Puerto Rico - Statehood

[Marek]

This is something that's gotten little coverage in light of the Presidential Election, but it looks like Puerto Ricans are going to vote to join the Union as the 51st state:

CEE Event

Of course, this would have to be approved by Congress, but as far as I understand, both parties support Puerto Rico's right to self-determination. It looks like if they do join as a state they'd control about 7 presidential electors.

Here's my favorite 51 star flag.

 

[Gxg (G²)]

Wow..

Had no idea, but thanks for letting me know. This was something I was wondering on for some time and glad to see they're going in that direction

 

[GenetoJean]

I hope so, it's about time.

 

[Creech]

I pray that this does not come to pass. They have their own language, culture, customs, etc. What kind of imperialist nonsense is this?? I was hoping they would end up becoming independent, but it seems like that idea has little support.

Puerto Ricans are not and never will be Americans!

 

[GenetoJean]

I pray that this does not come to pass. They have their own language, culture, customs, etc. What kind of imperialist nonsense is this?? I was hoping they would end up becoming independent, but it seems like that idea has little support.

Puerto Ricans are not and never will be Americans!

Wow!!! How is it imperialist if they are the ones that want to become a state? As far as the rest of your ridiculous statement, lots of groups in the US have their own language, customs, and culture. Puerto Rico has been part of the US ever since the US took it from Spain.

 

[serge546]

That flag looks pretty cool, not gonna lie.

I see no reason not to let them be a state. Puerto Rico is very similar to Hawaii (different culture that was taken over by the U.S.) and we gave Hawaii statehood.

 

[Trogool]

I pray that this does not come to pass. They have their own language, culture, customs, etc. What kind of imperialist nonsense is this?? I was hoping they would end up becoming independent, but it seems like that idea has little support.

Puerto Ricans are not and never will be Americans!

Wow, that's pretty astonishingly xenophobic.


Hope the Puerto Ricans do whatever they want to! I for one would be delighted to welcome them to the Union!

 

[Creech]

Wow!!! How is it imperialist if they are the ones that want to become a state? As far as the rest of your ridiculous statement, lots of groups in the US have their own language, customs, and culture. Puerto Rico has been part of the US ever since the US took it from Spain.

An empire is A political unit having an extensive territory or comprising a number of territories or nations and ruled by a single supreme authority.

Sounds like an empire to me. And they are not part of the United States. They are a separate commonwealth. They are also a very poor country and will most likely suck off our welfare system while contributing very little.

 

[Trogool]

An empire is A political unit having an extensive territory or comprising a number of territories or nations and ruled by a single supreme authority.

Sounds like an empire to me. And they are not part of the United States. They are a separate commonwealth. They are also a very poor country and will most likely suck off our welfare system while contributing very little.

Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory... You clearly have no idea what you are talking about if you can't even get that right.

 

[Creech]

Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory... You clearly have no idea what you are talking about if you can't even get that right.

Puerto Rico - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The commonwealth of Puerto Rico. They are very close to the United States but still have many areas of self government.

 

[Trogool]

Puerto Rico - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The commonwealth of Puerto Rico. They are very close to the United States but still have many areas of self government.

Yes, that is kind of the definition of a "territory"...

 

[Creech]

Yes, that is kind of the definition of a "territory"...

I never argued it wasn't lol

 

[GenetoJean]

An empire is A political unit having an extensive territory or comprising a number of territories or nations and ruled by a single supreme authority.

Sounds like an empire to me. And they are not part of the United States. They are a separate commonwealth. They are also a very poor country and will most likely suck off our welfare system while contributing very little.

They have never been their own country. We have ruled them since we Spain ceded it to us during the Spanish-American war. They also are already able to use our welfare system as well as pay into Social Security. You really need to do a little reading so you can know what you are talking about. If they become a state then they have to start paying income tax. So in other words the US will start getting money from there to make up for what we spend there already.

 

[Creech]

They have never been their own country. We have ruled them since we Spain ceded it to us during the Spanish-American war. They also are already able to use our welfare system as well as pay into Social Security. You really need to do a little reading so you can know what you are talking about. If they become a state then they have to start paying income tax. So in other words the US will start getting money from there to make up for what we spend there already.

You act as if we dictate with an iron fist over Puerto Rico. They currently have a lot of self government. I think they should govern themselves 100%.

And they ARE their own people. Let Americans be Americans and Puerto Ricans be Puerto Ricans.

 

[Trogool]

I never argued it wasn't lol

You said, "they are not part of the United States. They are a separate commonwealth. They are also a very poor country".

Which do you believe it is? Are they a U.S. territory, or not a part of the U.S. and a separate commonwealth?

 

[Creech]

You said, "they are not part of the United States. They are a separate commonwealth. They are also a very poor country".

Which do you believe it is? Are they a U.S. territory, or not a part of the U.S. and a separate commonwealth?

The United States is the government the states have. Puerto Rico is not a member of this government, but a commonwealth of this government. If Puerto Rico was already part of the US, then we wouldn't be having this discussion and they would already be a state.

 

[GenetoJean]

You act as if we dictate with an iron fist over Puerto Rico. They currently have a lot of self government. I think they should govern themselves 100%.

And they ARE their own people. Let Americans be Americans and Puerto Ricans be Puerto Ricans.

Every person I have spoke to from Puerto Rico consider themselves American. Heck they can even run for president.

Constitutional Topic: Citizenship - The U.S. Constitution Online - USConstitution.net

 

[Apollo Celestio]

Whatever works.

 

[Creech]

Every person I have spoke to from Puerto Rico consider themselves American. Heck they can even run for president.

Constitutional Topic: Citizenship - The U.S. Constitution Online - USConstitution.net

America and Puerto Rico are ethnically, culturally, linguistically, very much religiously, and geographically distinct from the rest of the country. We might as well just grant American status to everyone in the entire world.

I have nothing but respect and love for the Puerto Rican people. But whether they become part of the US or not, they are not my people.

 

[Trogool]

The United States is the government the states have. Puerto Rico is not a member of this government, but a commonwealth of this government. If Puerto Rico was already part of the US, then we wouldn't be having this discussion and they would already be a state.

I'm really trying to figure out if this is a kind of joke. You know you can use Google to find out that you are wrong, right? Territories are part of the US. They are under the federal government, have representation in Congress, and issue U.S. passports.