John Oliver sheds some light into Puerto Rico's debt crisis.

[browneyedguuurl]

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Puerto Rico is in crisis. Last month, Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Lin-Manuel Miranda, whose parents came to New York from Puerto Rico before he was born, visited Congress to plead with them to pass legislation that would help the territory restructure its $72 billion debt

Comments

[eveofrevolution]

[browneyedguuurl]

Thanks. I hope I did it right.

[eveofrevolution]

[hammersxstrings]

so what can people do to help? is contacting your rep or senator the best route, or both?

[browneyedguuurl]

Contacting both of your state's representatives is a safe bet since the bill will have to pass through Congress AND if it passes the Senate. Thank you!

[meadowphoenix]

Is there something those of us in DC can do?

[browneyedguuurl]

Contact your rep? I know DC doesn't get voting powers either but at least they have a better shot of getting heard over PR. Thank you! <3

[sentinelsoul]

I visited Puerto Rico with my high school Spanish class in 2004 and it is a lovely island. Even then, though, I could tell there was a lot of poverty and that it seemed odd to be that a lot of business folks we ran into were whites from the mainland. One place we ate at had the owner come out and talk to us and he was saying how great it was for mainland people to come here because everything was dirt cheap and there wasn't a lot of taxes. Back then his words didn't really register, but now... =/

I'll write to my congress critters, but I have no idea if it'll do any good since they're all hardline Republicans who probably view PR as a foreign nation hurting (white, lbr) Americans. Still, I'll try.

[browneyedguuurl]

PR has been in a recession since 2002 so by 2004 the signs were starting to show. It's depressing really. Thank you for taking time and helping.

[vindictaa]

this is so incredibly sad. i hope something can be done, it's absolutely heartbreaking. i'm glad john oliver decided to dedicate a good chunk of his show to highlight this issue, it's incredibly underreported and underrepresented.

[browneyedguuurl]

Thank you. So many are hoping but I'm not holding my breathe tbh.

[vindictaa]

I hate being cynical but it's the reality of politics and the world we live in. Perhaps the extra exposure will increase public pressure. It seems to be the only tool left. Hope all your friends, family and anyone you know in Puerto Rico are doing well <3

[browneyedguuurl]

I mean, if anyone can say that it's you considering the utter destruction your country has suffered in the hands of another country's politics and meddling. Thank you and I want you to know I think about you a lot and pray your loved ones are safe.

[belandlix]

I'm glad my senator (Menendez) is being proactive about passing a PR relief package. He remains shady as hell, but at least he's on the right side of this :x

and Lin remains wonderful <3

OP, I hope your loved ones are doing alright. Help for PR is long overdue, but hopefully continuing attention and pressure will force Congress to act sooner than later.

[browneyedguuurl]

Menendez is terrible so it's conflicting but yeah, at least he's helping. Lin is a treasure.

Thank you.