cut lose. Not that I particularly want that totally corrupt island to be a US state per se, but that too would probably improve if it were a state. I say if they vote yet again not to be a state, we vote they are on their own and become independent nation state of their own. See how long they last 'till they turn into Haiti etc. I think US citizens should have a vote to cut them lose just as they have a vote to become a state, something they have voted no on repeatedly.

Wonder what the actual process is to cut loose a territory? Doubt it involves a vote by anyone, but I could be wrong.

[chuckman]

Beautiful island, and next to St. Thomas, probably one of the highest-sought Navy bases until they closed shop.

I would not be surprised to see US military assistance, and fully expect to see a very generous financial aid package.

And I also think, cut them loose. We don't need them.

[WillBrink]

Wonder what the actual process is to cut loose a territory? Doubt it involves a vote by anyone, but I could be wrong.

I believe it's buy an act of Congress and not up to a public vote, but I'm not aware (and I'm far from an expert here) of a legal or Const. reason it could not be put to a public vote. Someone with more knowledge than I can clarify perhaps.

[WillBrink]

Beautiful island, and next to St. Thomas, probably one of the highest-sought Navy bases until they closed shop.

I would not be surprised to see US military assistance, and fully expect to see a very generous financial aid package.

And I also think, cut them loose. We don't need them.

And like St Thomas, where I lived for over a rear, very high crime rates that make most big cities in the US look safe. They suppress the crime stats heavily (like Vegas et al) to keep the tourism coming. At one point the big cruise ships threatened to drop St Thomas as a stop due to so many people getting robbed at knife/gun point, so they added more police around the area. That was a long time ago, like earlyy 80s or so I think, so no clue what St Thomas is like these days. I lived on the east side of the island which was quiet and far safer but there were some crazy SOB around there too. Many people there on the run from stuff in the states, at least at that time. I worked with a guy in a restaurant who was in hiding from a triple murder in the states. He was a weird dude and it actually did not surprise me he was a sociopath at all. He ended up killing someone in St Thomas over a drug deal gone bad, and once they arrested him for that did they learn he was wanted in the US. Way more people like that there (at least when i was there, granted a long time ago) like that. Bartender was also on the run from an assault charge. Drunk one night, he told me he's broken a guys jaw and nose and took off vs due the jail time.

[Hmac]

Personally I feel that we, as the parent nation, are obliged to help them overcome this as we would any other U.S. state/territory. It apparently was catastrophic. Not one dime should be sent towards their bankruptcy but this is a true disaster. I'd hate to be there right now.

Unfortunately, we'll end up rebuilding the place on our dime which in many ways will defacto assist with their financial situation is my guess. I don't see any particular reason they should remain U.S. territory at this point, but that's another topic.

Both are accurate observations IMHO.

[Campbell]

That they have repeatedly voted no to becoming a state tells me they should be cut lose. Not that I particularly want that totally corrupt island to be a US state per se, but that too would probably improve if it were a state. I say if they vote yet again not to be a state, we vote they are on their own and become independent nation state of their own. See how long they last 'till they turn into Haiti etc. I think US citizens should have a vote to cut them lose just as they have a vote to become a state, something they have voted no on repeatedly.

This right here^

[ABNAK]

If a U.S. Navy nuclear carrier (CVN) were to pull into San Juan, could it provide power to a segment of the island? Is it possible to "hook into" a carrier's nuclear reactor?

[SomeOtherGuy]

If a U.S. Navy nuclear carrier (CVN) were to pull into San Juan, could it provide power to a segment of the island? Is it possible to "hook into" a carrier's nuclear reactor?

I don't know of the answer to that exact question, but do know that it's much easier to replace generation than distribution, and I think the hurricane damaged distribution at least as much (probably far more) than generation.

[Det-Sog]

Yikes. Months without power will surely end in violence.

But... It's a socialist state with NYC style gun control laws. What could possibly go wrong??? No guns, no violence, right??? [/sarcasm]