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The Republicans currently have a skewed representational advantage, with the number of electors allotted in many of the red states, in proportion to their populations. If the strongly democratic populations of Puerto Rico and Washington, D. C. were given statehood and added their electors, the Democrats would still be at a great disadvantage. Having these two new states, would only partially offset the Republicans existing electoral advantage. The OP tries to make it seem like it would be improper for democrats to increase their power-------that the American Way requires them to be marginalized.
Although only 25% of the eligible voters turned out today, 97% of them favored statehood. ¡Bienvenidos a nuestros hermanos puertorriqueños!
What benefits will Puerto Rico add to the U.S ad an state?
the same benefits Hawaii has......and all those territories that the U.S. took from Mexico known today as California, Texas, New Mexico, Colorado, Arizona, Utah.....most of those place still have the Spanish names in their towns.......no different in making the Mormons in Utah into a state.
Our government already made that decision a long time ago when they invaded Puerto Rico and by force made it into a U.S. Territory and forced U.S. Citizenship on them so they would be drafted and fight and die in every American war and conflict since WW 1.
the least we can do is give them representation and a voice on the federals laws that have ruled them for over 1 century with no say. They have earned it under the circumstances.
your same question was used after the Civil WAR in what to do with the former African slaves. should we keep them and give them U.S. Citizenship or send them all back to Africa......what benefits would poor and uneducated former slaves will add to the U.S. if we gave them all U.S. Citizenship.
Well we answered that, we brought them here by force so the least we can do is make them U.S. Citizens with full rights......isn't that the same thing with Puerto Rico, they are a U.S. Territory by force, they re US. CITIZENS by force......shouldn't we at least after 100 years of under our rule by force give them representation and a voice over the federal laws and federal government that rules them?.....it makes sense to me and the least we can do after the fact and circumstances.
But those 5 seats in Congress can flip Congress and give the Democrats a majority. That would be more seats than Alaska, Wyoming, and I believe North Dakota and Montana have. I used to live in West Virginia and it has 5 electoral votes. So if Puerto Rico votes for the Democrat, if will cancel out the 5 electoral votes in West Virginia which typically votes Republican on the national level.
7 electoral votes can also make or break a presidential election.
Puerto Ricans are also liberal on issues like gun control, taxes and are likely to support Obamacare which most of us do not believe in. There is a culture of dependency in Puerto Rico very similar to what you see in the inner cities and among Bernie Sanders's base. Puerto Rico also has a serious problem with violent crime and drugs as well.
But...are these reasons to deny Statehood?
I see the economic argument....but your contentions bring echoes of the Pre-Civil War era. Every time a potential State was considered, the political implications of both party and Pro/Anti slavery had to be considered.
IMO, the population's political and cultural leanings should have no bearing on a decision.
As has been pointed out, many of our existing States have the some problems as PR, Perhaps a policy of inclusion, might be to our benefit?
Win at any cost...no-holds barred politics...fueled by the Citizens United decision---is damaging our country. Some of us need to take some ethical stands to the betterment of our country..even if some of those decisions may not be in our immediate best interests.
Let's take some of the 'gamesmanship' out of politics--if we can.
I see the economic argument....but your contentions bring echoes of the Pre-Civil War era. Every time a potential State was considered, the political implications of both party and Pro/Anti slavery had to be considered.
IMO, the population's political and cultural leanings should have no bearing on a decision.
As has been pointed out, many of our existing States have the some problems as PR, Perhaps a policy of inclusion, might be to our benefit?
Win at any cost...no-holds barred politics...fueled by the Citizens United decision---is damaging our country. Some of us need to take some ethical stands to the betterment of our country..even if some of those decisions may not be in our immediate best interests.
Let's take some of the 'gamesmanship' out of politics--if we can.
The "win at all costs"/"embrace anyone who hates the other side (even if they are racist/crazy/repulsive people)"/"zero compromise ever" mentality is exactly what chased me out of the Republican Party.
What good would come of Puerto Rico as a state? How is it in our best interests as a nation?
*crickets chirp*
What good comes out of Appalachia? How is propping up the dying coal mining industry to the benefit of the nation?
Read the US Constitution, where does it say that a prospective state must offer "benefits"?
Quote:
New States may be admitted by the Congress into this Union; but no new States shall be formed or erected within the Jurisdiction of any other State; nor any State be formed by the Junction of two or more States, or parts of States, without the Consent of the Legislatures of the States concerned as well as of the Congress.
What benefit would Puerto Rico offer the U.S as an state?
the benefit the U.S. already cashed in....damn take some history of our government.
Nobody invades another country, makes it their territory and forces all U.S. laws and forces citizenship on them so they can use it as a military point and draft them to fight in all American wars since WW 1 if there wasn't any benefit.
Now its time to do the right thing just like slavery.
did you ask the same question when the Mormons in Utah wanted to become a state? or Hawaii? or Idaho.....or New Mexico?........what benefit they offer to the nation compare to staying a U.S. Territory.
The hypocrisy here is funny....now they want to make a double standard to Puerto Rico compare to the 37 territories that are states today.
Oh---gimme a break! Once WaPo did an article about PR. The article pointed out that if PR becomes a state, it will take them 50 years to get where MS is now.
Providing a link to your source for that tidbit would be good.
But those 5 seats in Congress can flip Congress and give the Democrats a majority. That would be more seats than Alaska, Wyoming, and I believe North Dakota and Montana have. I used to live in West Virginia and it has 5 electoral votes. So if Puerto Rico votes for the Democrat, if will cancel out the 5 electoral votes in West Virginia which typically votes Republican on the national level.
7 electoral votes can also make or break a presidential election.
Puerto Ricans are also liberal on issues like gun control, taxes and are likely to support Obamacare which most of us do not believe in. There is a culture of dependency in Puerto Rico very similar to what you see in the inner cities and among Bernie Sanders's base. Puerto Rico also has a serious problem with violent crime and drugs as well.
Last I checked, the purpose of the USA isn't to maintain a Republican stronghold.
Amazing how the liberal media isn't covering their new referendum that's happening today in Puerto Rico where they're going to vote AGAIN on statehood. It seems like statehood is becoming more and more popular but if this referendum passes, Congress should NOT allow Puerto Rico to be a state.
- The American flag looks perfect the way it is now
- Puerto Rico is a very left-wing place politically. Allowing them to be a state means that the Democrats will have a permanent advantage in the Electoral College and in Congress as the new Senate and House seats allotted to them will be filled by Democrats. Puerto Rican voters are also susceptible to the Democrats' racial politics and stand in racial solidarity with illegal Mexicans and Central Americans in favor of illegal immigration and things like the Dream Act and illegal alien amnesty.
- This will be adding another non-English speaking area to the U.S. and will undermine efforts to make English the official language of America
- Yes, Puerto Ricans will have to pay federal taxes if they're a state but they are an economic basket case and will receive far more in federal funds than they pay in. It will be a financial black hole for the American taxpayer, a large version of Detroit, Chicago, Newark or the Bronx.
I truly believe this is a ploy by liberals and Democrats to gain and hold power. THey've tried to push for Washington DC to be a state for a long time and have failed and now they want to try with Puerto Rico. Because the left moving Democrat Party can no longer appeal to the average American, they have to resort to these games.
Though I'm open to allowing Puerto Rico to be a state in exchange for New Jersey or California leaving and taking their electoral votes and Congresional representation away.
The only legitimate argument is the 4th point (all the other reasons are complete fluff.). There are economic reasons why allowing PR to be a state would be problematic. Although, even that argument has its problems since we already have plenty of states that take more than they put in...
I say either let them be a state already or let them be their own country. This whole territory nonsense needs to end. How we can take over a piece of land, but not give those residents the equal protections of all other Americans is beyond me. It's just wrong - and if you lived there, you would likely agree (unless, of course, you don't mind being taken advantage of and having no political voice).
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