Continued from Part 1 (Read Part 1 by clicking here)
The last entry on the issue facing the Territories, dated April 28, discussed superficially the cause of why the Federal Government may operate outside the Constitution’s scope. This one will instead focus on how best to solve the issues faced by our fellow Americans in the Territories. Before delving into specifics, it is important to say that individuals in the Territories have no say in Congress, and they cannot vote for the Commander-in-Chief either. This last point should be more salient because they are among the top troop contributors to the Armed Forces (see https://www.ncsl.org/Portals/1/Documents/magazine/articles/2018/SL_0118-Stats.pdf).
So without access to the polls or Congress, the remaining solution—and one little discussed—would be to activate the diaspora, especially here in Florida, where there are over a million Puerto Ricans. If activated, voters in the diaspora could apply pressure on Congress, without any party preference: Voters would instead elect public servants committed to bringing our fellow Americans in the Territories to parity, not leaving them stagnant. After this is done, questions about the Territories’ statuses can be resolved once those in them can fully exercise their democratic rights.
This might seem simplistic, but it is the sole way through which we can help our fellow Americans. Other avenues, including Congress and the courts, have been foreclosed.
