We have been inundated by commentary
on the Mueller testimony. There is no point in my adding to the babble. But
there is one other piece of news that isn’t getting the attention it deserves,
and that is the ongoing disaster in Puerto Rico.
Millions took to the streets this week to demand the ouster of President Ricardo Rossello after recordings of
private conversations revealed that he is the ultimate creep, not to mention a
cheap crook. The crowd succeeded. Rossello is headed for the door and
well-deserved oblivion. But that is not the end of Puerto Rico’s problems.
The devastating effects of Hurricane
Maria showed what a basket case the island has become under the leadership of a
string of incompetent and venal politicians. What a pity. This tropical
paradise is blessed with so many gifts, one of which is a wonderful climate
that makes it a tourist mecca, and another a population noted for its warmth,
its generous spirit, and— yes—its loyalty to America. But investments in
industry and infrastructure have been lagging, to put it mildly. The reason is
endemic corruption.
My wife’s parents emigrated from
Puerto Rico to New York in the 30’s in search of a better life. So did many of
her aunts, uncles, and cousins. The exodus continues, as Puerto Rico’s
principal export is its people. As American citizens, Puerto Ricans are free to
seek a better life in New York, Miami, or anywhere else in the land of
opportunity. But why should they continue to suffer under the desperate conditions
that compel them to do so?
If anything, the images of a million
people massed in the streets to demand Rossello’s ouster should focus our
attention on the problems that continue to plague Puerto Rico. The people
deserve better than our neglect and indifference.
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