Puerto Rico votes in favor of statehood

[ackmondual]

They don't even have representation in DC! At the very least, they can't vote in federal elections. Yet, they still pay federal taxes, and their citizens join the US armed forces in service of that country.

[grims91]

Not sure how I feel about PR becoming the 51st state with its huge debt and all, but historically, the USA has treated its territories pretty poorly. That's just not addressed enough.

[mkpunk]

Well they are basically an American colony. At least DC got their own Representative and vote in Presidential elections. Puerto Rico gets nothing.

[Dd714]

Statehood? Puerto Rico is a mess economically, it's a welfare state with 15% unemployment and 1/3 of the population on government assistance. It's population is actually declining as people are fleeing the lack of oppurtunity, high cost, and high crime.
The best thing for the US is to give them independence, not statehood. Wash our hands of this mess.

Originally Posted by ackmondual

They don't even have representation in DC! At the very least, they can't vote in federal elections. Yet, they still pay federal taxes, and their citizens join the US armed forces in service of that country.

I don't think they pay federal personal income tax.

[intok]

Originally Posted by Dd714

Statehood? Puerto Rico is a mess economically, it's a welfare state with 15% unemployment and 1/3 of the population on government assistance. It's population is actually declining as people are fleeing the lack of oppurtunity, high cost, and high crime.
The best thing for the US is to give them independence, not statehood. Wash our hands of this mess.



I don't think they pay federal personal income tax.

Due entirely to republican governors, rule changes allowing investment bankers to gut the economy and sell off the best parts of the island.

You broke it, you bought it.

[Axxlrod]

Why would we, the existing American people/voters, even want PR as one of our states? What benefit would it bring to add PR as the 51st state?

Seems to me it would be like adding a giant welfare state that does nothing but put their hand out for $$$$.

No thanks.

[MLSFan]

their bonds issue bankrupted them, of coruse they want statehood so they get bailed out

[intok]

Puerto Rico needs to become a state, as do the rest of the colonies.

Puerto Rico’s $123 Billion Bankruptcy Is the Cost of U.S. Colonialism


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P4d8XRHoKIc


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tt-mpuR_QHQ

[engineman]

Federal taxes collected in PR stay in PR. If they became a state that would end.

[Sunaimer]

They can get their own professional baseball, soccer and football franchises. That could help bail them out of their economic troubles. I'd vacation there to see the Seahawks play!