PieFedNomenclature means it's not an empire, right?
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PugJesus
https://media.piefed.social/posts/lJ/0T/lJ0TF4wv9EK2dc1.webp
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Explanation: In the late 19th and early 20th century, the US ‘acquired’ several large overseas territories, including Puerto Rico, Hawaii, and the Philippines. A number of smaller territorial concessions with military strategic value were also acquired. Rather than admitting to having forged AN EMPIRE in the vein of the European powers, continual debate and controversy in the USA (whose electorate traditionally cannot tell one region of the world from another, and usually doesn’t care to) left them as ‘unincorporated territories’. Largely, they were economically exploited like colonial concessions, but their exact legal status was hazy.
We aren’t saying you’re part of an overseas colonial empire! But we’re not NOT saying it either! 🥸
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This is entirely incorrect. First off, Puerto Rico receives more money from the Feds than is extracted by the Feds. Second, a massive proportion of the Puerto Rican government budget is Federal funds. Third, Puerto Ricans don’t pay Federal income tax, which has been a sticking point for many who desire to maintain the status quo.
Puerto Rico has had multiple plebiscites with results that do not clearly indicate a desire for a change in status, to statehood or independence.
I would love to see Puerto Rico as a state - likewise, I would respect and wish the best for an independent Puerto Rico. But dysfunction from the US government and uncertainty in Puerto Rico over whether a change in status is desirable are what keeps Puerto Rico an unincorporated territory today.
John Oliver voice: Moving on, to Puerto Rico: America’s Cuba