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Puerto Rico Statehood?

Puerto Rico Status?

  • Puerto Rico should be freely associated with the US

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Total voters
    24
I don't live in Puerto Rico. It is their decision, they can vote to become a state or they can vote not to become a state. It's up to them. The only impact it will have on me is having to buy a new flag when they add a new star.

I think if you were looking at this objectively you'd realize how ignorant this statement is. Taxes, language laws, immigration, representation in Congress, all of that will change.
 
I think if you were looking at this objectively you'd realize how ignorant this statement is. Taxes, language laws, immigration, representation in Congress, all of that will change.

No it won't. My taxes won't change a whit, most Puerto Rican's already speak English, they are already immigrating to the U.S. in record numbers anyhow, making them a state will allow people to move both ways freely, but again, at 3 million, it's a mere drop in the bucket. Further, it isn't like Congress does anything now, you're just adding two more useless senators and another useless congressman. Big deal.
 
Keep in mind, joining the union as a State is a one way street. A State cannot un join the union.
If there is any question on this see the Civil War.
 
Keep in mind, joining the union as a State is a one way street. A State cannot un join the union.
If there is any question on this see the Civil War.

Exactly. Once they make that choice they can not say they want back out. It's hell of a good reason to not do it in the first place, imo. Why anyone would want to join a union where they don't have the freedom to leave is beyond me.
 
Puerto Rico should do whatever Puerto Rico wants to do. I really don't care one way or the other.
 
It should either become a state or independent nation. No more of this territory crap. Same with Guam, Midway, etc.
 
Personally I think it is the Dakota's that should unite. As a nation our north/south divisions have been much more problematic.

What about the Carolinas?
 
Is it how I would vote if I were voting in the referendum, or what I think as an outsider?
 
Personally I think it is the Dakota's that should unite. As a nation our north/south divisions have been much more problematic.

I kinda think we need more north/south divisions. Florida definitely needs it. The northern part is conservative and the southern is liberal. No matter how the vote turns out each election, 49.999% of the state is unhappy.
 
Puerto Rico is having a referendum in November to choose whether it should be a territory, a state, an independent nation, or freely associated with the US.

What do you think it should be?
Personally they should do as they please. That said there is something to be said about remaining a territory.
 
...they are already immigrating to the U.S. in record numbers anyhow, making them a state will allow people to move both ways freely...

Actually, Americans and Puerto Ricans already are allowed to move both ways freely. Puerto Ricans are born U.S. citizens, and are free to come and live in the U.S. as they please. Likewise, Americans born in the U.S. are free to go and live in Puerto Rico as they please.
 
Exactly. Once they make that choice they can not say they want back out. It's hell of a good reason to not do it in the first place, imo. Why anyone would want to join a union where they don't have the freedom to leave is beyond me.

You could have said the same thing about all of America outside of the Original 13. I don't know your political leanings for certain but America would not have hardly any conservatism if all we had was the East Coast dominated by the North East.

As someone probably more familiar with the geo-politics than most, Puerto Ricans want statehood. They just don't want a 100% tax increase. Most Puerto Ricans live on the US mainland, mostly in New York, Chicago and Florida. About 4 million live on the island. All Puerto Ricans are US citizens from birth, carry US passports when traveling internationally but because of constitutional guidelines cannot vote for POTUS as only states are included in the electoral college. However, just like someone moving from Texas to Oklahoma if a Puerto Rican moves to the mainland he can register to vote in his new state as soon as he gets an address there and then participate in presidential elections. Granting PR statehood will not add to the entitlement rolls since as part of the US they already get federal entitlements. Independence would decrease entitlements though since they'll be on their own if that happens, which trust me, won't happen. Because of the the plight of their former sister island of Cuba, the risk of coming under a dictatorship has pretty much cancelled out any aspirations of independence except among a very small single digit percentage of the population. After a century of thinking of themselves as secure under the American flag and especially since Castro, Puerto Ricans have become very Americanized serving in every US war since WWI. Currently the PR National Guardsmen can be called up to serve in Afghanistan but they cannot for President. Politically, statehood would mean 5 new House seats, 2 US Senate seats and 7 electoral college delegates.
 
Didn't Puerto Rico reject statehood over taxation reasons?
 
What would be the benefit to the people of Puerto Rico, besides being involved actively in U.S. politics, of Puerto Rico becoming a state, as opposed to the U.S. territory that they are now?
 
I voted state but its not really my call the vote is on them.

But I also feel that Puerto Rico should only have two choices become a state or independent nation.
 
Whichever they prefer, I really don't care either way.


It would be kind of a pain to change all the flags though.
 
It would be kind of a pain to change all the flags though.

Maybe we could just leave the flag unchanged? Kind of like how the Big Ten has twelve members, but they still call it the Big Ten.
 
Whichever they prefer, I really don't care either way.


It would be kind of a pain to change all the flags though.

still a change but we could always go with a texas style, just one big star to avoid future changes?
 
What would be the benefit to the people of Puerto Rico, besides being involved actively in U.S. politics, of Puerto Rico becoming a state, as opposed to the U.S. territory that they are now?

LOL, you just said the main reason :rofl
 
You could have said the same thing about all of America outside of the Original 13. I don't know your political leanings for certain but America would not have hardly any conservatism if all we had was the East Coast dominated by the North East.


My point is simply this, a contract with no ending and no way out is a bad contract and anyone with any sense would not sign the contract. Temporary benefits are fine and dandy but what happens when the day comes and you want out? That avenue is completely shut down and you have to die for it. Why would you agree to this contract they are faced with if they know that is all they can expect? That is complete insanity. Furthermore, the United States has already proven to not uphold its constitution and its word. Originally many states had a deal with the federal government that they could leave when and if they decided to do such a thing but after the civil war that deal was voided and in the process the US broke its word. The law of the land is breached all the time, be it the commerce clause, the welfare clause, the necessary and proper clause, the amendments, you name it, the law of the land is basically a meaningless piece of paper. Why would you join a country that doesn't even respect its own law? It makes no sense and there is simply no good reason other than temporary benefits that basically amount to selfishness, like welfare programs, you would actually do it, none.
 
LOL, you just said the main reason :rofl

In that case, if I were a voting resident of Puerto Rico, I'd vote to stay a territory of the U.S. All of the benefits of being a state, without the taxes. Being allowed to choose between a giant douche and a turd sandwich in every U.S. election isn't a good enough reason to join the union. In fact, it's probably a drawback.
 
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we can just take them over too! ;)

lol no, thanks, I had no idea

Sidenote: You do understand Liberia is a former US territory in Africa. In the mid 1800s one possible option that was being discussed in America was to allow freed former slaves to be repatriated to the land of their ancestors. Of course centuries had passed since their great-great-great grandparents were first brought to America so it wasn't a seemly option and not embarrassed by all. Some did jump at the offer and modeled their new country after their former home in America. Instead of tribes like the rest of West Africa, Liberia was subdivided into counties. Law enforcement officers were Sheriffs. Their names didn't sound African but Jefferson, Washington, Taylor and Johnson are common Liberian names. The capital is Monrovia, in honor of President James Monroe. To this day Liberians see themselves as America's younger brother and those with American heritage refer to themselves as Amerigos. Anyhoo, the reason their flag looks like ours.
 
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