Puerto Rico Suffers Complete Blackout

We at least one regular who lives on Puerto Rico. Best wishes to them.

Amazing. Those poor people.

Why on earth is this not sticking to Trump the way Katrina has to Bush and former La governor Blanco (whose political career was unfairly obliterated)? Do most Americans not understand Puerto Ricans ARE American citizens as well?

PR is not attached to the mainland and it's not majority white so most flyovers don't think of it. I am curious why the media doesn't carry more stories on this though.

[quote] Do most Americans not understand Puerto Ricans ARE American citizens as well?

Pretty much. It's not officially a state, so no one cares.

[quote]Do most Americans not understand Puerto Ricans ARE American citizens as well?

Maybe not most, but I’m sure a sizable chunk have no idea. Ask people from New Mexico how many times they’ve had to explain that NM is part of the US and not Mexico.

Is our DL’er in Puerto Rico still here? I think about you!

I know Trump bashing is quite fashionable here, but this situation has been brewing in PR long before Trump became President.

Puerto Rico, like Venezuela, is run by corrupt political officials who permeate all levels of government and it's agencies, including the electric utility. These politicians treat Puerto Rican tax revenues as their own personal funds, not as revenues to be spent on "the general welfare." Revenues from utilities are used to fund the extravagant life styles of its management and employees, and was never used to improve the infrastructure of the utility itself. Hence, the generating/distribution system will malfunction at the slightest provocation, and totally collapse (as we have seen) during a real emergency.

But don't let facts get in the way of DL Trump bashing.

[QUOTE]but this situation has been brewing in PR long before Trump became President.

And what’s he done to make it better?

Exactly R9. A political ally of his sent some of his company guys down, probably made a bundle off of us, then had to bring them back when the media got hold of it. Since then not much has been done by the US gov't.

r8 I'm sure what you say is correct, but Trump has been President for over a year and hasn't lifted a finger to fix this issue. His WH is only good at spin, resignations, and terminations . I'm sure they could have capitalized on the hurricane tragedy to remove those corrupt "leaders" and get things back on track. Instead Trump threw towels.

There is so much great puerto rican dick lost in the darkness. This is a tragedy

R4, R5, and R6 For years Puerto Rico was solvent because US tax laws gave favorable treatment to companies that opened factories there - most of Big Pharma made many of the pills/medicines sold in the US in PR. After Castro took over in Cuba in 1959, there was also a lot of hotel and resort development there in the 1960's which meant more money and jobs. And as US citizens who can't vote in US elections, Puerto Rican citizens don't have any Senators and Congresspeople and don't pay US taxes when resident in Puerto Rico. I suspect there has long been a sort of "Plantation" attitude on the part of many Puerto Ricans as a result: they settled for less and expected less from the government. If they were ambitious for more than they could accomplish there, they learned English and moved to Neuva York. R8 Trump deserves all the bashing he's gotten - not enough in my opinion - because his lack of response and petty bickering with public officials there serves him well with his base (and some of them are pretty "base") to shit on the brown people. The response, once again, seems to be "White" (Gulf Coast Florida, Texas) "will be all right but black and brown (NOLA, PR, the USVI) goes down. And stays down." Yes, the government (D and R) and the more-or-less state run utilities are corrupt there, but show me one American state that isn't. The US response to last year's tragedies in the Caribbean has been abysmal.

r13 the Caribbean isn't our responsibility, beyond PR. Most of the Caribbean islands are either independent nations or fall under France, Spain, and the Uk's sphere of influence.

This is a national disgrace.

[QUOTE]There is so much great puerto rican dick lost in the darkness. This is a tragedy

Ain’t that the truth. 🇵🇷

[quote][R13] the Caribbean isn't our responsibility, beyond PR

Tell that to the US Virgin Islands.

R16

¿Es eso una botella de agua en tu bolsillo? ¿O estás contento de verme?

I know we have a very sweet DLer in Puerto Rico. He was able to post some updates despite power outages, but I don't know what all his resources are. I'm only bumping this thread in the hope he can update us. I'm so disappointed in my nation right now. We should be able to do better than this. At one time, we were an example for much of the world. Shouldn't that be what every county aspires to?

How the hell could he possibly update us?

It amazes me how the mainstream media couldn’t care less about this mayhem. Imagine if Hawaii suffered a complete blackout.

I remember him, r20. As I recall, he's a big fan of Project Runway.

It was reported that after the US consortium of power companies spent millions restoring service, they would take control of the system from the government of Puerto Rico.

r8 is just another Trumpie Deplorable.

Nothing new in PR.

Maybe Lin Manuel-Miranda could write a song and get the power back on.

[quote]Nothing new in PR.

you're lying

Why does everyone pretend PR is so great? West Side Story was mocking it in 1957.

Always the hurricane blowing, always the population growing, and the money owing...

R20, I'm pretty sure that person you are talking about was a troll talking to itself in the thread.

This is horrible. And the 2018 hurricane season starts again in 5 weeks. PR is doomed if they get hit again this year.

Really, R28?

SO MOTHERFUCKING FED UP!!

Apparently it's a problem for all the Caribbean Islands. I had friends who lived in the Dominican Republic, and everyone there (yes even the ones who are poor) have little diesel-plants for when there are blackout. Blackout that happen almost everday.

Hi r7 and r20.

Yep, I’m still around - I’m r33. And not looking forward to tomorrow. I spent most of the day outside today eating heavy food and drinking alcohol, in the hopes that I could come home, pass out, and skip the drama. But, alas, I just took a nap and am back up, itchy and hot, just in time for the overnight bore.

ALWAYS THE HURRICANES BLOWIN’

ALWAYS THE ELECTRIC POWER GOING

AND THE MONEY OWING

AND THE STREET LIGHTS DIMMING

AND THE BUDGET SKIMMING

This time it was the fault of some overpaid subcontractor.

Um, r30. I don’t have the time or the inclination to prove to you anything- but some of the DLers who corresponded with me back in September can attest to the fact that I provided all kinds of photographic evidence, from the havoc and devastation, to the hotties in front of me at the gas, supermarket and ice lines.

So, basically, VETE PARA EL CARAJO.

The good news is that the communication systems have not fallen apart. So, as opposed to six months ago, when I had to ride the whims of the weather and AT&T, this time I can post without problem.

.... Except for the fact that for some reason, Muriel is having problems with my credit card. I swear I have funds!!!

PP, if you’re around, the guacamayos in my neighborhood are louder and healthier than ever!

So nice to get an update from PR!!!

Sending you love r35, stay safe. Apparently some members of DL are looking for boarders, so if you need someplace to stay in the mainland just pretend to be a refuge or a twink runaway.

Thanks! Well guess what - power is back on. My kitty is happy.

Just in time for the Rachel rerun, no less!!!

And turned msnbc on just in time for a Brian Williams recap on the situation in my island.

Will never take his nasal voice for granted again

Good to here from you PR

Well, at least I didn’t need to deal with this

Thanks for remembering me and my people, DL!!

Is this blackout a good enough excuse to for CNN to send Boris Sanchez to PR to cover the story? Preferably shirtless? I think so.

Hey PR, I'm really grateful you were able to update us. I'm R20, but i care very much about you and your home, and feel very much ashamed that you're living through this. You've impressed me so much with your resourcefulness.

The media is a bunch of irresponsible assholes, r22. People who just want you to read their 127-part tweetstorm about some political detail they'll get wrong, rather than do their civic duty and inform the country of what's really happening.

Even Trump can’t be blamed for this.

R8. Speaks the truth

Thanks for the update PR!

This is the sign of a dying empire. The outer territories lose restoration and support first.

This makes me so sad, PR is such a beautiful, magical place.

R8 puts it succinctly. Inside that is how middle America looks at PR, though. Inside,we know it is run by sleazezots who are backed by the not so familiar with American pull up your bootstraps and other wholesomeness population.

R34 should not ever compare the two again!

Love you PR. When I hear of your island, I always think good thoughts for you, your mama, and your kitties.

I've lived in PR and, yes, R8 is right.

Actually eight years of neglect by "Do Nothing" Obama who did nothing, bankrupted Puerto Rico and that was the cause of it.

A proper POTUS would send the National Guard to help PR.

Every week, R58?

Why not r59? That's their fucking JOB, be there until shit is DONE

Thankfully a lot of it has been restored.