Puerto Rico would have a more localized government

Under the current regulations regarding Puerto Rico's territorial status, any law passed in Puerto Rico's congress has to fall within existing US law. However, the island itself is entirely different than the US. Puerto Rico should be given its independence to govern itself however it sees fit. In its current state, Puerto Rican law is overseen by a board of non-Puerto Ricans that was appointed by President Obama when he signed the Puerto Rico Oversight Management and Economic Stability Act, otherwise known as PROMESA.^[1] Under normal circumstances, Puerto Rican law would be subject to US law already. However, under PROMESA, a political board oversees Puerto Rico, making decisions and setting policy agendas that Puerto Rican citizens never agreed to.^[2] This board was set up to control Puerto Rico's debt, which is a staggering $120 billion. However, decisions on how to best manage the debt of the island are being made from the mainland United States, with little to no knowledge of what the island actually needs. If Puerto Rico were to be given its independence, it could make its own laws, create its own system of governance, and manage its own debt, all in a way that would be more personalized to the island. Independence would inevitably lead to quicker policy action, better money management, and a better quality of life for Puerto Ricans.^[3]