Everyone I know is one step away from an economic catastrophe, an unthinkable daily pressure that is not relieved by ever-worsening economic forecasts. I’ve lost hope of ever feeling economically secure, and take every day as it comes. This is my “new normal.”

— Mónica Pérez Nevarez, Bayamón, Puerto Rico

I am a U.S.-educated lawyer in private practice for over 30 years. I was born and raised in Puerto Rico and have lived here all my life.

I have seen my practice and income go down 90 percent in the course of the recession that has never abated and was only made worse by the commonwealth government’s bankruptcy and the devastation wrought by Hurricane Maria.

I have depleted my retirement fund and taken clerical jobs to make do over the past few years.

Speaking for myself, I can say that the systemic corruption and mismanagement of public resources, historically presupposed in theory and exposed in practice by Gov. Rosselló’s leaked chat, has provided both a coherent explanation for the island’s longstanding social and economic ills as well as a rallying point for a frustrated, traumatized, mentally exhausted and economically diminished people that could simply take no more.

— Armando A. Cardona, Caguas, Puerto Rico

I am the son of a public-school teacher. I’ve had to see her take money out of her salary to buy school supplies and other things to offer a better learning experience to her students. This is not to mention the multiple retirement benefits that are being cu t .

As a recent engineering graduate, I haven’t decided whether to go to a new country or stay here for a job under the new labor law. It’s difficult to try and form a family in an insecure environment and with many variables that push you to search for a better place.

— Víctor A. Hernández Blanco, Orocovis, Puerto Rico

Problems began before ‘that nasty and shameless chat’

I have a postgraduate degree and I was unemployed for years. I’m still only partially employed.

I plan on leaving Puerto Rico and that’s common. I’d say almost half of my family is already on the mainland. Three of them who are engineers had to leave after most of the pharmaceutical companies left.