First step … to recovery and “freedom”!!
“No More Jones Act in Puerto Rico!” …..#PuertoRico
For over a year – in this web site, in Latino Rebels, on ABC TV, C-SPAN, Al Jazeera TV, New York 1, and NPR Radio – I have been arguing for terminating the Jones Act (aka the Cabotage Law) in Puerto Rico. In other words, the island must no longerbe prohibited from developing its own shipping industry.
The New York Times agreed with me. As a main policy recommendation in their editorial “Puerto Rico Needs Debt Relief,” the Times editorial board declared:
“Lawmakers should allow non-American ships to carry goods between the island and the mainland, which is prohibited by the Jones Act of 1920 to protect the domestic shipping industry. That will lower shipping costs to Puerto Rico, including those for oil and natural gas, an important consideration for an island economy.”
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/02/opinion/puerto-rico-needs-debt-relief.html?_r=0
The desperate need for Jones Act reform was affirmed in the recent Krueger Report…
View original post 1,165 more words
It Is What It Is 
I couldn’t agree more about the Jones Act (Merchant Marine Act). It is destroying Puerto Rico’s economy, not to mention Hawaii, Alaska and any mainland US small business trying to compete with the few Jones Act Corporations that have this industry in a complete monopoly. People do not understand how much this archaic law hurts business outside of the shipping industry. These companies demand mainland business while fixing the rates of ocean freight. The result is not only a monopoly on ocean freight, but a monopoly on freight moving across the entire United States. This means a higher costs for everyone as well as a massive loss of jobs for anyone who tries to compete with these few corporations.
If you pay attention to anyone who supports the Jones Act of 1920, you will see that they are speaking on behalf of a special interest group for these government backed, largely tax payer funded corporations. The only exception to this are a few union employees who feel (incorrectly) supported by this law due to the years of rhetoric that has been passed down by their bosses. There’s no doubt that a monopoly on a industry holds up the jobs of the few employees that benefit from it. You have to ask yourself, however, if the jobs of a few, outweigh the suffering of millions. That is assuming that the Jones Act (of 1920) actually helps these union workers. Where I come from competition means more businesses, which means more jobs.
While your at it, check out a youtube video on the Jones Act:
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so very much for stopping by and leaving this incredibly educational comment. I’ve been wondering about Hawaii and the other territories. This is huge …. again, thanks!
LikeLike
Thanks so much again for sending this video my way. I will use it …. soon!! TY!
LikeLike
If you don’t mind, I’m going to quote some of your words in a post that I’m working on … and will use the video you included.
I thank you in advance …. Let me know if you don’t agree with me doing this.
LikeLike
Where do you come from?
LikeLike