Marxist/Leninist “progressives” I have spoken with on the mainland insist that PR wants independence even though it is only a small percentage that actually votes for independence. Of course kicking out the military and the Vieques turmoil is exactly the result that makes Russia/Putin happy. So by all means lets reward the left wing by dumping PR into the laps of Russia/China/Cuba. Please note, not all “progressives” like the Putin agenda, etc. There are definite splits and struggles occurring over that right now within the more left oriented parties.
Forty plus years ago the Puerto Ricans I got to know were not liberal/progressives. Many were veterans of the Armed Forces, some worked for US companies. At that time PR had the only majority middle class among all Hispanic countries (PR is a US territory). Regardless of what the liberal/communist/independista party say, a referendum during my three years there could not muster even 1% of the vote. The Republicans preferred Statehood. Most (Dems and all others) preferred being a territory.