Puerto Rico Statehood and General Discussion

[charlie319]

It wouldn't harm my flag... It has 50 stars already and room for a few more...

[mgk920]

IIRC, the USA's Army office of Heraldry (I forget its actual title) has official designs on file for up to 58 stars.

Mike

[Bori427]

I was in the Wisconsin-Minnesotta area recently and talking with some folks they said they wouldn't mind PR becoming a state, some even said we were already a state but without a star in our flag...

[charlie319]

Maybe Barry can make his "56 states" gaffe a correct statement...

[nyarch21]

The truth of the matter is I don't think that peurto Rico really wants to be a state. Anybody have a survey results? Also do you think if it was a state they would include the virgin islands? I don't ever see then being a state by theirselves.

[Bori427]

Half the population wants statehood, that's almost 2 million american citizens right there...

[nyarch21]

Ahhh. I don't think it could come to be a state without a bigger majority.

[isaidso]

Agree.

Originally Posted by Bori427

Half the population wants statehood, that's almost 2 million american citizens right there...

The flip side of that is that 50%, or 2 million, don't want to be Americans.

[DarkGold]

I'm very optimistic this next referendum on November 6th will clearly incline in statehood. I believe it's already clear to many puertoricans that our actual status is obsolete, and that defining ourselves is critical for the island's progress. This is really the first time presidential candidates compromise obeying the Island's will (Democrat party more clearly). Let's see what happens.

On behalf to the percentage of votes needed to be a clear mandate, 60%+ should be sufficient.

[-Corey-]

Let's say most Boricuas (more than 60%) vote for statehood, how long it will take for Puerto Rico to become a state?? I heard Alaska took more than 10 years!!

[xzmattzx]

Puerto Ricans are already American citizens.

[Bori427]

Puerto Rico Statehood Vote Could Make Territory 51st State

By Myles Collier , Christian Post Contributor
August 22, 2012|9:16 am
Both Republicans and Democrats will be focused on one result of the election this year that will not include the two men running for office; instead, their focus will be concentrated on the vote to see if Puerto Rico will become the 51st state.

This is not the first time that the U.S. territory has voted on statehood, but it is been given much attention due to the change it can bring to the congress. The statehood votes that failed in the past happened in 1967, 1993, and 1998.

Should Puerto Rico be voted into the union, then they would bring along with them two senators and at least one representative, which could shift the balance of the congress one way or the other.

The constitution does not really specify exactly how a territory becomes a state, but in Article IV, Section 3, power is given to congress to decide to bring a measure that would put the issue of statehood to a vote.

Puerto Rico residents are American citizens with every right inherently given except two: the right to vote and the right for voting representation.

"The question that everyone in America should ask themselves is, if these American men and women having actually contributed in so many ways, including with their lives to our nation," said Luis Fortuno, Puerto Rico's Governor, according to ABC.

But this particular vote is not exactly straightforward; the vote is divided into two parts. The first part asks voters if they want to remain a U.S. territory. The second part then asks voters to choose which three options they prefer: do they wish to remain a territory, do they want to become an independent country or do they want to become the 51st state.

Whatever the outcome, Fortuno feels strongly that the people of Puerto Rico have earned the right to decide for themselves.

"Don't they deserve to express themselves and tell us whether they want to remain a territory or become an independent republic or become a state with all the obligations and benefits of American citizens residing elsewhere," Fortuno said.

The vote is scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 6.

http://global.christianpost.com/news...t-state-80394/

[tampasteve]

Originally Posted by -Corey-

Let's say most Boricuas (more than 60%) vote for statehood, how long it will take for Puerto Rico to become a state?? I heard Alaska took more than 10 years!!

It is unknown. The truth is, even if PR votes in favor of statehood it still must be admitted to the union. This is unlikely to pass Congress as it would likely be admitted as a Democratic leaning state. The last time states were admitted (Alaska and Hawaii) they were only admitted as a pair so that the balance of power would stay more or less even (One Democratic leaning and one Republican leaning state). That is one of the main reasons it took Alaska so long, they were being forced to wait for Hawaii. So, that said, what other territory could be admitted? The Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, or the Virgin Islands are the main contenders, IMO.

Steve

[charlie319]

Originally Posted by -Corey-

Let's say most Boricuas (more than 60%) vote for statehood, how long it will take for Puerto Rico to become a state?? I heard Alaska took more than 10 years!!

IMPO; it would take no less than 67%.

[DarkGold]

Democratic Party platform: Lack of status resolution has held PR back
By CB Online Staff
cbnews@caribbeanbusinesspr.com


The Democratic Party’s 2012 platform says it is “time for Puerto Rico to take the next step in the history of its status and its relationship to the rest of the United States.”
On convention eve, Democrats released a party platform for ratification Tuesday that echoes Obama’s call for higher taxes on the wealthy and reflects his shift on gay marriage by supporting it explicitly.

The plank on Puerto Rico says the island’s political status “remains an issue of overwhelming importance, but lack of resolution about status has held the island back.”

The Puerto Rico section starts by touting the island’s contribution to the United States.

“As President Obama said when he became the first President to visit Puerto Rico and address its people in 50 years, Boricuas every day help write the American story. Puerto Ricans have been proud American citizens for almost 100 years. During that time, the people of Puerto Rico have developed strong political, economic, social, and cultural ties to the United States,” the platform reads.

It echoes the stance taken by the White House task force on Puerto Rico in its report, crediting the group with taking “important and historic steps” on the status issue.

“We commit to moving resolution of the status issue forward with the goal of resolving it expeditiously,” the platform reads. “If local efforts in Puerto Rico to resolve the status issue do not provide a clear result in the short term, the President should support, and Congress should enact, self-executing legislation that specifies in advance for the people of Puerto Rico a set of clear status options, such as those recommended in the White House Task Force Report on Puerto Rico, which the United States is politically committed to fulfilling.”

Puerto Ricans will vote on the status issue on election day in November.

The plebiscite ballot will consist of two questions. Voters will first be asked whether they want the current territory status to continue. Regardless of how voters answer that question, they will then be asked to express their preference among the three alternatives to the current status: statehood, independence and nationhood in free association with the United States.

Puerto Ricans previously have voted to remain a commonwealth in referendums issued in 1967 (60 percent) and 1993 (48 percent). In a 1998 plebiscite, the “none of the above” option won with 50 percent of the vote, followed by statehood at 46 percent. The “none of the above” option was added by the commonwealth supporting Popular Democratic Party to protest the definition of “commonwealth” on the ballot.

The platform says the economic success of Puerto Rico is intimately linked to a swift resolution of the status question, as well as consistent, focused efforts on improving the lives of the people of Puerto Rico.

It touts “great progress” for Puerto Rico over the past four years, including a sharp, increase in Medicaid funding and fair and equitable inclusion in the American Reinvestment & Recovery Act and the Affordable Care Act.

“Going forward, we will continue working toward fair and equitable participation for Puerto Rico in federal programs,” the platform reads.

“We support increased efforts by the federal government to improve public safety in Puerto Rico and the United States Virgin Islands, with a particular emphasis on efforts to combat drug trafficking and crime throughout our Caribbean border,” the document reads.

“In addition, consistent with the task force report, we will continue to work on improving Puerto Rico’s economic status by promoting job creation, education, health care, clean energy, and economic development on the island,” the Puerto Rico section concludes.

The platform addresses the other four U.S. territories in a single section, which ecognizes and honors the contributions and the sacrifices made in service of our country by the Americans living in the territories of Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

“We support full self-government and self- determination for the people of the territories, and their right to decide their future status,” the platform reads. “We will work as partners to the people of Guam on military matters, and take seriously the unique health care challenges that Pacific Island communities face. For all those who live under our flag, we support strong economic development and will work towards fair and equitable treatment under federal programs.”

[mgk920]

Originally Posted by tampasteve

It is unknown. The truth is, even if PR votes in favor of statehood it still must be admitted to the union. This is unlikely to pass Congress as it would likely be admitted as a Democratic leaning state. The last time states were admitted (Alaska and Hawaii) they were only admitted as a pair so that the balance of power would stay more or less even (One Democratic leaning and one Republican leaning state). That is one of the main reasons it took Alaska so long, they were being forced to wait for Hawaii. So, that said, what other territory could be admitted? The Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, or the Virgin Islands are the main contenders, IMO.

Steve

Interesting here in that at the time that they were granted statehood, Alaska was fully expected to be a majority 'D' ('blue') state and Hawaii majority 'R' ('red').



As for Puerto Rico, remember that Governor Fortuño is a Republican.

In addition to adding the usual two seats to the USSenate, statehood for Puerto Rico will also require adding and/or reapportioning a total of six seats in the House of Representatives, this due to PR's resident population.

--------------------

I have also seen some fairly recent discussion of the idea of gathering up all of the USA's Pacific Ocean islands that are not already parts of existing states and creating a single state of (for lack of a better name) 'Pacifica' out of them. Would it work? I'm not sure, but IMHO, it is an idea that is worth further study.

Mike

[Shawn]

Originally Posted by mgk920

I have also seen some fairly recent discussion of the idea of gathering up all of the USA's Pacific Ocean islands that are not already parts of existing states and creating a single state of (for lack of a better name) 'Pacifica' out of them. Would it work? I'm not sure, but IMHO, it is an idea that is worth further study.

Living in Japan gives me easy and cheap access to places most Americans forget are part of America, like Guam, Saipan and Rota. They're all about a 3 hour flight from Tokyo and are budget alternatives to Hawaii, great for back when I was a student.

These places are far behind Puerto Rico when it comes to development and standard of living. Guam is like Cebu in the Philippines - a few sparkling new enclaves for Japanese and Korean tourist, a few walled-off military bases, and a whole bunch of abject rural poverty, beyond the worst you'd see in the poorest parts of Mississippi. Saipan is similar, but with less development and more of an untouched feel. Rota is barely populated. All told, about 200,000 people, with 150,000 or so in Guam and the rest spread across a thousand miles of the Northern Marianas chain.

I'm not sure Congress would be willing to admit our unorganized Pacific territories as a state because of this huge standard of living gap; the amount of money that would be needed to upgrade civic infrastructure and the percentage of the population that would suddenly qualify for subsidized everything would make every GOP member and a good number of Democrats balk.

Plus, I'm not sure Guamanians would want to see their island become a state. Right now, they don't pay any federal taxes, but the island receives a huge amount of transfer payments from the Treasury.

[DarkGold]

Puerto Rico and DC are the only territories being considered for statehood. There is a rare chance the Pacific islands will ever become part of the Union. There have been talking about consolidating Puerto Rico and the USVI as a single state, but that will not happen. The cultural gap between these two is drastic, and i don't think it would be an asset for PR's economy.

[1772]

PR should become a nation-state, not a US. state.

[-Corey-]

That's up to them not to us.