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The only reason they want to be a state now is to get a bailout from the taxpayers. That's it. Period.
That's a popular urban myth. Congress, and the US taxpayer, is ultimately on the hook for Puerto Rico's debt now. Article IV of the Constitution makes Congress fully responsible for all territories including P.R.
There are valid pros and cons for P.R. statehood but debt isn't one of them.
The only reason they want to be a state now is to get a bailout from the taxpayers. That's it. Period.
Besides, only a small percentage of people voted, so apparently they don't really care that much.
this is how ignorant you sound.........if congress gives them a bailout they would do it as a U.S. Territory which Puerto Rico has been for over 1 century or a state......Congress has the ultimate jurisdiction and is ultimate responsible on all their territories.
Any bailouts from Congress has to be voted on in Congress if Puerto Rico remains a territory or a State.....its the same process......Puerto Rico doesn't need to be a state to get a bailout from Congress.....hell! we give aid to many countries around the world and those countries are not U.S. Territories or U.S. Citizens
Statehood is about representation and a voice for 3.5 million U.S. CITIZENS who are under the jurisdiction of federal laws for over 1 century and have NO voice or say on the laws and federal government that governs them.
Take some history about Puerto Rico....everything the U.S. did on Puerto Rico was by FORCE upon them by our Federal Government. The least we can do is give them representation and a voice on the federal laws and federal government that governs them for over 100 years.
Puerto Rico is a commonwealth. This does not make it totally independent of US rule but almost.
The country has a vibrant history but driving around the country side is depressing. Most of it is dirty and I'll kept. I doubt much of the rural construction meets minimal safety standards. People appear to be poor with little inclination to clean up much of anything. Trash and debris lay scattered most everywhere.
Certainly there are some beautiful areas in high end resorts but mostly the landscape is pretty sad.
Let me educate some fools here.......its easier to give a U.S. Territory a bailout by Congress than a state under the U.S. Constitution.
Congress has ultimate powers and is ultimate responsible on all U.S. Territories. U.S. Territories have NO constitutional powers other than what Congress gives them or takes away or limits them.
A State has constitutional powers, rights and sovereignty that the U.S. Constitution gives them that Congress can't mess with.
If Puerto Rico would get a bailout or any federal aid they would get it far more easier as a U.S. Territory which they have been for over 1 century than a State.
So for some fools here saying Puerto Rico only wants to be a state to get a bailout doesn't know what the hell they are talking about and don't know their own constitution or how your own government works.
If you want to give the tools to Puerto Rico to solve their problems, STATEHOOD is the way to go. Not only it gives them representation and a voice on the federal laws that governs them. It will give them state rights and sovereignty to deal with their issues without asking UNCLE SAM for permission for everything or having the federal government putting limits which they can't do to states.
Puerto Rico is a commonwealth. This does not make it totally independent of US rule but almost.
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please!!!....Commonwealth is just a fake name they put on Puerto Rico so the U.N after WW 2 would get off their backs......Puerto Rico is under the territorial clause of the U.S. Constitution.
Quote:
Clause 2: Property Clause - Clause 2: Property Clause. The Congress shall have power to dispose of and make all needful Rules and Regulations respecting the Territory or other Property belonging to the United States; and nothing in this Constitution shall be so construed as to Prejudice any Claims of the United States, or of any particular State.
its a freakin' COLONY disguised as a fake name "commonwealth" with no representation or no voice to the people living under the full jurisdiction of the federal government for over 100 years.
Definition of a Colony: a country or area under the full or partial political control of another country.
Puerto Rico is in the state it is in because of the Federal government. I swear, people here that they receive such and such type of aid or entitlements, and people freak out. Yeah, they get $13 billion in federal aid. So what. The federal government gets way more than that back from the island. They are still taxed for Social Security. Any importing and exporting has to be done with US shipping companies. So they can't shop around for a better deal. So they get $13 billion, and the federal government gets some $58 billion out of them. This is due to the Jones Act. So they are strangled financially.
Most of it is dirty and I'll kept. I doubt much of the rural construction meets minimal safety standards. People appear to be poor with little inclination to clean up much of anything. Trash and debris lay scattered most everywhere.
And again...why would anybody want all that to be a permanent part of the United States?
its a freakin' COLONY disguised as a fake name "commonwealth" with no representation or no voice to the people living under the full jurisdiction of the federal government for over 100 years.
Definition of a Colony: a country or area under the full or partial political control of another country.
Yes, Colonialism is wrong. And the solution to that is INDEPENDENCE not the other way around.
Thinking that fully integrating PR as part of the United States is the answer to colonial oppression is backwards logic.
Let me educate some fools here.......its easier to give a U.S. Territory a bailout by Congress than a state under the U.S. Constitution.
Congress has ultimate powers and is ultimate responsible on all U.S. Territories. U.S. Territories have NO constitutional powers other than what Congress gives them or takes away or limits them.
A State has constitutional powers, rights and sovereignty that the U.S. Constitution gives them that Congress can't mess with.
If Puerto Rico would get a bailout or any federal aid they would get it far more easier as a U.S. Territory which they have been for over 1 century than a State.
So for some fools here saying Puerto Rico only wants to be a state to get a bailout doesn't know what the hell they are talking about and don't know their own constitution or how your own government works.
If you want to give the tools to Puerto Rico to solve their problems, STATEHOOD is the way to go. Not only it gives them representation and a voice on the federal laws that governs them. It will give them state rights and sovereignty to deal with their issues without asking UNCLE SAM for permission for everything or having the federal government putting limits which they can't do to states.
Well said
Unfortunately we are on a forum where people don't even know that the word 'commonwealth' is literally meaningless in the context of Puerto Rico's status.
Yes, Colonialism is wrong. And the solution to that is INDEPENDENCE not the other way around.
Thinking that fully integrating PR as part of the United States is the answer to colonial oppression is backwards logic.
there are 2 solutions to end colonialism......Statehood or Independence.
both gives sovereignty rights to the territory......the difference is a state is an independent sovereignty that joins a federal union with other 50 states.
the boat for independence for Puerto Rico has sailed a long time ago.
1) 97% of them don't want it.
2) they don't want to give up their U.S. Citizenship. You can't be an independent country when 97% of the electorate don't want it and with a citizenship of another nation.
3) U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Congress can't take away U.S. Citizenship involuntarily ..........so once U.S. CONGRESS forced U.S. CITIZENSHIP on all Puerto Ricans in 1917, they can't take it away by force...........that kills your option on arrival. That means congress can't force independence on Puerto Rico without a big legal mess in the courts and the U.S. Government would lose in court.
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