If most Puerto Ricans want statehood should it be granted?

[DCal430]

So on Nov 6 Puerto Rico will be voting on what the people want for its future as far as continue to be a non state territory of the U.S, Statehood, or independence. The most popular idea right now are stay a territory and statehood. If the majority of them do vote to become a State, should it be allowed? Should we allow for a 51st state of Puerto Rico.

 

[boochi]

Not right now. We don't have the money to pump into the island economy to bring the infrastructure inline with the rest of the states.

 

[DucatiMonster696]

Yes they should be granted statehood if that is what the people there want.

 

[UberNeuman]

Yes. Welcome Aboard.

\think of all the money in making new flags (in china) to celebrate.....

 

[DucatiMonster696]

Not right now. We don't have the money to pump into the island economy to bring the infrastructure inline with the rest of the states.

This is false.

Their infrastructure is not a issue whatsoever. The Feds already cover their infrastructure where appropriate and the only thing that separates them from being "inline with other states" is that they have no representation in our government because they are a territory of the US.

 

[Infohawk]

It would depend on what the current status of immigration rights are along with federal benefits. Do they already have the right to migrate here? Do they already get social security and medicare? If they do, it should be seriously considered. If there were would be a chance of a large migratory wave or having to spend a lot to get them "up to standards" I would say no.

 

[DucatiMonster696]

It would depend on what the current status of immigration rights are along with federal benefits. Do they already have the right to migrate here? Do they already get social security and medicare? If they do, it should be seriously considered. If there were would be a chance of a large migratory wave or having to spend a lot to get them "up to standards" I would say no.

Puerto Ricans are automatically US citizens when they are born. This is not a issue.

Edit: They were made US citizens via the Jones Act of 1917 and they pay into SS and Medicare. Effectively they are treated no different then any other US citizen by Federal agencies. Also Puerto Ricans already are subject to must Federal US taxes.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puerto_Rico#Commonwealth

 

[DCal430]

It would depend on what the current status of immigration rights are along with federal benefits. Do they already have the right to migrate here? Do they already get social security and medicare? If they do, it should be seriously considered. If there were would be a chance of a large migratory wave or having to spend a lot to get them "up to standards" I would say no.

They already pay into SS and Medicare, they are also U.S Citizens and are free to move to the U.S

 

[IronWing]

IMHO, they need to piss or get off the pot. Continued territorial status should not be an option. If they want to join the Union, great, welcome. If they want to strike out on their own, okay, good luck, best wishes.

 

[DucatiMonster696]

IMHO, they need to piss or get off the pot. Continued territorial status should not be an option. If they want to join the Union, great, welcome. If they want to strike out on their own, okay, good luck, best wishes.

They can't "Strike out on their own" as they are a territory of the US. Their only say is whether to become a state or not and even that is subject to approval by the Congress.

Edit: I believe though that they should vote for statehood because it doesn't serve them to be left without any representation. For the average US citizen (which includes Puerto Ricans) already living in states though it doesn't matter one way or another if they choose to remain a territory.

 

[Raghu]

Dang...can India become a part of the US?

 

[monovillage]

It's time for us to turn away from the horrible imperialist errors of our past. It's time for the U.S. to refute our empire building and grant Puerto Rico their independence. Haven't they suffered enough under the iron fist of U.S. rule?

FREE PUERTO RICO! STOP U.S. IMPERIALISM!

 

[Throckmorton]

They can't "Strike out on their own" as they are a territory of the US. Their only say is whether to become a state or not and even that is subject to approval by the Congress.

Edit: I believe though that they should vote for statehood because it doesn't serve them to be left without any representation. For the average US citizen (which includes Puerto Ricans) already living in states though it doesn't matter one way or another if they choose to remain a territory.

You don't think it matters to other Americans whether Puerto Rico becomes a state and adds two senators that would probably be socially conservative and fiscally liberal?

 

[trenchfoot]

IMO, in the minds of the people there, the decision to go for statehood is not so much what the Puerto Ricans gain from becoming a state but rather what they stand to lose.

 

[Anarchist420]

I hope they don't become a State because they'll vote for too much war and too much welfare.

 

[shortylickens]

The way things are going we should be more worried about Mexico.

 

[classy]

To be honest this would really just be a formality.

 

[Dr. Zaus]

Puerto Ricans are automatically US citizens when they are born. This is not a issue.

Edit: They were made US citizens via the Jones Act of 1917 and they pay into SS and Medicare. Effectively they are treated no different then any other US citizen by Federal agencies. Also Puerto Ricans already are subject to must Federal US taxes.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puerto_Rico#Commonwealth

"Most"?!

If most is 0% federal income tax.

with the major exception being the federal personal income tax

 

[IronWing]

They can't "Strike out on their own" as they are a territory of the US. Their only say is whether to become a state or not and even that is subject to approval by the Congress.

Edit: I believe though that they should vote for statehood because it doesn't serve them to be left without any representation. For the average US citizen (which includes Puerto Ricans) already living in states though it doesn't matter one way or another if they choose to remain a territory.

Of course Congress would have to approve any action but there is precedent in both directions, statehood or independence, i.e. the Philippines. While the US certainly has a long history of maintaining non-state territories I think we function best as a union of states and territorial possessions should be pushed either toward statehood or independence over the long term.

 

[Rainsford]

I think it would be unreasonable for the rest of us to deny Puerto Rico statehood if that's what the people there want. They ARE US citizens after all.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

We have encouraged Puerto Rico to become a State many times since WWII. I don't know what the general populace thinks or wants but, their political leaders want to remain a territory.

 

[K1052]

The way things are going we should be more worried about Mexico.

I'd probably rather have Mexico as the next state than PR....

Place would be pretty decent if we could use the military to squash the cartels and deal with the corruption. It's got an actual economy, natural resources, good labor pool, and nice weather. PR has....nice weather.

 

[monovillage]

They've had 3 votes on becoming a State, all 3 attempts have been defeated. It's time to repeal Jones-Shafroth and let them go their own way in independence.

 

[BoomerD]

Yep...cut them loose to become an independent nation.

 

[Oyeve]

Yep...cut them loose to become an independent nation.

But before that lets reestablish their sugarcane growth that we stripped/burned away decades ago so they can resume being the largest exporter of sugarcane.