10
/ Wednesday, March 9, 2022
10
/ Wednesday, February 9, 2022
Kenneth Davison McClintock 22nd Secretary of State of Puerto Rico
Kenneth Davison McClintock 22nd Secretary of State of Puerto Rico
Lessons from Ukraine
FT
The Right to Life
After thirty years of independence from the old USSR, most Ukrainians, especially those born in freedom, know no other system than a solidly institutionalized democracy. In just two weeks, they have discovered its fragility.
or the past two weeks, Puerto Ricans have he Right to Life” is a been observing phrase from used in the afar the horrendous national discourse only in the context of the invasion by Vladimir beginning Putin’s Russia of its of life when discussing women’s neighboring country, right to choose or the Ukraine, expressing solidarity with end of life and euthanasia. However, at least once Ukrainians and the direct effects athat person is born, he or she has an enduring right it has been triggering in our of survival throughout life. In designing several pocketbooks. It remains to be seen important federal programs since as far back as if Puerto Rico has been discerning, the nineteenth century, the Federal government within the terrible fog of war, multiple has sought to help Americans prolong their lives. lessons beCivil learned our people. self-sufficient.’ If we can do it, then it Duringtothe War, by President Abraham Lincoln First of all, are we learning the should be done.” saw the need to create a system, now known as lessons of democracy’s fragility? After In order to reduce our dependence the Department of Veteran Affairs, to provide thirty who years of independence fromwith the medical on gasoline, we should follow a those fought in America’s wars old USSR, most Ukrainians, two-pronged strategy. First, have services that would help themespecially live and receive those born in freedom, knowprovide no other the Pierluisi administration develop medical services. Few nations those who have served level ofinstitutionalized health services as America. system thanthe a solidly the support network necessary to During theIn Depression, as partthey of the New democracy. just two weeks, increase the use of electric, as well as Deal, federal government have the discovered its fragility. saw the need to hybrid plug-in, vehicles on our roads. help Americans afford basic health even notifying the Venezuelan coal and non-United States natural gas, They thoughtwho thatcould their not democratic Puerto Rico’s Energy Bureau, services, andrespected began to provide the federal be over $4 billion, and and its putative president America supports, but on international crude oil. treasury would system was by theirsome assistance. its chairman Edison Avilés In the 1960s, President Lyndon Johnson the federal share would be 83%. President Guaidó, could an American The second lesson is that we must immediate neighbor, Russia, and that four commissioners, have begun spearheaded efforts to create Medicare the While those are automatic in aand state, also backstab Puerto Rico learn to be much less dependent onbenefits they would be strongly defended by for president pressuring PREPA LUMA to elderly and the disabled and Medicaid for the Puerto Rico’s non-voting representative Jenniffer if it’s diplomatically convenient in fossil fuels we don’t produce and can’t another world behemoth from afar, modify our network to support medically indigent. González, Governor Pedro Pierluisi, and their As Congress struggles to and learn to be they not already control, more selfthe United States, the main beneficiary the future? Have electric vehicle (EV) chargers. Unfortunately, federally subsidized medical predecessors for generations, have to devote repeatedly ignored the will of our reliant energywise. We’ve heard that of Ukraine’s willingness to give up its The administration has received assistance has not been made available to all legislate and keep America a lot of time and lobbying efforts to plead with people as to our future relationship? one before. Fourteen years ago, one nuclear warheads over two decades millions of federal Americans in a non-discriminatory fashion. Congress and every President from LBJ ondollars to seekto start fiscally stable past Friday, Learning that first lesson should of the world’s strongest renewable ago, in exchange for America’s treaty installing EV chargers throughout the As for veterans, VA facilities are doled out, not the equality that would guarantee residents of lead us to insist, more forcefully energy advocates, Bill Clinton, stated: promise to defend Ukraine’s territorial island. It’s time to use Fast. This strictly on the basis of need, but as a result of Puerto Rico the “right to life” that is automaticit.on February 18, Puerto“In Ricans on than ever, for Puerto Rico’s status to the United States,the themainland. most integrity and sovereignty. could include providing subsidies patronage or political influence. Partisan politics the as wellcompelling as their beitresolved. That mainland is a decision that candidate for complete only has Russia invaded its in when to private households, andNot seniority in Congress is factored is There are many reasons why an absolute apartment depends less on us and more on energy independencemajority is Puerto Rico neighbor, but the aUnited hasor clinic determined where new VAStates hospital will buildings and private of Puerto Ricans in Puerto Rico wantparkings to representatives in Congress Congress because they have tostatehood. import 100According install be located. In that a state-like that and the President. found excuses tocase, partially renegejurisdiction on for-pay EVover chargers. to multiple polls, 75% should have two voting senators andatwo voting Among the multiple make partial sure inpercent of their energy. The Congress should the next of Puerto Ricans in Florida, 60% of of Puerto its treaty promises to fully defend Ourover Secretary Housing could representatives doesn’t, up gettingsanctions the in New York and probably absolute the West has imposed battled, for yearsRicans and years, about former nuclearbut power thatends changed use federalan funds at his disposal few days to include has language short end of stick. majority the two thirds of America’s Puerto on Russia lies our second lesson to what kind of tax incentives weofought its status asthe such at its prodding. to install EV chargers in our public Regarding Medicare, that same state-likebe learned: “Oil to liveprojects in the states rules”. the thetoRight give to Puerto to get who new have chosen that willNeither protect to RicoRicans The first lesson for Puerto Rico? housing that are home to jurisdiction representation in United the and not in discriminated Puerto Rico, also want EVs are not States nor the West have manufacturing jobs down there so that 56,000 As much aslacking we’ve voting been citizens of families because Life in Puerto Rico, providing national legislature as well as in the Electoral statehood for the territory. However, because of well-off closed Russia’s oil spigot, the second they will not be so desperately worse the United States for 105 years, we only for the economically College that elects that jurisdiction’s president and the discrimination in extending federally financed oil producerequal in the world. For 124under offMedicare than the rest of us. A lot of the benefits must always be aware that there anymore. vice president, Congress has built in mechanisms health services it is also a life or years, America has made Puerto incentives that have been given and to the island, are forces in our hemisphere that The second prong is to use our tax to extend Medicare services almost equally, but and Medicaid to its citizens in death issue, a denial of the Right to Life. Rico dependent on fossil fuels. As a lower labor costs that are enjoyed have system to promote the sale of EVs. want toWhen breakI turned up that65 relationship, almost. last month, I qualified As Congress struggles to legislate and keep result, Puerto Rico has become the been totally wiped away in Puerto Rico our territory. regardless of the chronic lack of votes every car should for the Medicare coverage that I’d been paying America fiscally stableWhile past Friday, February 18,pay a minimal American jurisdiction most affected by the fact that they have to import for independence in our ballot boxes, excise tax, EVs that currently pay $0 premiums for 47 years. However, if I didn’t ask Puerto Ricans on the mainland as well as their by energy inflation triggered by 100 percent of their energy. And they such as the powerful São Paulo should see a very gradual increase, particularly for “Part B”, one of the most important representatives in Congress should make sure Putin’s invasion ofto Ukraine. pay throughout much more for itin than Forum and the Puebla both conventional gasoline benefits, I wouldn’t get it.Group, Anywhere else in the the the nextrest fewofdays towhile include language that will vehicles services all the medically indigent Not onlyAmerica, are our the gasoline and diesel usstatutorily do. So, why doesn’t America avowed supporters independence should see aRico, less-than-gradual nation I would get thatofbenefit automatically. That protect thesay, Right to Life in Puerto providing cost in Puerto Rico is prices as fastatas in the of million the ‘That’s part of the United States, andunder Medicare for Puerto Rico. In a time theRico, discriminatory rule---“opt in”inifwhich in Puerto “opt rising increase to motivate equal benefits and Medicaidthe to market to capped less thanrest $400 and the federal nation, butshare electric rates are goingofto we’re to figure its outcitizens a way through out” if anywhere else--was devised United States sent a delegation tofor Medicare purchase EVs. be our in our territory. That should is limited to 55% the total cost,going requiring to be less for Maduro the federal government in rise much higher because Puerto Rico to the sun, through wind, through agenda for the next America’s poorest jurisdiction cover 45% of the the urgent meet withexpensive the Nicolás regime Weweek, have seeking to learnthe the second Puerto Rico, only Puerto Rico. full extension The Right to triggered Life in Puerto RicoPutin invasion In a state with demographics similar tothrough the is the onlycost. jurisdiction that produces efficiency, closing landfills,of and to potentially liftinsanctions and lesson by the Concerning Medicaid, program to provide through and statehood. nation’sentirely, most populated territory, the total electricity almost over 95%, on through allcost the to stuff we talkedequality about to enable the purchase ofthe Venezuelan and reduce our dependence on oil. a fossil fuel mix that includes not only make Puerto Rico completely energy oil and enrich its dictator without Fast.
“
