If it was not for fear of Puerto Rico becoming another Soviet ally like Cuba, the USA would have freed that island long ago. Now we are stuck with a welfare island whose welfare taking citizens can just come to the USA with an American passport. But because of Hispanic politics and maybe lingering love of empire from the Military Industrial Complex, no American politician dares promise to free Puerto Rico. What would Puerto Rico do? Refuse to leave being a colony? That would be a first. At least under the old system Cold War, Puerto Rico made money for American businesses as a plantation island and as a steam ship era naval base.
http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-puerto-rico-can-t-pay-its-public-debt- island-s-governor-says-20150629-story.html
Puerto Rico staggers under $72 billion in debt; governor asks for help
