A welfare state

Dear editor:

The citizens of Puerto Rico live in a socialist welfare state in desperate need of assistance and generosity from the citizens of the United States. The “complex” problem is really pretty simple. As a commonwealth territory of the U.S., only around $3.5 to $3.7 billion is paid to the United States Treasury in taxes. Yet, they receive over $21 billion in federal assistance annually.

It citizens are also citizens of the U.S., but they are exempt from income tax. They do however pay payroll taxes (Social Security), but the vast majority of the adults are either unemployed (55 percent) or are covered by government pension plans which remain unfunded — meaning the money is not there to pay retirement benefits to the government workers who did not pay into the Social Security Trust Fund. Less than 45 percent of all adults have paid into Social Security, yet those covered by the unfunded pension plans ($70 billion) expect the U.S. to cover them under our Social Security and Medicare funds.

Puerto Rico filed for a special bankruptcy last year and they are currently in default of a $1.9 billion annual payment due on a loan from the U.S. Treasury. While the citizens of Puerto Rico are not required to pay U.S. federal income tax, in most instances, they are allowed to file a tax return and collect money under the Earned Income Credits and Child Credits available to low-income people, sometimes receiving as much as $7,500.

The citizens of Puerto Rico want massive help from the U.S., but they do not want to become a state. Why? They would have to pay income tax like other American citizens. However, while they pay very little to the U.S. in taxes, they receive massive amounts ($21 billion) in federal handouts, like food stamps (paid mostly in cash), public health, public housing and public education. One-third of the population gets

food stamps.

This island is a socialist welfare island dependent upon the U.S. As such, if they did become the 51st state, they would most likely vote for continued and increased welfare, which appears to be the platform of the liberal/progressive/socialist Democrat Party which would love to have their votes in future presidential elections.

Puerto Rico should be treated as an act of charity in disaster relief and in the general best interests of its citizens. However, federal tax benefits should be reserved only for those who are subject to the federal income tax. These benefits that should be limited to this welfare island are Social Security and Medicare benefits to those who did not pay into these funds. It is not in the best interests of the citizens of the United States not living in Puerto Rico for the U.S. to fund the $70 billion in unfunded pension payments. John Grillo Hot Springs