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Should Puerto Rico become a State?

Should Puerto Rico Become a State?

  • Yes

    Votes: 7 41.2%

  • No, they should remain a commonweatlh

    Votes: 5 29.4%

  • No, they should be independent

    Votes: 5 29.4%
  • Total voters
    17
jonny5 said:
Well, their economic problems come from federal regulations that have been bailing them out (and stopped). The freedom of no longer being dependent on the US, or having to abide by the massive bureacracy of the US would force them to change. They already have a massive manufacturing, finance, and tourism economy. Would wouldnt want to trade with them (including us)? Sure, they have to choose to take advantage, but maybe they can go in the Bermuda, Bahamas, or Dominican direction instead of Haiti or Cuba. So long as they are chained to the US, they cant make those needed reforms.
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No, their economic problems come from spending more that they take in. Yes, relying on a sugar daddy can make one lazy. But being cut off from that sugar daddy cold turkey is not a sure roadmap for success.

The current Governer is actively making changes. He is reducing spending, increasing productivity, and increasing income. It doesn't look like that "chain" is holding him back.
 
natsb said:
No, their economic problems come from spending more that they take in. Yes, relying on a sugar daddy can make one lazy. But being cut off from that sugar daddy cold turkey is not a sure roadmap for success.

The current Governer is actively making changes. He is reducing spending, increasing productivity, and increasing income. It doesn't look like that "chain" is holding him back.
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That proves my point. Removing the federal govt dependency forced them to change. Removing it even more will allow them the freedom to go even further. If they become a state theyll be bogged down with all the problems the rest of the states face, govt mandates from cradle to grave.
 
natsb said:
I'll bite... How would independence give them a better economic path? They are already bankrupt. Who would embrace them as a trade partner? I suspect their economy would head the same direction as their island neighbors.

As a State, they would see an influx of program money plus gain bankruptcy protection. Therefore, I see Statehood as their best economic path.
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I would think that as an independent, and without the benefit of automatic US citizenship, they could pass a law that taxed all Puerto Ricans income regardless of where earned. With the aid of the IRS, that would be 4.6 million additional Puerto Ricans contributing to the Puerto Rico tax base.
 
AliHajiSheik said:
I would think that as an independent, and without the benefit of automatic US citizenship, they could pass a law that taxed all Puerto Ricans income regardless of where earned. With the aid of the IRS, that would be 4.6 million additional Puerto Ricans contributing to the Puerto Rico tax base.
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They could indeed pass such a law, but it would be fruitless. There is no collection mechanism, and those 4.5 million that are already off the island would simply retain citizenship from where they already reside.
 
natsb said:
They could indeed pass such a law, but it would be fruitless. There is no collection mechanism, and those 4.5 million that are already off the island would simply retain citizenship from where they already reside.
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It isn't clear how citizenship would be treated. The folks in Hong Kong thought they could remain British subjects, so who knows. As for collection mechanism, the IRS could be extremely helpful since they have bullied other countries to help collect from US citizens overseas, no reason they wouldn't be helpful collecting from Puerto Rican citizens in the US.
 
Yes, or leave. Their choice. Dependent Commonwealth is not working out real well for them or the US.
 
I voted in the poll that they should become an independent state.

Puerto Rico is a welfare state that seems to depend on the US mainland tax payer to bail them out which they did very recently and that would most likely increase if they became a state. Its corrupt government officials drains the people of the Puerto Rican territory of any money they generate. Its a drop off point for cartel drugs on the way to the US.

Notice the voters on this poll that voted for statehood that most lean toward liberalism....why did they vote this way? Because Puerto Rico has voted democrat like forever forever. If it became a state it would add two Senators to the liberal side..same as for Washington DC.

Let Puerto Rico sink or swim on their own.
 
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