Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Politics : Just the Facts, Ma'am: A Compendium of Liberal Fiction -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Solon who wrote (40473)	9/18/2005 2:52:45 PM
From: Lazarus_Long	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 90947

CRACK.... CRACK.... PLUNGE! Not that strong! It is common knowledge and plastered in Government reports from both parties and embedded in the Legislation that (160) drug companies based in the UNited States Territory of Puerto Rico pay NO FREDERAL INCOME TAX. This is sometimes referred to as Corporate Welfare. Back that. You saw the excerpts from financial statements of several companies. It is also common knowledge that the NIH funds massive research on behalf of the Drug Companies and that American citizens fund the NIH. GREAT! We'll send the bill for NIH to Canada from now on! That suit you? Frankly, I think few US citizens resent their tax money going to medical research. You get the benefit too. Want your supply of all new drugs stopped? Also, NIH research only goes so far and that far does not include getting the drug over the FDA regulatory hurdles- -a long and expensive process. So your point is largely moot in any case. "Puerto Rico must be allowed to determine its own political status and become a sovereign independent nation, or full-fledged state of the Union," said Odishelidze. "Only then will the island become able to tax the billion-dollar businesses that it hosts. It's the only way to end the drug makers' free ride and return $22 billion annually to the U.S. Treasury."" Purto Rico has had numerous votes on the independence question. Those pushing independence have (obviously) lost every time. 1967 The Partido Estadistas Unidos (United Statehooders Party) is founded by Luis A. Ferré, to campaign for statehood in the 1967 plebiscite. On July 23, first plebiscite on the political status of Puerto Rico is held. Voters overwhelmingly affirm continuation of Commonwealth status. Commonwealth 60% Statehood 39% Independence 1% 1968 Estadistas Unidos organized the Partido Nuevo Progresista (New Progressive Party) under Luis A. Ferré's leadership. The party campaings for Puerto Rico to become the fifty-first state in the Union. On November 5, Luis A. Ferré, leader of a pro-statehood party, is elected governor, with 43.6% of the vote, becoming the first time a pro-statehood governor has received a majority. Ferré is elected governor under the slogan "Esto tiene que cambiar" ("This must change".) .................................................................. 1991 In an island wide vote, Puerto Ricans reject an amendment that would have "reviewed" their commonwealth status. welcome.topuertorico.org The proponents of statehood picked up little more support than in the last referendum held in 1993, when they gained 46.3 percent of the vote. In 1967 they won 38.98 percent. The third historic alternative for Puerto Rico, independence, gained only 2.5 percent of this latest vote. While the majority remains hostile to the statehood option and masses are dissatisfied with the status quo, a relative handful see the creation of a sovereign nation state as a credible solution to the social problems confronting the Puerto Rican people. wsws.org Puerto Ricans are American citizens and can enter and leave and work in the US without any customs or immigration barriers. As Mexico can attest, that is a great boon. They have had and continue to have the right to become independent or a state an so far have chosen neither.