Democratic, Congress, and Public Opinion about Puerto Rico Statehood

 

Introduction:

 

Puerto Rico has a history of confusion and uncertainty on both ends of the United states and

Puerto Rico. This confusion regards to the legal and political levels of the "Commonwealth" local government structure and status. Puerto Rico forth last 100 years and up to now is known as a

"unincorporated territory". This means that the island authority is in the hands of the U.S. congress and the territorial clause of the U.S. constitutional.

A society run by the people is a democratic society. This type of can only be established through an ideal of democracy, one which we go by in the United States. We as a nation seem to operate with efficiency; due to that fact our government wants to expand into other countries such as Puerto Rico.

(1) Democratic Ideas about Puerto Rico's Statehood

 

The bill sponsored by Rap. Don young (R., Alaska) and co-sponsored by 87 others, would have Puerto Rican decide in a referendum whether they want the island to remain a commonwealth, become the 51 state, or declare independence. The note could come as early as next year; the centenary of American's conquest of Puerto Rico in the Spanish-American was much of this partaking is ask friend. The governor of Puerto Rico has a $2.50 mullion fund to play with and the legislature, dominated by the pro-statehood new progressive Party (PnP), has given each department money with which to lobby. How many of the departments push statehood? Name of them, technically; all of them, practically.

 

The bill's care supporters all favor statehood.

One in particular (the most popular Democrat) Bill Clinton. If the bill was ever to cross his desk, he would sign it. The bill deals with issues of cost, language differences, and support. Indeed, anyone who is unsure about statehood but supports the bill has read the bill carefully. The bill thoroughly was the process of "say-determination" in favor of statehood and against the other options. If Puerto Ricans choose commonwealth status, as they have in all previous referenda, the bill requires another referendum at least once every ten years—until they get it "right" since pro-independence sentiment on the island is marginal (it get 4 per cent in 1993) and the other two get are running about run, the effect is clearly pro-statehood.

 

Rep. Young says the result of the referendum would not be finding on congress. If a majority of Puerto Rico ever notes for statehood, the president will have to draw up plan weather 180 days. Congress will then libre to consider the plan under a procedure, will no filibusters and limited amendments. That plan could have the effect of " incorporating" Puerto Rico, i.e., making an equally bring promise of statehood.

 

Puerto Rico's heart is not American It is Puerto Rican. The national sentiment of Puerto Rican is entirely devoted to our Patrai, as we call our homeland in Spanish, our language. We are Puerto Ricans in the same way that Americans are Americans and, Japanese are Japanese. "We the people" means we Puerto Ricans. Only through the distorted prelims of coca-colonization would any observer confuse U.S. pluribus. Puerto Ricans is an U.S. citizen, but they are not Americans. Although Puerto Rico is not a politically independent nation, it is not less distinguishable from the United States than the non-independent Palestinian nation is from Israel. The issue of Puerto Rican status can no longer be shunted a side. Unless it addresses it directly, the United States may, at the very least, ask international embarrassment.

The issue of statehood of Puerto Rico has been a long standing debate. In October 1993,Puerto Ricans choose a change in commonwealth status over statehood. The referendum would bring Puerto Rico its sovereignty, pluralism, and diversity. They believe that if they do not respect their rights there would be a "next American Revolution."

The revolt of statehood is not something expressed not only by Latinos but of American Democrats as well. The Democratic parties have certain fears on their mind, such as import on congressional delegation, fear of a "bilingual America," and the admitting of Puerto Rico into the union. They fear it would create "another Quebec"; "the reference to the difficulties" in Canada between English-speaking and French-speaking society. Other Democrats want to eliminate "corporate welfare," they fear the killing of investments in the economy.

 

Nineteen ninety-eight marks the center of the U.S. of Puerto Rico. Since then, political and military consultation have governed U.S. policy, although commercial and economic interest have also inference it. At the end of the nineteenth century, control of Puerto Rico was basic to the extension of U.S. influence over Latin America in general and the care in particular. The invasion and acquisition of Puerto Rico, which guarded the eastern approaches of the Caribbean Sea. We integrally tied to the decision to build canal connecting the Atlantic Pacific.

 

The United States was "interested in the cage, not the bride", stated Pedro camper, founder of Puerto Rico modern independence movement, in the 1930s. Yet the island was populated in 1898 by almost a million people that had developed a distinct national identity and consecrates is an integral part of the Latin American family of nations. Since the forager art of 1900, which ended trio of U.S. military governor and provided for an all powerful appointed governor and an selected that powerless House of Derogates, Puerto Ricans have been struggling to end American colonialism. Whenever the forces of nationality and independence were on the ascent, would events reminded Americans of the island's geopolitical importance.

 

As early as 1914, the united party, Puerto Rico's majority party, proclaimed independence as its final-status aspiration, but as U.S. participation in would war become immanent, the United States lightened its hold on the Caribbean. It invaded Haiti in 1915 and the Dominican Republic In 1916 and formalized its will to achira Puerto Rico permanently by unilaterally imposing U.S. citizenship through the Jones act of 1917, over the unanimous objection of the House of Delegate. The Jones act included some reforms, such as an elected senate, but the fundamental disenfranchisement remained.

 

Which the 1930s, Puerto Rico's economy, had characterized before the American invasion by small and medium sized farms producing primarily for local consumption the principle effort being coffee for the European market became under the stimulus of U.S. tariff law a large sugar plantation dominated by absent landowner in the United States and tilled by a pauperized peasantry. The ensuing discontent of the Puerto Rican political class and the social unrest of the great depression gave rise in the 1930s to a powerful pro-independence movement. Albizu Campos, a Harvard-educated lawyer influenced by the contemporaneous rich independence struggle, led the most formidable challenge to American rule. From 1927 to 1936 he transformed the previously elite nationalist party into a combative, anti-imperialist movement with far-reaching popular synyeathy. The nationalist party boycotted the 1936 legislature election, but the liberal party declared independence as its good and became Puerto Rico's most popular party, 46 percent of the vote.

 

As moral war II loomed, Puerto Rico became the Caribbean Gibraltar. The carrot-and-stick response by the United States to the upsurge of independence sentiment was shrift. On one hand, violent repression was unleashed against the nationalist party and its follower and on the other, Roosevelt's New Deal established social programs aimed at mitigating the discontent of independence poverty.

 

In 1936 trumped up charge under the wartime sedition act of 1918 were bought against alibizee comps and other nationalist leaders, resulting in their independent for almost a decade in federal penitentiary in Atlanta. In 1927, under instructions of General Blantion Winahip, the U.S. appointed governor, police fired on a group of nationalist party members in the city of once. I wrnty-two were killed and 97 wounded. With the nationalist leadership imprisoned, many parties sympathizes and most independent in the liberal party joined forces in 1938 to from the popular Democratic party (PDP) under the leadership of Luis mudoz marin. The PDP won the 1940 elections with a pro-independence stance and a promise to solve the status issue at the end of the war.

 

The issues that statehood causes are much more than trivial matters. They would affect the nation greatly. Puerto Rican statehood would add senators and representatives in the Democratic party. Statehood would also give Democrats more power in another way, voting. In New York, Latinos came second, after African Americans, in voting for Democrats. Therefore, Puerto Rico would also affect the nation financially due to its status. Puerto Rico benefits from federal benefits. They don’t pay federal taxes. The effect of statehood would also affect the language barrier. Some Latinos feel that battles over English-only or bilingual education and the rights of immigrants threaten their cultural existence in the United States. Democrats on the other hand have doubts about becoming a "bilingual America."

The doubts expressed are truly valid ones; especially since a government supposed to be ruled by the people, doesn’t have its people active in it. Total silence is how the whole matter is being processed. This is a typical result of a democratic society; a proposal favored by a strong minority becomes a law because of the lack of interest in the majority. This is not in the best interest of an American society based on an ideal of democracy.

 

The cold war and commonwealth

 

In 1943 the non-partisan pro-independence congress, which represented, according to Munoz Marlin, "the ideals that are undoubtedly those of the majority of Puerto Ricans", petitioned the United States for independence. After World War II, however, cold war strategy took center stage, and Puerto Rican independence become anathema to Washington. The United States developed a strategy to divert the island from the road to independence which placating Puerto Rican nationalism. Bowing to American pressure, the PDP expelled independent from its makes in February 1945. This Prague led in October 1946 to the Foundation of the Puerto Rican independence party (PIP), which became the main opposition, as a reward for munoz marina's changed view toward Puerto Rico's status, in 1947 the U.S. congress issued the E lecture governor act. Under which he became Puerto Rico's fist elected governor in 1948.

 

As the newt step in the anti-independence strategy, the commonwealth of Puerto Rico was established in 1948-52. Congress left intact all section of the 1917 Jones act, henceforth to be known as the Federal Relations act, pertaining to relations tetuern the United States and Puerto Rico. Likewise, all articles and matters referring to Puerto Rico's elected House, Senate, and governor, while practically unaltered, were incorporated into a much-touted local constitution after being approved by a so-called constitutional convention and confirmed –with congressional deletions and amendments—in ayes-or-no referendum. The vote was a shame; no other status options were provided. Yet the end of the colonial was grandiosely proclaimed.

 

Albizu Compos, released from federal prison after seven years, led a nationalist uprising that was accompanied by armed attacks on Blair House in Washington, where the president Truman was then living in 1950 and on the U.S. congress in 1954. The Puerto Rican government response brute and independence. Practically all nationalist party members and more than a thousand leaders and members of the PIP, which did not advocate armed struggle were imprisoned, most of them on the basis of bank arrest warrants. The police (with the active collaboration of U.S. intelligence agencies) completed a huge blacklist of independence supporters, who were then discriminated against and harassed. The practice continued until 1988, when the Puerto Rican Supreme Court declared it unconstitutional and ordered the release of more than 100,00 files in 1992. The Puerto Rican electorate had been driven away from independence by terror.

 

The anti-independence stance of the PDP and the island increasing dependence on U.S. transfer payment made inevitable its displacement by pro-statehood forces. A powerful pro-statehood movement displaced the DIP as the main opposition, and it's electoral support from 16 percent in 1952 to 51 percent in the 1996 local elections. When the favorable postwar economic conditions changed, under section 936 of the internal revenue from federal takes--$154 billion between 1976 and 1995—real output per capital crept upward at dismally low 1.2 percent annually during the period. Migration increased, and U.S. welfare and other transfer payments to individuals (excluding social security and veteran's benefits) increased astronomically—from 7 million in 1973 to $1.7 billion in 1995, for a total of $24 billion, at current prices, during the period. Federal transfer to the local government amounted to an equivalent sum. A "permanent union" supplanted the "association" shetoric of commonwealth. Independence was equated with hunger and dictatorship, and U.S. citizenship (curiously labeled "common citizenship") was effected. Statehood came to be seen as the ultimate guarantee against the loss of the economic safety net underwritten by U.S. tafparyera.

 

Exhausted Commonwealth

 

The young bill now pending in the U.S. congress, recognizes that commonwealth cannot provide a solution to Puerto Rico's colonial problem. It acknowledges that commonwealth is territorial under U.S. law, whish in turn is colonial under international low. Nevertheless, it includes commonwealth as a provisional option until Puerto Ricans choose full self-government by voting for one of the two other options, statehood or Puerto Rican sovereignty, either in the purposed 1998 referendum or in other to be held periodically it commonwealth provides.

 

To divert Puerto Rico from independence during the cold war, U.S. economic and political support of commonwealth was an accepted cost of doing business has formally began to recognize commonwealth as a colonial anachronism, in effect joining the international community in refusing to accept colonialism as legitimate under any guise. Such recognition was inevitable. The social and psychological realities that have led people to outlaw a labor contract to work for less than the minimum wage, however voluntarily reached, led to the 1960 UN general assembly resolution or the granting of independence to colonial countries and people recognizing that national self-determination is an inalienable right, and that colonialism is not a normal condition to which human being can voluntarily consent.

 

 

Statehood provides a legal solution to the lack of Puerto Rican representatives right to vote in the U.S. congress, Puerto Rico's basic problem, however, is the dependence and subordination inherent in colonialism, not only legal and political, but also economic, culture, social and psychological. Statehood for Puerto Rico would merely to another form of dependence and subordination—colonialism with another mask—which would make dependence more acute.

 

Spanish belongs to all Puerto Ricans; it is not negotiable under any circumstance or political status. Spanish is the only language of common understanding as well as of high culture, and less them one-third of the population understands English, even a foreign language. If Puerto Ricans is told the English will have to become the primary and common language on the island, statehood will not be considered. In any case, it is up to the senate to vote on Rep. Young Bill since the House has already dun so.

(2) Congress's Opinion about Puerto Rico's Statehood

 

As a result after the Spanish American war Puerto Rico was transferred over to the United States of America. Sovereignty over the island, a decision in the hands of the Unites States of America. The United States of America made Puerto Rico a "unincorporated territory."

 

Article IV, section 3 of the United States constitution. Invests congress with the "power to dispose of and make all needful rules and regulations respecting the territory or other property belonging to the United States." Under that clause, congress saw fit to confer American citizenship upon the Puerto Rican. Through a 1917 law commonly known as the "gones act."

 

The United States congress also enacted Public law 600, which gave the island power to draft to own act. This act was to be called "the constitution."

 

All the provisions in the gones act, which governed the relationship between the United States of America and Puerto Rico remained unchanged but were now to be known as the "Federal Relations Act." Puerto Rico obtained absolutely no additional economic or political power only the right to design the structure of "internal" government. Under the "over-so" watchful eye of the United States congress.

 

For the first time in 1976 Puerto Rico witnessed presidents and congress break the ice with a "clear" support of Puerto Rico's right to statehood. Jimmy Cazta himself sent a massage to Puerto Rico, where in he pledges publicly to support whatever status Puerto Rico might choose.

 

The proceeding was over twenty years ago and Puerto Rico is still not a state. In congress there is a republican majority and fewer of statehood proponents is drawn by one thing! CASH! Over half the island's population currently for food stamps or other forms of public assistance.

 

The republican budget cutters want to do away with social programs, even though the case for making Puerto Rico the 51St. sate depends on welfare from Washington. The democrats on the other hand want to eliminate "corporate welfare." Which would probably kill current investments in the island economy.

 

Statehood would eliminate current caps on welfare imposed by congress, making the island eligible for $3 billion dollars in additional assistance. A Puerto Rico state would no longer be exempt from the federal income tax.

 

The Republican stand is this "if it aren't broke, don't fire it." They say the present status of Puerto Rico as a commonwealth isn't it broke. Republican congress felt it was and still is a bad idea. A state of Puerto Rico would have two senators and at least 6 congressmen. All hostile to a GOP agenda of spending cuts.

 

There are certain sentiments expressed that congressmen of both Democratic and Republican parties should kill the GOP bill and replace it with one that says to the people of the island that, while the option of independence will remain forever open. The option of statehood is closed.

 

The bill to make Puerto Rico a state would require the island to hold a referendum in 1998 referendum were said to be held at least once every two years. Two previous referendums were held in 1967 and 1993 in both, commonwealth status won with a large majority. Winning a vote for the statehood option and if it succeeds congress would be reward to vote on statehood every two years until it was approved.

 

In March of 1998 by a one-vote margin the House of Representatives voted to give Puerto Rico it's best chance in 100 years of becoming a state. Lawmakers passed a bill that would require Puerto Rico to hold a referendum by the end of the year on whether it should become a state or an independent nation, or just remain a commonwealth.

 

This bill is only but fair in the eyes of congress. Statehood? Puerto Rico is now only kissing the bunk of what could be their future.

 

 

(3)Public Opinion About Puerto Rico Statehood

 

The Caribbean island has been a U.S. commonwealth with limited self-governing since 1952. The House of Representatives approved the Puerto Rico bill by 209 votes to 208, setting in motion a process to determine the island constitutional status once and for all. Charles Rodriguez, president of the Puerto Rico senate, said the trend was for people to support Puerto Rico to become a state. And one reason was that Puerto Rico were not allowed to vote for the president of the armed forces, for which they had been recruited since 1917. The bill has the support of both the Republican and Democrats. Republican demands English to be the official language of the Spanish-speaking island if it becomes a U.S. state. While Clinton administration is opposed to the amendment.

 

By Guy Gugliotta

Washington Post Staff Writer

He said that on March 5,1998 the house overcame opposition from the left and right to approve historic legislation that could put Puerto Rico on the road to becoming the 51st state in the union. House Resources Committee Don Young (R-Alaska) said he would urge the Senate to act on companion legislation in hopes of producing a joint bill by the end of the congressional session this fall. If the legislation becomes law, Puerto Rico would be required to hold a plebiscite by the end of the year to decide whether it wishes to become a state or an independent country, or remain an internally self-governing "commonwealth".

 

Puerto Rico Protester Rally Over Statehood

 

By Kenneth Cole/ Detroit News Lansing Bureau

 

An estimated 150,000 Protesters where marched outside a mountaintop resort in fraction for and against Puerto Rican statehood. Camille Dillon, a 26-year-old clothing store worker said that she is for statehood. She thinks that America is great.

 

Carlos Frontera,22,manager of a art gallery favors Puerto Rican sovereignty.

 

Noelle Laureano said that Puerto Rico is under U.S. control for international trade, foreign policy and war, but Puerto Rican will established their laws, taxes and government. They are not subject to U.S. income tax and cannot vote in U.S. presidential elections.

 

Laureano,18 said that she is against the statehood. She don't want to put her country or her people down.

 

The last year Puerto Rico held a referendum on the issue was 1993, and 48.4 percent of the votes favored the island remaining a U.S. commonwealth. Statehood advocates came the closest than they ever had by getting 46.2 percent of the vote. Only 4.4 percent of the 1.6 million people voting that year favored Puerto Rican sovereignty.

 

Puerto Rico, Where self-determination, statehood don't mix

By William Santiago

 

The proposal of "self-determination" bill relies toward adding Puerto Rico’s star to the American flag. In the legislation, Puerto Ricans can choose between allowing their island to remain a commonwealth or a state or an independent republic. Support for commonwealth has been decreasing, only 1 percent of the majority are for the statehood and 49 percent of Puerto Rican are against it. American thinks that Puerto Rican would love to become the state if they don’t have to pay taxes as the price. Under U.S. citizenship the Puerto Ricans have no right to vote in federal election. Puerto Ricans regard their island as their motherland. Many island statehooders support union not as a first choice but as a practical last resort.

 

Language is an important issue on the statehood. Only 25 percent of the island population speaks English. Puerto Rico’s government Pedro Rossello, leader of the statehood party, assures the island would maintain its integrity as a bilingual state. The house approved the amendment sponsored by Rep. Dan Burton (R-Ind.) by a vote of 238 to 182, encouraging Puerto Rico to "promote the teaching of English" to the students at the age of 10. English which is a official language of the entire United States are directing specific measures at Puerto Rico.

House Debate Puerto Rico Plan

 

The House is debating to allow Puerto Rico to vote in United States. The bill tries to allow island to vote for statehood, independence, or retaining their current status as a territory. Rep. Dana Rohrbacher, R-Calif, said that he oppose the bill because he doesn’t want to loose his Spanish speaking place, its language, or its culture, or its Olympic teams or its Miss Universe contestants.

 

Many people thinks that the income level is a big problem in statehood, because Puerto Rican doesn’t have the same level of income as they have in United States. A retired government employee Emiliano Cristian Benitez, said that it doesn’t matter which flag is flying over Puerto Rico because Puerto Rico is a Caribbean and a Latin country which is a part of their heritage.

 

 

Public Opinion

Cynthia Morales

Should Puerto Rico Become a State or Independent?

 

 

Should Puerto Rico become a state or independent? That has been an issue for the past two decades. For the past couple of weeks a young bill has been brought to the House of Representatives attention whether Puerto Rico should become a state or independent?

One particular affected Puerto Rican in New York is Dr. Ramon S. Velez. He is the founder and president of Hunts Point Multi-Service Center in the Bronx. Like most New Yorkers who come from Puerto Rico, Velez had a close eye on that vote. The House of Representatives, in a 209-208 vote, said the people of the island should get another chance to decide their fate. He had mention that the people of Puerto Rico need a plebiscite, one way or the other they have to know where they stand. Among Puerto Ricans in New York, he said especially the young and well educated, the pull of independence has grown much stronger in recent years. Velez had felt the same way but the independent forces back home are not nearly organized. Jose Serrano the Democratic Congress from the Bronx stays a strong backer of the independence cause. Although, Nydia Velazquez who is a supporter of the commonwealth status, she isn’t approved by Velez. Surprisingly, in 1993, the last time a vote was taken, commonwealth edged out statehood, 48.4percent to 46.3 percent. Less than 5 percent went for independence. But important changes have occurred in the island’s politics in the past five years. The pro-statehood New Progressive Party now controls two-thirds of both houses of the island’s legislature. The Senators must follow the lead of House members for the Puerto Rican plebiscite to occur. Velez is betting the Senate will follow.

San Juan, P.R.—The Senate may soon be debating a bill that would permit Puerto Ricans living in the island to vote for statehood or independence or to become an enhanced commonwealth that would eventually evolve toward sovereignty. Feeling on the island is divided almost equally between statehood and commonwealth, with independence favored by less than 4 percent of the voters. This statistic was taken 5 years ago.

But if Puerto Ricans living on the mainland are allowed to participate in the proposed referendum, as some have recommended, they could sway the vote, because many of them favor independence. This could mean that the next generation of Puerto Ricans would be deprived of the right to American citizenship.

Puerto Ricans have contributed more than $500,000 to political campaigns in the United States. Since Puerto Rico has practically no natural resources, independence would be sure to hurt Puerto Rico’s economy. It would mean poverty, deteriorated health care and education, a disintegrating infrastructure and, worst of all, the disappearance of the Puerto Rican middle class.

Many Puerto Ricans in New York feel that Puerto Rico should become independent because they don’t want to become like Hawaii and lose their cultural identity. Losing their language and culture would have been a form of spiritual suicide.

Although, President Clinton recently declared, in no uncertain terms, that in order to become a state, Puerto Rico should not be forced to adopt English as its only official language and thereby abandon, possibly, its Hispanic culture.

"Statehood is the solution to our dilemma, and nationwide public opinion polls have revealed that two-thirds of the American people (including majorities in every section of the country), are prepared to accept whatever political status the Puerto Rican people prefer, including statehood." Quoted from Foreign Affairs.

I would not advocate statehood if I thought it would increase Puerto Rico’s unemployment and reduce its per capita income. Statehood will bring with it federal taxes and limitations or changes in the rebates we receive from customs duties and federal excise taxes collected on the island.

From another perspective, the state of Puerto Rico, with its ideal climate, central geographical location, bilingual personnel, and modern communication and transportation facilities, will serve as an ideal base of operations for firms of all kinds desiring to expand into rapidly growing markets throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. And here I am talking not just about manufacturing, but about a wide variety of service industries as well. Statehood will also bring a tremendous boom to Puerto Rican tourism. Like business executives many tourists are leery about going somewhere that seems too different. Tourism expanded spectacularly in Hawaii after the islands attained statehood, and Puerto Rico, with its modern facilities and distinctive landscape and culture, will surely reap a similar harvest.

The following examples of how statehood could benefit Puerto Rico economically. But the question is should Puerto Rico become an independent country. I say that Puerto Rico is better off becoming an independent country. For one thing regardless if we are a state or not tourism is always going to do well because it has an ideal climate, central geographical location, bilingual personnel, and modern communication and transportation facilities. It will serve as an ideal base of operations for firms of all kinds desiring to expand into rapidly growing market s throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. And here I am talking not just talking about manufacturing, but about a wide variety of service industries as well. Either way Puerto Rico can succeed it really up to the people of Puerto Rico to decide what they really want for the country. The way I look at it I have enough faith that the natives will make the right decision for our country.

 

 

Bibliography

 

 

 

(1) U.S. News and World report, March 16, 1998

By Linda Robinson. V. 124 N 10 p 28

 

(2) National Review, Nov 10, 1997 V 49 N 21 p 27

National Review, Nov 11, 1997 V 49 N 15 p 38

 

(3) Foreign Affairs, Nov-Dec 1997 V 76 N 6 p 100

Bt Ruben Berrios Martinez.

(4) Author: Patrick Buchanan

Source: Human events, 09/26/97

Vol. 53 Issue 36, p 20

 

(5) Author: Karen Foerstelano Mark Stamey

Source: New York Post march 5, 1998 p 5

 

(6) Author: Stevens Arroyo, Antonio

Source: San Antonio Business Journal, 2/9/96 Vol. 10 Issue 4 p 51

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Source: Human Events 8/22/97 Vol. 53 Issue 3 Z

 

(8) Author: Amselle, Jorge.

Source: National Review 8/11/97 p 38

 

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Nikita Patale

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