51st state: Puerto Rico?

[Fern]

Interesting. They've always rejected statehood before.

I think they should be careful here. Unlike many others, this is a step that once taken cannot be reversed. Do they really want to go in on a chunk of $16 trillion debt (and quickly growing)?

They would also be giving up a great deal of autonomy. Four million people won't have a measurable impact on Washington DC politics, but they would become obligated to adhere to it. Generally, they are not subject to US income taxes. They have control over their income taxes. That would change too. Transferring control of your 'country' to a place as far away as Washington DC with a much different culture and little knowledge of you or your concerns and preferences seems as odd choice to me.

And after reading a bit more about it the decision to join as a state may not be all that clear. Seems many chose to not even answer that part of the ballot. It was a two part question, and quite a few who voted on the first didn't bother with the second part. Then they dumped the pro-statehood governor and elected an anti-statehood one. The issue seems confused.

I'm reading there are approximately 4 million Puerto Ricans (and another 5 million living the US) but only about 800k voted for statehood. That's certainly not a majority. I suggest they give this more consideration and perhaps have another vote with better participation. The consequences are too great and they are irreversible.

Fern

 

[dennilfloss]

Flag would look nice still.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/05/US_flag_51_stars.svg

 

[Steeplerot]

Give it up, America will not annex it, no oil

 

[Incorruptible]

No way should they be allowed in, keep them out

 

[Agent11]

I say aye.

 

[NTMBK]

No way should they be allowed in, keep them out

Why?

 

[yllus]

Interesting. They've always rejected statehood before.

I think they should be careful here. Unlike many others, this is a step that once taken cannot be reversed. Do they really want to go in on a chunk of $16 trillion debt (and quickly growing)?

They would also be giving up a great deal of autonomy. Four million people won't have a measurable impact on Washington DC politics, but they would become obligated to adhere to it. Generally, they are not subject to US income taxes. They have control over their income taxes. That would change too. Transferring control of your 'country' to a place as far away as Washington DC with a much different culture and little knowledge of you or your concerns and preferences seems as odd choice to me.

And after reading a bit more about it the decision to join as a state may not be all that clear. Seems many chose to not even answer that part of the ballot. It was a two part question, and quite a few who voted on the first didn't bother with the second part. Then they dumped the pro-statehood governor and elected an anti-statehood one. The issue seems confused.

I'm reading there are approximately 4 million Puerto Ricans (and another 5 million living the US) but only about 800k voted for statehood. That's certainly not a majority. I suggest they give this more consideration and perhaps have another vote with better participation. The consequences are too great and they are irreversible.

Fern

Is the debt concern the major con? I wouldn't have even thought of that as a problem.

And what do continental Americans get out of this? I assume that travel to/from Puerto Rico is already as easy as it gets for you folks?

 

[shortylickens]

Not gonna happen. Congress would have to add 2 senators and at least one rep. They do not wanna add any more people. In fact they'd prefer fewer people, to get more individual power.

 

[techs]

Not gonna happen. Congress would have to add 2 senators and at least one rep. They do not wanna add any more people. In fact they'd prefer fewer people, to get more individual power.

They would fall right about where Oregon and Oklahoma do so its more than one rep. IIRC Oregon has 7 electoral votes.

 

[UberNeuman]

I fully welcome our Brothers and Sisters from Puerto Rico - The 51 first state!

As Joey would say "It's a Big Fuckin' Deal..."

\and just think, with four more years left we can get it to 57 states!

 

[techs]

If they bring their delicious mangoes I'm for it.

 

[Fern]

Is the debt concern the major con? I wouldn't have even thought of that as a problem.

And what do continental Americans get out of this? I assume that travel to/from Puerto Rico is already as easy as it gets for you folks?

I think the major con for them is subjugation to Washington DC and our dysfunctional govt.

The debt is about $54K per person right now and quickly growing. So it certainly be a concern of mine were I Puerto Rican.

I don't see what continental Americans get out of this. I suppose we could get tax revenue from them and their corporations, but if that nets out to a plus after benefits we may have to give them, I don't know.

Travel to/from doesn't register as concern for me either way. I've long had a passport and traveled without problem. And in my experience travel to Caribbean islands is particularly easy, just show up.

Fern

 

[IndyColtsFan]

Not gonna happen. Congress would have to add 2 senators and at least one rep. They do not wanna add any more people. In fact they'd prefer fewer people, to get more individual power.

Two senators would be added but I thought (correct me if I am wrong) that the House of Representatives is a fixed size and redistricting would occur to give Puerto Rico their proper representation in the House. (EDIT: Looks like it is fixed at 435, but Congress did temporarily increase it to 437 when Alaska and Hawaii entered in order to give them representation until redistricting could be completed).

I also thought that in terms of wealth, Puerto Rico would be the poorest state by a huge margin. I need to look up more recent numbers and see if that is still the case.

EDIT: Using Wikipedia numbers, GDP looks to be on par with Mississippi now with Mississippi's per capita wealth at about $32K vs. around $27K for Puerto Rico. I didn't find a household income for Puerto Rico but it is $36K for Mississippi.

 

[DCal430]

Why?

Because he is a hateful bigot.

 

[Incorruptible]

Why?

Because it would increase the size of government and the bureaucracy, more spending, taxes and regulations

We already have enough problems as it is, we dont need more

 

[Steeplerot]

I fully welcome our Brothers and Sisters from Puerto Rico - The 51 first state!

As Joey would say "It's a Big Fuckin' Deal..."

\and just think, with four more years left we can get it to 57 states!

If we go increasing the number of states and messing up all those perfectly good Chinese made flags, how about we "trim the fat" of some red states first.

 

[Rainsford]

I think the major con for them is subjugation to Washington DC and our dysfunctional govt.

The debt is about $54K per person right now and quickly growing. So it certainly be a concern of mine were I Puerto Rican.

I don't see what continental Americans get out of this. I suppose we could get tax revenue from them and their corporations, but if that nets out to a plus after benefits we may have to give them, I don't know.

Travel to/from doesn't register as concern for me either way. I've long had a passport and traveled without problem. And in my experience travel to Caribbean islands is particularly easy, just show up.

Fern

You make an interesting argument, but I don't think it's just a logical question for folks on either side. Being part of America but having no say in how things are run doesn't sound all that appealing to me. Your logic suggests no place should really want statehood, but I bet that wouldn't be the case if we asked most states.

 

[dawp]

No way should they be allowed in, keep them out

there is a saying you should bide by:

it is better to be thought a fool than to open ones mouth and remove all doubt.

 

[EagleKeeper]

It would be neat to live during a time that added a state to the union.

All that indicates is that you are under 50

 

[Nintendesert]

I really don't see why Puerto Rico would do this, they are Americans and get all sorts of aid and don't have to put up with the US. I was in San Juan two years ago on my way to St. Croix and it was a nice place, but damn Ricans are loud!

I really don't see it changing a ton, there's more Puerto Ricans in the US than in Puerto Rico. It would be cool to me to gain another State though.

 

[jlarsson]

If they are going to be connected to the mainland culturally like that, screw the loyalty oaths/english and fascist stuff, PR's are good folks, but they need to learn to use freaking tortillas. Food you can hold = American, buncha weirdos with their giant mushy bananas that spill everywhere.

That Puerto Rican deep fried chicken in a good old American easy to carry on the run tortilla and you could have the world in your firm grip.

Melting pot = mmmmmmm

Just fry up those "giant mushy bananas" into tostones, food you can hold!

 

[Binarycow]

there is a saying you should bide by:

it is better to be thought a fool than to open ones mouth and remove all doubt.

an old fool's habit is hard to change.

 

[Sonikku]

This is just another concentrated attempt by Obama and his liberal minions to increase his voter stronghold with promises of giving them more socialism and stuff than they have already as a territory. The only consolation is replacing all our American flags would be cheap because these days they're all made ultra cheap with the miracle of capitalism in China sweatshops.

 

[randomrogue]

This is just another concentrated attempt by Obama and his liberal minions to increase his voter stronghold with promises of giving them more socialism and stuff than they have already as a territory. The only consolation is replacing all our American flags would be cheap because these days they're all made ultra cheap with the miracle of capitalism in China sweatshops.

I simply don't understand how someone could possibly say something so stupid.

 

[LOL_Wut_Axel]

Not gonna happen.