Yet again the issue of Puerto Rico’s status was debated on Wednesday on the floor of Congress with little progress in any direction. Three positions are being argued for. One being to maintain the current Associated Free State status with Ricans on the island granted U.S. citizenship but without being able to vote for members of Congress or the president. They pay no federal income tax but pay about a third of their income to island tax collectors. The second option is to make P.R. the 51st U.S. state. The third option would leave the island an independent country. The reality of the situation is that all the debate of the world doesn’t change the fact that the U.S. Constitution only allows for two options: statehood or separation. So while many tout that fact that the people of Puerto Rico have voted in four plebiscites on their status since 1967, none were authorized or recognized by Congress, which the Constitution charges with overseeing territories.

After so many years of debate and with nothing changing, when will Ricans realize that the the U.S. has no interest in changing the status of the colony?

Via / The LA Times