Other than that thousands of tons of supplies are piling up on the dock in San Juan, and that only 20% of the drivers who should be distributing it have showed up for work, no firm statements can be made, but it does appear the local Teamsters have chosen this time for a de facto sit-down/slow-down strike. A video in Spanish which, it is claimed, supports this is making the rounds.
What makes America special–the reason we outperform so many nations economically and in actual social justice–is that we tend to be able to put aside our petty differences in countless ways, and work together for common aims. This, despite our cultural and racial diversity, which the Japanese, as one example, do not deal with at all.
When Houston became a vast lake, Americans of all stripes and backgrounds pulled together to help out. People were not worried about getting paid, or whether or not they were getting a fair shake. Work needed to be done, and it got done, and is getting done.
Puerto Rico, on the other hand, now, is showing exactly why it was in terrible trouble before the literal storm hit. Selfishness, laziness, resentment, and an unquenchable desire to shift blame all seem to be on prominent display. I want mine and fuck you seems to be a common sentiment.
Now, I’m not there, and I’m sure there is a lot of sharing going on. I’m also sure there is a lot of stealing and score settling going on too. This is why they are who they are, and why we–and yes, culturally we are a different nation, clearly–who we are.
Success is not an accident. This is claimed by people who know nothing about hard work and long term planning, for whom stealing equals the only growth they will ever know. But it is not the American way. We have thieves, but nearly everyone who gains wealth did it in one way, and one way only.