Yvonne |
Yvonne, 53 years of age, is a proud Puerto Rican woman born and raised in San Juan. She is married, has three children, and is a doctor. She spent her first 23 years in Puerto Rico to then move to Rochester, Minnesota for 20 years, and then returned in 2007.
For Yvonne Puerto Rico is her home, origin, and responsibility. The island is a paradise with its beaches, climate, nature, culture, and people. To be “puertorriqueño” for her is an opportunity. The identity itself carries a passion, love, and happiness even in the face of despair. The Puerto Rican culture shapes the individual and is of great importance as it forms part of everyday life. |
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Mi patria I take my culture wherever I go I wish the US would see the island and its people for more than the current public debt |
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As an adult individual leaving the island and coming back 20 years later, Yvonne noticed how the political and economic systems are heavily flawed. Puerto Rico every four years changes from one political party to another never allowing for projects to truly take effect in order to improve the infrastructure, health, education, etc. Every 4 years, the party in office gets criticized for their lack of consideration and progress forcing the public eye to search for a better option to then repeat the same cycle for years un-end. In addition, the representation of the island has also deteriorated as the people who are chosen to lead (governor) are more concerned with their own personal gain than the well-being and improvement of the nation. Economically, Yvonne noticed an increased difficulty for new businesses to form given the restrains of the government and an increased overall tax for a total of 11.5% in order for the government to tap into underground economy. The main disadvantage Puerto Rico has is its limitation of commerce as PR is not free to export and import off of autonomous will. Yvonne did disagree that Puerto Rico is being abused by the subordination of the United States, since the US is the source of many benefits as well.
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When asking Yvonne if there is any other alternative to Puerto Rico’s current situation besides maintain the derogatory political status, she replied with the PR becoming a state of the US as soon as possible.
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The more we wait, the worse it gets |