Comments on: Has Anyone Noticed Puerto Rico is About to Explode? http://trueslant.com/eliemystal/2009/10/15/has-anyone-noticed-puerto-rico-is-about-to-explode/ Politics in the Post-Racial Age Wed, 09 Mar 2011 14:15:27 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: rockyinlaw http://trueslant.com/eliemystal/2009/10/15/has-anyone-noticed-puerto-rico-is-about-to-explode/comment-page-1/#comment-186 rockyinlaw Tue, 03 Nov 2009 14:55:02 +0000 http://trueslant.com/eliemystal/?p=438#comment-186 NO, I didn't notice. Thanks for bringing it to my attention. I googled mainstream press to find out what happened on that day. CNN had something to say -- http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/americas/10/15/puerto.rico.strike/index.html There I was surprised to find out that PR has been suffering this economic crisis longer than the mainland has by three years, and that their unemployment rate is 15%, and then I learned that "about 70% of PR's budget is dedicated to salaries and benefits for government employees ... more in proportion to population than any state." And that to "help close a $3.2 Billion budget gap" the PR gov wants to lay off 17,000 workers and seems to be leaning toward privatizing many of the functions of gov. I can only wonder at what the reasons the Press has for ignoring these astounding statistics. The World Socialist organization, which popped up on my Google search, http://www.wsws.org/articles/2009/oct2009/puer-o05.shtml says: "It is anticipated that at least 30,000 public workers will lose their jobs, while the government has vowed to shut down some 40 agencies through a process of privatization and consolidation." I'm not sure who it is that is doing the "anticipating" but this sounds potentially, well, destabilizing ... So, what should I conclude? That the Obama administration is ignoring all of this or advising and approving of it? Will O help PR, and if so, how? geez. NO, I didn’t notice. Thanks for bringing it to my attention. I googled mainstream press to find out what happened on that day. CNN had something to say –

http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/americas/10/15/puerto.rico.strike/index.html

There I was surprised to find out that PR has been suffering this economic crisis longer than the mainland has by three years, and that their unemployment rate is 15%, and then I learned that “about 70% of PR’s budget is dedicated to salaries and benefits for government employees … more in proportion to population than any state.” And that to “help close a $3.2 Billion budget gap” the PR gov wants to lay off 17,000 workers and seems to be leaning toward privatizing many of the functions of gov.

I can only wonder at what the reasons the Press has for ignoring these astounding statistics.

The World Socialist organization, which popped up on my Google search, http://www.wsws.org/articles/2009/oct2009/puer-o05.shtml says: “It is anticipated that at least 30,000 public workers will lose their jobs, while the government has vowed to shut down some 40 agencies through a process of privatization and consolidation.” I’m not sure who it is that is doing the “anticipating” but this sounds potentially, well, destabilizing …

So, what should I conclude? That the Obama administration is ignoring all of this or advising and approving of it? Will O help PR, and if so, how? geez.

]]> By: ecurra19 http://trueslant.com/eliemystal/2009/10/15/has-anyone-noticed-puerto-rico-is-about-to-explode/comment-page-1/#comment-183 ecurra19 Thu, 15 Oct 2009 18:26:39 +0000 http://trueslant.com/eliemystal/?p=438#comment-183 This should be a scandal already. Puerto Rico governor threatens protestors with terrorism charges As Puerto Rico struggles with a 17 percent unemployment rate, Republican Governor Luis Fortuño is pushing forward with his plan to lay off more than 30,000 state government employees. The Governor has targeted government employees who provide critical public services to children, seniors and the poor. Since the Governor announced the cuts, thousands of workers and citizens have engaged in spontaneous acts of civil disobedience today. Thousands of Puerto Rican workers, faith leaders, students and citizens are expected to meet in Hato Ray to peacefully protest the planned cuts in essential public services. Governor Fortuño has threatened to charge citizens with “terrorism” if they take part in the planned march. Where the meaning of freedom has has gone in Puerto Rico? How the government of the United States has allowed such situation and act? This should be a scandal already. Puerto Rico governor threatens protestors with terrorism charges
As Puerto Rico struggles with a 17 percent unemployment rate, Republican Governor Luis Fortuño is pushing forward with his plan to lay off more than 30,000 state government employees. The Governor has targeted government employees who provide critical public services to children, seniors and the poor.
Since the Governor announced the cuts, thousands of workers and citizens have engaged in spontaneous acts of civil disobedience today. Thousands of Puerto Rican workers, faith leaders, students and citizens are expected to meet in Hato Ray to peacefully protest the planned cuts in essential public services.
Governor Fortuño has threatened to charge citizens with “terrorism” if they take part in the planned march. Where the meaning of freedom has has gone in Puerto Rico? How the government of the United States has allowed such situation and act?

]]> By: evaluz http://trueslant.com/eliemystal/2009/10/15/has-anyone-noticed-puerto-rico-is-about-to-explode/comment-page-1/#comment-182 evaluz Thu, 15 Oct 2009 14:33:25 +0000 http://trueslant.com/eliemystal/?p=438#comment-182 Thank you for calling attention to a situation that is currently being observed by international unions and movements. We are going through a great deal of despair with the current government, and their decisions have fascist characteristics. I hope more and more press start covering this unprecedented moment in Puerto Rico's and the Caribbean's history, and that the international and mostly US media shows support. Thank you for calling attention to a situation that is currently being observed by international unions and movements. We are going through a great deal of despair with the current government, and their decisions have fascist characteristics. I hope more and more press start covering this unprecedented moment in Puerto Rico’s and the Caribbean’s history, and that the international and mostly US media shows support.

]]> By: Tweets that mention Elie Mystal - The Black Side – Has Anyone Noticed Puerto Rico is About to Explode? - True/Slant -- Topsy.com http://trueslant.com/eliemystal/2009/10/15/has-anyone-noticed-puerto-rico-is-about-to-explode/comment-page-1/#comment-181 Tweets that mention Elie Mystal - The Black Side – Has Anyone Noticed Puerto Rico is About to Explode? - True/Slant -- Topsy.com Thu, 15 Oct 2009 14:00:56 +0000 http://trueslant.com/eliemystal/?p=438#comment-181 [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by matuzalem and Tweets Tube, ¿Qué ocurre? #ParoPR. ¿Qué ocurre? #ParoPR said: RT @matuzalem: Has Anyone Noticed Puerto Rico is About to Explode? http://bit.ly/ytCAh #ParoPR [...] [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by matuzalem and Tweets Tube, ¿Qué ocurre? #ParoPR. ¿Qué ocurre? #ParoPR said: RT @matuzalem: Has Anyone Noticed Puerto Rico is About to Explode? http://bit.ly/ytCAh #ParoPR [...]

]]> By: caligula http://trueslant.com/eliemystal/2009/10/15/has-anyone-noticed-puerto-rico-is-about-to-explode/comment-page-1/#comment-180 caligula Thu, 15 Oct 2009 13:42:57 +0000 http://trueslant.com/eliemystal/?p=438#comment-180 Where's the mainstream press on this? Where’s the mainstream press on this?

]]>