Opinion: Puerto Rico Is American. We Can’t Ignore It Now.

[CaliCat 3,957]

34 minutes ago, Bill & Katya said:

Where in there does the commenter suggest withholding storm aid?

 

It would seem that the comment about "prioritizing between one group and another" could be interpreted as a suggestion to withhold relief, based on some litmus test related to taxes, or other type of qualification. 

[Dashinka 24,505]

41 minutes ago, CaliCat said:

 

It would seem that the comment about "prioritizing between one group and another" could be interpreted as a suggestion to withhold relief, based on some litmus test related to taxes, or other type of qualification. 

Possibly, but that is for the original commenter to clarify.

[CaliCat 3,957]

3 minutes ago, Bill & Katya said:

Possibly, but that is for the original commenter to clarify.

 

There is always room for interpretation. 

[Ebunoluwa 6,136]

In page 3 I asked for clarification of "the free ride is over".  What free ride ?

Few posts later the same poster said "they need to pay their fair share".  Sounds like parroting Trump on Nato.

 

I asked how are they supposed to pay for aid ? Never got an answer.
Now is not the time to say the free ride is over and they need to pay.

Now is the time to help.

I know little Munchkin (pun intended), being joined by Price and Pruitt all enjoy swamping around on tax payers expense but that money is better served
saving lives in PR. Now their "free rides" should really be over because they need to "pay their fair share" to their little fun destinations. Swamp creatures.

 

[Boiler 45,519]

At least PR will see their error in electing a Repub local government and oust them next time.

[TBoneTX 45,299]

Rather than argue in frustration over details and theories, how about each of us finding a worthy conduit for aid to the Puerto Ricans and personally contributing to it?  I've heard lukewarm things about the American Red Cross; who has other organizations to suggest?

[Dashinka 24,505]

1 hour ago, TBoneTX said:

Rather than argue in frustration over details and theories, how about each of us finding a worthy conduit for aid to the Puerto Ricans and personally contributing to it?  I've heard lukewarm things about the American Red Cross; who has other organizations to suggest?

Our office has set up donation drops for items that can eventually be sent to PR.  From what I am hearing and reading the difficult thing is finding methods to actually ship these donations down there.  I would expect this to become easier as ports and airports are brought back to full operation.

[eieio 1,594]

The White House held a press briefing about the relief efforts in PR.

 

What is clear is that the mainstream media's mail objective is to make President Trump look bad.  They were able to hurt Bush after Katrina and figured they could do the same after the Texas and Florida hurricanes to Trump. 

 

The Trump administration has put competent people in charge that are able to get the job done.

[Dashinka 24,505]

1 hour ago, eieio said:

The White House held a press briefing about the relief efforts in PR.

 

What is clear is that the mainstream media's mail objective is to make President Trump look bad.  They were able to hurt Bush after Katrina and figured they could do the same after the Texas and Florida hurricanes to Trump. 

 

The Trump administration has put competent people in charge that are able to get the job done.

I know what you mean. Listening to the news breaks on the radio (ABC) they try to make it sound like relief efforts are just now starting to arrive in PR.

[The Nature Boy 7,659]

3 hours ago, Bill & Katya said:

Our office has set up donation drops for items that can eventually be sent to PR.  From what I am hearing and reading the difficult thing is finding methods to actually ship these donations down there.  I would expect this to become easier as ports and airports are brought back to full operation.

I can tell from past experience with family and Yolanda,  sending items such as clothes is a good way too feel good but a waste of resources.  These folks need medical aid,  water, building supplies,  food, etc. They need businesses back open and for their econmy to start working again. Really the finest way to help is money,. It is much more efficient to buy a shipload of water , than try to aggregate donations of water a case or two at the time from all over the country. As an example. 

 

After Yolanda there were mountains of donated clothes rotting in the sun, that ties up valuable resources getting them there.

 

Also playing politics with the situation like the MDL has done just causes distractions,  and they should be ashamed. 

[The Nature Boy 7,659]

2 hours ago, eieio said:

The White House held a press briefing about the relief efforts in PR.

 

What is clear is that the mainstream media's mail objective is to make President Trump look bad.  They were able to hurt Bush after Katrina and figured they could do the same after the Texas and Florida hurricanes to Trump. 

 

The Trump administration has put competent people in charge that are able to get the job done.

Exactly and it is a distraction from the Herculean relief effort being put together by our govt and other relief  agencies, which are doing a fine job. Those that chose to use this time to drive wedges and engage in attack politics,  have the blood of PR on their hands and should hang their heads in shame.

[Amica Nostra 4,803]

5 hours ago, TBoneTX said:

Rather than argue in frustration over details and theories, how about each of us finding a worthy conduit for aid to the Puerto Ricans and personally contributing to it?  I've heard lukewarm things about the American Red Cross; who has other organizations to suggest?

I shared the same  concern about  the Red Cross but my employer doubled their Red Cross matching making my donation triple so I went that route.

[CaliCat 3,957]

6 hours ago, TBoneTX said:

Rather than argue in frustration over details and theories, how about each of us finding a worthy conduit for aid to the Puerto Ricans and personally contributing to it?  I've heard lukewarm things about the American Red Cross; who has other organizations to suggest?

 

Amen to that. The Red Cross got some bad publicity lately, but it's still one of somewhat reliable organizations. You can also Google "Puerto Rico Relief" and other agencies will come up in the search. You can further search under https://www.charitynavigator.org and check how different organizations use the money they receive. No matter how you look at it, there is always something we can do to help our fellow Americans. 

[Amica Nostra 4,803]

45 minutes ago, Nature Boy Flair said:

Exactly and it is a distraction from the Herculean relief effort being put together by our govt and other relief  agencies, which are doing a fine job. Those that chose to use this time to drive wedges and engage in attack politics,  have the blood of PR on their hands and should hang their heads in shame.

If you go back and look at my statements in this forum you will not find me criticizing FEMA or the White House for their efforts in Florida or Texas.

My criticism around actions in this storm focus on the president taking his eye off the ball trying to make political hay attacking  NFL players when his personal lead should have had the same focus and intensity he brought to the other storms.

My other concern was around public opinion treating PR as a lower priority for longer term rebuilding because the have a second class status.

As far as public debate over sending more military shipping for support and the decision to waive the Jones act..those probably were helped by debate.

 

 

We have the potential for a Katrina 2.0 , we (everyone except the Coast Guard) got that wrong. Let's not stay silent when speaking up would help.

[CaliCat 3,957]

9 minutes ago, Il Mango Dulce said:

If you go back and look at my statements in this forum you will not find me criticizing FEMA or the White House for their efforts in Florida or Texas.

My criticism around actions in this storm focus on the president taking his eye off the ball trying to make political hay attacking  NFL players when his personal lead should have had the same focus and intensity he brought to the other storms.

 

My other concern was around public opinion treating PR as a lower priority for longer term rebuilding because the have a second class status.

As far as public debate over sending more military shipping for support and the decision to waive the Jones act..those probably were helped by debate.

 

We have the potential for a Katrina 2.0 , we (everyone except the Coast Guard) got that wrong. Let's not stay silent when speaking up would help.

 

Considering the actions taken by the administration, that was also the opinion of the majority of the American people, and debate may have helped nudge them into action. There is always EMR in the atmosphere when the light becomes unbecoming.