--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The overwhelming majority of Puerto Rico…" description: "\"The overwhelming majority of Puerto Rico is completely, completely alienated from the political structure. Colonialism is really, really strong and ali..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8b/oscar-lopez-rivera-57750_overwhelming_the-overwhelming-majority-of-puerto-rico_2980238.jpg" --- # The overwhelming majority of Puerto Rico is completely… ![“The overwhelming majority of Puerto Rico is completely, completely alienated from the political structure. Colonialism is really, really strong and alive in Puerto Rico. And the politicians have taken full advantage of that. We have a debt of $74 billion, caused primarily by the system and the…” quote by Oscar Lopez Rivera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8b/oscar-lopez-rivera-57750_overwhelming_the-overwhelming-majority-of-puerto-rico_2980238.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8b/oscar-lopez-rivera-57750_overwhelming_the-overwhelming-majority-of-puerto-rico_2980238.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8b/oscar-lopez-rivera-57750_overwhelming_the-overwhelming-majority-of-puerto-rico_2980238.jpg) > “The overwhelming majority of Puerto Rico is completely, completely alienated from the political structure. Colonialism is really, really strong and alive in Puerto Rico. And the politicians have taken full advantage of that. We have a debt of $74 billion, caused primarily by the system and the political structure that exists in Puerto Rico.” [Oscar Lopez Rivera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-lopez-rivera/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Puerto Rico suffers deep political alienation and debt due to entrenched colonial structures exploited by politicians. **In simple terms:** Political alienation and massive debt in Puerto Rico. Key Takeaway Advocate for systemic reform and accountability. Themes colonialism debt political alienation Mood urgent determined Type political activist When to use this quote - budget negotiations - community organizing - policy advocacy - education campaigns Key Concepts economic exploitation sovereignty governance Questions to Reflect On - What reforms could reduce the debt? - How can citizens reclaim political agency? A Different Perspective Complex solutions may require international cooperation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political/) [Politician](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politician/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Puerto rico](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/puerto-rico/) ## Related quotes > [I believe that the overwhelming majority of Puerto Rico wants to be Puerto Ricans. I have been in five different states in the United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-lopez-rivera/i-believe-that-the-overwhelming-majority-of-puerto-rico-wants-to-be/) [Oscar Lopez Rivera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-lopez-rivera/) > [I think that there are times when Puertoricans think, "Oh, we are blessed with the relationship with the U.S." But the end result will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-lopez-rivera/i-think-that-there-are-times-when-puertoricans-think-oh-we-are/) [Oscar Lopez Rivera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-lopez-rivera/) > [I am surprised at the number of Puerto Ricans that are moving out of Puerto Rico still. I thought that, by now, the immigration…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-lopez-rivera/i-am-surprised-at-the-number-of-puerto-ricans-that-are-moving-out-of/) [Oscar Lopez Rivera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-lopez-rivera/) > [The majority of Puerto Ricans in Florida and New York are Democrats, but nonetheless, we have Republican governors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eduardo-bhatia/the-majority-of-puerto-ricans-in-florida-and-new-york-are-democrats/) [Eduardo Bhatia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eduardo-bhatia/) > [Exercising dominion over Puerto Rico, as the U.S. has done for more than a century - without granting Puerto Ricans the full franchise in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritchie-torres/exercising-dominion-over-puerto-rico-as-the-u-s-has-done-for-more/) [Ritchie Torres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritchie-torres/) > [I got a message from one of my friends in Puerto Rico, who said, 'Sonia, there's nobody working in Puerto Rico - they're all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-sotomayor/i-got-a-message-from-one-of-my-friends-in-puerto-rico-who-said-sonia/) [Sonia Sotomayor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-sotomayor/) > [I was ballet dancing at four, playing piano by six, and doing commercials by 12. When I was 21, I was on the number…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roselyn-sanchez/i-was-ballet-dancing-at-four-playing-piano-by-six-and-doing/) [Roselyn Sanchez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roselyn-sanchez/) > [In Puerto Rico, we have a lot of traditions. We eat a very typical thing that's called 'pasteles' - it's almost like a tamale…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-giraud/in-puerto-rico-we-have-a-lot-of-traditions-we-eat-a-very-typical/) [Joyce Giraud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-giraud/) > [Now that the there is a path for the people of Puerto Rico to express their self-determination on Puerto Rico's political status, there are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-thornburgh/now-that-the-there-is-a-path-for-the-people-of-puerto-rico-to-express/) [Dick Thornburgh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-thornburgh/) > [My mother always gives the best advice. When I left Puerto Rico to pursue my dreams, she always supported me and said to me,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roselyn-sanchez/my-mother-always-gives-the-best-advice-when-i-left-puerto-rico-to/) [Roselyn Sanchez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roselyn-sanchez/) > [I know Spanish pretty well. I'm half-Puerto Rican - my mom is from Puerto Rico - so I have a lot of family there,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lambert/i-know-spanish-pretty-well-i-m-half-puerto-rican-my-mom-is-from/) [David Lambert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lambert/) > [You want a lesson? I'll give you a lesson. How about a geography lesson? My father's from Puerto Rico. My mother's from El Salvador.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-esposito/you-want-a-lesson-i-ll-give-you-a-lesson-how-about-a-geography-lesson/) [Jennifer Esposito](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-esposito/) > [I had such a great upbringing in Puerto Rico, and it was just a very normal life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roselyn-sanchez/i-had-such-a-great-upbringing-in-puerto-rico-and-it-was-just-a-very/) [Roselyn Sanchez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roselyn-sanchez/) > [We are a possession of the United States. Congress has full authorization power over Puerto Rico.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricardo-rossello/we-are-a-possession-of-the-united-states-congress-has-full/) [Ricardo Rossello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricardo-rossello/) > [I represent the streets of Puerto Rico around the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anuel-aa/i-represent-the-streets-of-puerto-rico-around-the-world/) [Anuel AA](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anuel-aa/) ## More by Oscar Lopez Rivera > [I believe, as a Puerto Rican, that the majority of Puerto Ricans want to be Puerto Ricans. Once we become annexed to the United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-lopez-rivera/i-believe-as-a-puerto-rican-that-the-majority-of-puerto-ricans-want/) [Oscar Lopez Rivera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-lopez-rivera/) > [It is much easier not to struggle, to give up and take the path of the living dead. But if we want to live,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-lopez-rivera/it-is-much-easier-not-to-struggle-to-give-up-and-take-the-path-of-the/) [Oscar Lopez Rivera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-lopez-rivera/) > [I believe that the overwhelming majority of Puerto Rico wants to be Puerto Ricans. I have been in five different states in the United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-lopez-rivera/i-believe-that-the-overwhelming-majority-of-puerto-rico-wants-to-be/) [Oscar Lopez Rivera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-lopez-rivera/) > [I am surprised at the number of Puerto Ricans that are moving out of Puerto Rico still. I thought that, by now, the immigration…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-lopez-rivera/i-am-surprised-at-the-number-of-puerto-ricans-that-are-moving-out-of/) [Oscar Lopez Rivera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-lopez-rivera/) > [I think that there are times when Puertoricans think, "Oh, we are blessed with the relationship with the U.S." But the end result will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-lopez-rivera/i-think-that-there-are-times-when-puertoricans-think-oh-we-are/) [Oscar Lopez Rivera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-lopez-rivera/) [Explore all 6 Oscar Lopez Rivera quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-lopez-rivera/) ## More Overwhelming quotes > [For many, the call to be a Christian can seem demanding, even overwhelming. But we need not be afraid or feel inadequate. The Savior…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-d-hales/for-many-the-call-to-be-a-christian-can-seem-demanding-even/) [Robert D. Hales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-d-hales/) > [“This overwhelming, encompassing feeling is love. It's not perfect and it's messy as hell. And it's exactly what I need.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-mcgarry/this-overwhelming-encompassing-feeling-is-love-it-s-not-perfect-and/) [Katie McGarry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-mcgarry/) > [A poor self-image is the magnifying glass that can transform a trivial mistake or an imperfection into an overwhelming symbol of personal defeat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-d-burns/a-poor-self-image-is-the-magnifying-glass-that-can-transform-a/) [David D. Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-d-burns/) > [When the first Superman movie came out I was frequently asked "What is a hero?" ...My answer was that a hero is someone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/when-the-first-superman-movie-came-out-i-was-frequently-asked-what-is/) [Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/) > [Well the first time I performed, my mom was like how she is now when sees me on stage – all red, smiling from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-brown/well-the-first-time-i-performed-my-mom-was-like-how-she-is-now-when/) [Chris Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-brown/) > [My first big show was with Tim McGraw and Mark Chesnutt, and that was overwhelming. There was probably 25,000 people there. I was nervous,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-ann-womack/my-first-big-show-was-with-tim-mcgraw-and-mark-chesnutt-and-that-was/) [Lee Ann Womack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-ann-womack/) > [Babbo's menu is only four pages, but it's overwhelming - there are 20 different pastas in there, a lot of stuff. There is nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-bastianich/babbo-s-menu-is-only-four-pages-but-it-s-overwhelming-there-are-20/) [Joe Bastianich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-bastianich/) > ['I am insecure' means: I can't cope on my own. The odds are overwhelming. I can't resist them on my own. I need us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zygmunt-bauman/i-am-insecure-means-i-can-t-cope-on-my-own-the-odds-are-overwhelming/) [Zygmunt Bauman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zygmunt-bauman/) > [We are determined that before the sun sets on this terrible struggle, Our Flag will be recognized throughout the World as a symbol of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-c-marshall/we-are-determined-that-before-the-sun-sets-on-this-terrible-struggle/) [George C. Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-c-marshall/) > [When the world knows you for doing something, and what is inside of you is a bit different, it seems overwhelming at first to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sky-blu/when-the-world-knows-you-for-doing-something-and-what-is-inside-of/) [Sky Blu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sky-blu/) > [The outpouring of generosity is overwhelming. People across the Lehigh Valley are moved by the images they are seeing on TV and they want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hughes/the-outpouring-of-generosity-is-overwhelming-people-across-the-lehigh/) [John Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hughes/) > [Stepping on set is always overwhelming.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michiel-huisman/stepping-on-set-is-always-overwhelming/) [Michiel Huisman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michiel-huisman/) > [There are so many different kinds of writing and so many ways to work that the only rule is this: do what works. Almost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophy-burnham/there-are-so-many-different-kinds-of-writing-and-so-many-ways-to-work/) [Sophy Burnham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophy-burnham/) > [“I knew I was disabled when everyday home activities became overwhelming!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/i-knew-i-was-disabled-when-everyday-home-activities-became/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [Acquiring a repertoire in these days, when the vocal literature is so immense, so overwhelming, that the student with sense will devote all his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alma-gluck/acquiring-a-repertoire-in-these-days-when-the-vocal-literature-is-so/) [Alma Gluck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alma-gluck/) Browse all 1,086 Overwhelming quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The overwhelming majority of Puerto Rico is completely, completely alienated from the political structure. Colonialism is really, really strong and alive in Puerto Rico. And the politicians have taken full advantage of that. We have a debt of $74 billion, caused primarily by the system and the political structure that exists in Puerto Rico.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Oscar Lopez Rivera" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-lopez-rivera/the-overwhelming-majority-of-puerto-rico-is-completely-completely/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Overwhelming" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-lopez-rivera/the-overwhelming-majority-of-puerto-rico-is-completely-completely/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8b/oscar-lopez-rivera-57750_overwhelming_the-overwhelming-majority-of-puerto-rico_2980238.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8b/oscar-lopez-rivera-57750_overwhelming_the-overwhelming-majority-of-puerto-rico_2980238.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8b/oscar-lopez-rivera-57750_overwhelming_the-overwhelming-majority-of-puerto-rico_2980238.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The overwhelming majority of Puerto Rico is completely, completely alienated from the political structure…” — Oscar Lopez Rivera", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Oscar Lopez Rivera", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-lopez-rivera/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The overwhelming majority of Puerto Rico...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-lopez-rivera/the-overwhelming-majority-of-puerto-rico-is-completely-completely/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-lopez-rivera/the-overwhelming-majority-of-puerto-rico-is-completely-completely/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```