The PIP's proposals, when removed from the lyrics, would not bring communism, but more poverty and exodus, writes José Nadal Power.
PIP's government program overlooks Puerto Ricans' mobility to the U.S., says José Nadal Power (MARIEL MEJIA ORTIZ)
In recent months Puerto Ricans have had to endure the attacks between the ideological extremes that attempt to silence the political and reasonable center. As part of this crossfire, it has been suggested that the candidates of the Puerto Rican Independence Party seek to promote communism. While there is no doubt that attending symposiums organized by the anti-American autocrats of Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua was irresponsible and raises questions about the PIP's agendas, to think that they could bring a communist regime to Puerto Rico is not credible at this time.
The danger of the PIP for Puerto Rico is another. It is the government program they have put together as a guide to what they would do in government if they were to hypothetically win an election. That government program, in addition to providing unaffordable wish lists (especially without federal funds), promises a series of anti-economic measures that would only promote poverty and the exodus of more Puerto Ricans to the United States. Let's look at five points.
First, it proposes to eliminate many of the incentives provided by Law 60, which is the backbone of our system for creating jobs and attracting investment. The PIP plan contains, for example, a frontal attack on the incentives for the export of services of said law, which create over 30,000 well-paid jobs on the island, in total contradiction with its discourse of improving the economy.
Secondly, they propose to “broaden the tax base” without clarifying where or to whom they are going to broaden it. Someone will end up paying more taxes, especially corporations, since they do promise “a new tax policy that will increase revenues from the corporate sector. This at a time when it is necessary to reduce the corporate tax burden to make Puerto Rico more competitive in attracting investment. But this does not seem to be a priority for the PIP.
Third, the PIP intends to return to the failed public system of the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority and UTIER that left Puerto Rico with an obsolete, polluting and costly electrical infrastructure that is currently a burden and perhaps the main obstacle to our economic development and quality of life. This is not a future, but a step backwards.
Fourth, should the PIP win, Puerto Rico would lose all credibility as a territory by promising and anticipating a new default to the creditors of the Government of Puerto Rico and its public corporations. The document specifically proposes a new debt audit in order to establish a “strict haircut” on what they consider to be the “legitimate debt”. This would take us back to where we were years ago, before the debt restructuring process began as part of the Promesa Act.
Finally, they promise to request the federal government to block-grant to the Government of Puerto Rico the federal funds for assistance to government and individuals “that do not constitute acquired rights”. (meaning almost all federal funds, including those of the Nutrition Assistance Program) to be used for a process of transition to a “free people” economy. I think the thousands of families benefiting from the NAP should be very concerned about that. This coincides with Congressional Bill 8393 language, which the PIP supported, to phase out those federal funds after a hypothetical proclamation of independence.
In short, the PIP's governing program overlooks the mobility of Puerto Ricans to the United States. Although as independentistas they do not like that people can travel freely to the states, it is enough for the citizen to buy an airline ticket if the aid they receive is jeopardized, or if measures are taken that threaten their employment. The PIP's proposals, when they are removed from the lyrics, would not bring communism, but they would bring more poverty and exodus. We should be concerned.
These article was originally published in English in El Nuevo Dia.
