Any News on Puerto Rico's Statehood?

[Gxg (G²)]

If anyone has any info on the matter, please share. The last time the subject came up was in the thread entitled Puerto Rico - Statehood - after the 2012 elections. And since then, I've not seen a lot of coverage.

Recently, came across this and it was interesting..

• Puerto Rico, The 51st State? New Progressive Party Organizing
• Puerto Rico Referendum Approves U.S. Statehood for 1st Time, But Results Show

Still looking forward to the potential of a favorite 51 star flag.

 

[Creech]

I have not really heard anything recently about this, but I still oppose it because it will be expanding the Federal Empire and it will undermine the self-governance of a unique people, culture, and country.

 

[iluvatar5150]

I have not really heard anything recently about this, but I still oppose it because it will be expanding the Federal Empire and it will undermine the self-governance of a unique people, culture, and country.

Um, they're the ones who voted to approve this.

-Dan.

 

[Wolseley]

If you read this article, it seems unlikely that PR will become a state any time soon:

http://www.collegian.com/2013/01/22/puerto-rico-not-likely-to-be-51st-state/

Added to that is the fact that the Republicans would likely block the vote as it would tip the balance of power in favor of the Democrats. (shrug)

 

[Purge187]

One word: NEVER!

 

[Maynard Keenan]

One word: NEVER!

Why do you feel this way?

 

[Maynard Keenan]

I have not really heard anything recently about this, but I still oppose it because it will be expanding the Federal Empire and it will undermine the self-governance of a unique people, culture, and country.

It undermines someone's self governance to respond to their request to join your union?

 

[Maynard Keenan]

If you read this article, it seems unlikely that PR will become a state any time soon:

Puerto Rico not likely to be 51st state

Added to that is the fact that the Republicans would likely block the vote as it would tip the balance of power in favor of the Democrats. (shrug)

It is unlikely because the US seems to have little interest in adding them as a state. But it IS the first time a majority in PR has supported becoming a state. What they don't seem to want is what they are. PR seems to desire a chance moreso than they desire a particular change. More autonomy or full statehood. If statehood doesn't happen, then in time we may see a push for Puerto Rican independence.

 

[cow451]

I have not really heard anything recently about this, but I still oppose it because it will be expanding the Federal Empire and it will undermine the self-governance of a unique people, culture, and country.

If they were into self-governance, they wouldn't have voted FOR the idea of statehood.

The GOP will do everything to block it for strictly political reasons. If PR were a "red" possession, the Dems would do likewise.

 

[Creech]

Um, they're the ones who voted to approve this.

-Dan.

That does not change what I said above.

 

[Gxg (G²)]

It is unlikely because the US seems to have little interest in adding them as a state. But it IS the first time a majority in PR has supported becoming a state. What they don't seem to want is what they are. PR seems to desire a chance moreso than they desire a particular change. More autonomy or full statehood. If statehood doesn't happen, then in time we may see a push for Puerto Rican independence.

Interesting to consider...

 

[tolly]

If they were into self-governance, they wouldn't have voted FOR the idea of statehood.

The GOP will do everything to block it for strictly political reasons. If PR were a "red" possession, the Dems would do likewise.

The GOP will, and should, block it for strictly economic reasons. Puerto Rico has very little to contribute to the Union. What it does have, petrochemical and Big Pharma, are not exactly darlings of the Democrats. Most of the manufacturing companies have moved to the Latin American economies to escape US Trade and Labor regulations. The median household income is half that of Mississippi, which has the lowest of the States.

Statehood would produce yet another drain on already scarce resources. The best solution would be to remove PR as a territory and let them develop whatever political/economic systems they choose.

 

[Vylo]

I have not really heard anything recently about this, but I still oppose it because it will be expanding the Federal Empire and it will undermine the self-governance of a unique people, culture, and country.

They are just a territory of the US, that doesn't exactly give them that much self governance. And I think you are misusing the word empire. PR as a territory is more imperial then if it was a state on equal standing with the other 50.

 

[Creech]

They are just a territory of the US, that doesn't exactly give them that much self governance. And I think you are misusing the word empire. PR as a territory is more imperial then if it was a state on equal standing with the other 50.

I think both would fit as being an Empire. If an Empire is a group of nations or peoples ruled over by an emperor, empress, or other powerful sovereign or government, then I think the United States fits the bill.

 

[variant]

It undermines someone's self governance to respond to their request to join your union?

That is the general historical trend yes.

The GOP will, and should, block it for strictly economic reasons. Puerto Rico has very little to contribute to the Union. What it does have, petrochemical and Big Pharma, are not exactly darlings of the Democrats. Most of the manufacturing companies have moved to the Latin American economies to escape US Trade and Labor regulations. The median household income is half that of Mississippi, which has the lowest of the States.

Statehood would produce yet another drain on already scarce resources. The best solution would be to remove PR as a territory and let them develop whatever political/economic systems they choose.

And yet this has nothing to do with the issue of why the GOP would be against them.

The GOP would be all for it if the people weren't Puerto Ricans.

 

[variant]

I think both would fit as being an Empire. If an Empire is a group of nations or peoples ruled over by an emperor, empress, or other powerful sovereign or government, then I think the United States fits the bill.

We are not a group of nations.

 

[Creech]

We are not a group of nations.

Yes we are. A nation is a people who share common customs, origins, history, and frequently language. You can look at the many Indian groups, Native Hawaiians, African-Americans, Southerners, etc. Apparently the Puerto Rican Nation can soon be added on this list. There are countless nations being ruled by a single Federal Empire.

 

[tolly]

That is the general historical trend yes.



And yet this has nothing to do with the issue of why the GOP would be against them.

The GOP would be all for it if the people weren't Puerto Ricans.

On what do you base this statement? Your party controls the Senate, yet there is no bill on the docket for PR statehood.

Neither party is particularly enthusiastic about PR statehood. It is a poor country, far from our shores, and itself has done nothing to fulfill the requirements of the Enabling Act in order to be considered.

To call Republicans racist is foolishness at its height, and only draws attention to your lack of historical knowledge.

 

[Vylo]

I think both would fit as being an Empire. If an Empire is a group of nations or peoples ruled over by an emperor, empress, or other powerful sovereign or government, then I think the United States fits the bill.

An empire is characterized by unequal and unfair treatment of its satellites. For instance the British empire and the US, India, parts of Africa, etc.

The states are fairly represented in congress and get to vote for our leadership. One can argue the electoral college gives a bit of an advantage to less populated states, but it isn't massive.

 

[SnowCal]

It is unlikely because the US seems to have little interest in adding them as a state. But it IS the first time a majority in PR has supported becoming a state. What they don't seem to want is what they are. PR seems to desire a chance moreso than they desire a particular change. More autonomy or full statehood. If statehood doesn't happen, then in time we may see a push for Puerto Rican independence.

Last I checked both Republicans and Democrats expressed a warm attitude towards Puerto Rican statehood. That may be simple platitudes though and actually politics may change if it becomes a serious question. It does present an obvious problem for the Republican Party of adding 2 Democratic senators and affecting the makeup of the house (similar population to Connecticut which has 5 seats). It's fairly Democratic and the Republican Party may try to block statehood for purely political reasons. But at current moment without it being a serious question, both parties seem friendly to the idea.

I'm a little skeptical of Puerto Rico making a real push towards statehood or autonomy. They seem pretty divided between the status quo, statehoood, and autonomy. I don't expect a failure to attain statehood is going to drive supporters of that cause into the autonomy camp. And there are many benefits to being a US territory that are the reason a status quo camp exists in the first place. It's not clear that territorial status is better than statehood but I doubt autonomy is going to become a major movement and statehood has failed to pass muster for decades there.