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In a not too publicized session on Monday June 23, the UN has called for a final resolution of the status of several remaining world colonies ( a.k.a. Territories in the U.S.). Among the U.S. colonies there are, American Samoa, Guam, The Virgin Islands and the largest, oldest and most confused of the world colonies, Puerto Rico!
Decolonization can go several ways, specifically for Puerto Rico. Statehood, Independence or Free Association or so we think. All these status choices will depend, not on Puerto Ricans, but on what Congress is willing to grant. Most believe that statehood will win in a soon to be celebrated plebiscite however congressional acceptance is doubtful if the Tea party gains more power in the lower house and the Senate.
Puerto Ricans don't know what Congress is willing to accept, they only imagine it solely because of our misconstrued idea of Democracy. With this in mind Statehood will win! But that isn't how powerful nations play the game. It's a question of interests and political power, the last one in which PR statehood will outstrip 27 states is a problem.
Many statehooders swear that Spanish is not an issue because the constitution has no official language.
Some statehooders have argued that our independent Olympic representation isn't an issue either.
But what they do know, by the recent GAO Study, is that welfare will jump into the billions due to parity. This is the biggest selling point of statehood for the poor on the island. If 60% are on food stamps now, wait till statehood comes. However this will be a hard sell in Congress.
Independence seems to be a dead issue with Puerto Ricans but we won't decide that either. Free Association is kinda an independent status that doesn't carry American Citizenship. However can free entrance to the.US. be negotiated? No on knows and less so with the ascendency of the Tea party.
As far as I know the other American colonies are in a worse limbo than Puerto Rico. They are too small for statehood, the populations are non-white and the U.S. will be under pressure to solve their status. Can an annexation with Hawaii be a solution?
Many here will say, "Hey but if they want to remain colonies its their choice". However that was also said in 1863 about slavery, "They are happy so let then remain slaves".
I think, in the end, Puerto Rico will become the 51st state. As for American Samoa, Guam, and the NMI, I think the only solution for them is to become counties of Hawaii, or NMI and Guam merge into one state and American Samoa for another state. The USVI are probably going to be another state as well, I don't see them becoming counties of any state or Puerto Rico.
Despite what the tea party wants, the official GOP platform is supporting statehood for Puerto Rico. But, it's time to do what France does for its former colonies, and that is to fully integrate our overseas territories with full representation in Congress. If France can do it, so can we.
Blah blah blah ... more useless garbage from the United Nations. I think it's time to cut off their funding and evict them from US soil. The position of the United States is the same as the United Kingdom ... it's an internal matter. Period. No foreign nation will dictate to us how we should govern our lands.
The idea that Iran, Cuba, Syria, Venezuela, and the Ivory Coast have the right to dictate to the UK, US, France, etc is downright absurd. The people of Gibraltar for instance are British by choice and prefer to stay British. Additionally the government of Gibraltar has repeatedly requested that Gibraltar be delisted under the 4th option (any other option supported by the populace ie: the status quo). Both the UK and Gibraltar argue that it is absurd to consider any of the 16 British Overseas Territories to be 'colonies'. Gibraltar argues that the 2006 constitution makes it self governing with the UK only handling defense and foreign affairs.
Replace the anti-American/anti-western circus of 3rd world dictators and tyrants with nations that are a bit more democratic and then maybe we (the US) will talk.
BTW: the vast majority of Republicans who have announced support for statehood happen to affiliate with the Tea Party: Labrador, Rubio, David Camp, Justin Amash, Paul Ryan, etc. Camp in particular is very vocal about his quest to bring about statehood via Federal tax reforms eliminating the advantages of the colony.
I think, in the end, Puerto Rico will become the 51st state. As for American Samoa, Guam, and the NMI, I think the only solution for them is to become counties of Hawaii, or NMI and Guam merge into one state and American Samoa for another state. The USVI are probably going to be another state as well, I don't see them becoming counties of any state or Puerto Rico.
Despite what the tea party wants, the official GOP platform is supporting statehood for Puerto Rico. But, it's time to do what France does for its former colonies, and that is to fully integrate our overseas territories with full representation in Congress. If France can do it, so can we.
Yes the official GOP platform indeed does back statehood but that was before the Cold War ended. It has continued to stay there because PR statehooders are heavy contributors to the GOP but all they do is take the money and run. When support was needed for the Young Bill in 1998, all Republicans voted No! So much for GOP support for statehood.
Blah blah blah ... more useless garbage from the United Nations. I think it's time to cut off their funding and evict them from US soil. The position of the United States is the same as the United Kingdom ... it's an internal matter. Period. No foreign nation will dictate to us how we should govern our lands.
The idea that Iran, Cuba, Syria, Venezuela, and the Ivory Coast have the right to dictate to the UK, US, France, etc is downright absurd. The people of Gibraltar for instance are British by choice and prefer to stay British. Additionally the government of Gibraltar has repeatedly requested that Gibraltar be delisted under the 4th option (any other option supported by the populace ie: the status quo). Both the UK and Gibraltar argue that it is absurd to consider any of the 16 British Overseas Territories to be 'colonies'. Gibraltar argues that the 2006 constitution makes it self governing with the UK only handling defense and foreign affairs.
Replace the anti-American/anti-western circus of 3rd world dictators and tyrants with nations that are a bit more democratic and then maybe we (the US) will talk.
BTW: the vast majority of Republicans who have announced support for statehood happen to affiliate with the Tea Party: Labrador, Rubio, David Camp, Justin Amash, Paul Ryan, etc. Camp in particular is very vocal about his quest to bring about statehood via Federal tax reforms eliminating the advantages of the colony.
The U.S. Could have gotten rid of the U.N. 40 years ago but it's still in the same place. America doesn't live in a vacuum, like many folks here want. America lives on this planet and as the most powerful nation on earth it has to show a face at the U.N. like it or not. If U.N. Resolutions are not liked then challenge them with action, offer statehood. But we all know that is the problem in congress, it's not the other status choices.
The problem with Puerto Rico is that the U.S. Refuses to do anything about its colony. There are alternatives but congress just puts it's head in the sand. If statehood is the expected outcome tell Puerto Ricans the conditions it expects. Is Spanish to remain or is it transitory? Are the 20 billion extra welfare funds to stay or will the rug be pulled from under our feet? Are some states willing to loose a seat to accommodate Puerto Rico's heavily Democrat delegation? No body knows, do you WIHS?
All the GOP politicians you've mentioned say one thing but let's see how their constituents, which are heavily Tea Party, feel about Puerto Rico ripping them off and then having more political power than 27 mostly republican states. It's then when they'll sing another tune. But in the meantime keep the $$$$$$ contributions flowing it sure doesn't hurt the GOP one bit.
We already set aside funding for a Federally sanctioned status referendum in January ... however a certain political party does not want to hold the referendum.
It's not our fault that the colonialist elites in the Popular Party and their Los Melones allies in the PIP, MUS, MNIH, etc are afraid to go forward with a status referendum who's choices must be approved by the US Department of Justice and Congress. What are they so afraid of?
We already set aside funding for a Federally sanctioned status referendum in January ... however a certain political party does not want to hold the referendum.
It's not our fault that the colonialist elites in the Popular Party and their Los Melones allies in the PIP, MUS, MNIH, etc are afraid to go forward with a status referendum who's choices must be approved by the US Department of Justice and Congress. What are they so afraid of?
Who has set aside $$$$$ for a plebiscite, Puerto Ricans or the American tax payer? Is this rip off # 5 or 6?
No matter how many plebiscites the Obama administration sponsors it'll be Congress who'll have the last say, after all we are the wards of Congress. If Congress doesn't want to be held responsible for the outcome of a plebiscite, nothing will happen.
The PNP wants a statehood yes or no plebiscite however that is a risky card to play. Most assume that statehood will win, but by how much? 50+1? Most analysts give Statehood a 62% win but is that enough to convince Congress of our sincerity to be Americans for ever? Alaska and Hawaii got in with low 90's and high 80's. Even today Hawaiians are questioning that they were robbed of their land, but who cares what they say, they are a dying minority, not so Puerto Ricans. Sixty two percent doesn't cut it for Congress and I assure you that will be the end of the Statehood movement cause Congress will than push any other alternative except statehood. Get Ready , things aren't as simple as we once thought.
The funding was approved by Congress as part of the FY 2014 Budget in January. It can only include non-colonial options (ie: statehood or separation).
You say Congress would never allow statehood ... well then let's hold the referendum and find out! The only thing left to do is for the colonialists and the separatists to allow the CEE to come up with a referendum ballot and submit it to Washington for approval. Why havent they do so? What are they afraid of? Surely the separatists would be overjoyed at a chance to finally break free of the Yankee imperialist yoke? In fact, last August the colonialists said that if Congress approved the funding they would hold the referendum ... now all of a sudden they don't want to even talk about status at all muchless prepare a ballot for this referendum.
What happened? Why so much fear from the bearded Marxist separatist circus? Why blow a chance that will supposedly almost certainly result in independence and freedom from the Gringo occupiers?
The UN has no valid input on this matter. It is not like they are defending Puerto Rico.
Status is an internal matter, as PR is as much an integral part of the US as any state.
It us a matter of popular sovereignty. We here on the island will make the decision and Congress will have to comply or open up a constitutional crisis.
Independence is ridiculous and next to a dead issue. The options will centre around statehood or something similar to what we now have with voting representation in Congress.
I am no lawyer but something needs to be done to give us representation. European countries with American constituent land masses are not saddled with written constitutions making union with former colonies easier. It is trickier with the US Constitution which did not envision territorial expansion, but it can be done.
I do not fear statehood if that is what it comes to. The US is already a polyglot nation and becoming more so. Spanish is not threatened by virtue of its growth throughout the US alone. It must be incorporated into more school systems, and it will. So too for English which no Puerto Rican should not be taught.
The US can easily function as multi-cultural which it already is. That is the least of its problems.
As I have said earlier, people of Puerto Rican ancestry are totally mixed into the USA--half of them on the mainland. I hardly know anyone here who does not have family there. People continually move back and forth to visit and live.
There is no emergency to the present situation unless Congress would act (highly unlikely). Nobody is suffering because of status issues.
Complicated or uncomplicated things will work out in their own good time.
Blah blah blah ... more useless garbage from the United Nations. I think it's time to cut off their funding and evict them from US soil. The position of the United States is the same as the United Kingdom ... it's an internal matter. Period. No foreign nation will dictate to us how we should govern our lands.
The idea that Iran, Cuba, Syria, Venezuela, and the Ivory Coast have the right to dictate to the UK, US, France, etc is downright absurd. The people of Gibraltar for instance are British by choice and prefer to stay British. Additionally the government of Gibraltar has repeatedly requested that Gibraltar be delisted under the 4th option (any other option supported by the populace ie: the status quo). Both the UK and Gibraltar argue that it is absurd to consider any of the 16 British Overseas Territories to be 'colonies'. Gibraltar argues that the 2006 constitution makes it self governing with the UK only handling defense and foreign affairs.
Replace the anti-American/anti-western circus of 3rd world dictators and tyrants with nations that are a bit more democratic and then maybe we (the US) will talk.
BTW: the vast majority of Republicans who have announced support for statehood happen to affiliate with the Tea Party: Labrador, Rubio, David Camp, Justin Amash, Paul Ryan, etc. Camp in particular is very vocal about his quest to bring about statehood via Federal tax reforms eliminating the advantages of the colony.
I am confused on that first statement- if we don't want others like the UN telling us what to do, then why do we try to tell other countries how to handle THEIR internal matters?? We created the UN and have agreed to be a member of it and work with the world community as a member. So why is it that we expect other nations to follow whatever rules are put in place, but then get all upset if we don't like what WE are told to do?
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But that isn't how powerful nations play the game. It's a question of interests and political power, the last one in which PR statehood will outstrip 27 states is a problem. 
. This is the biggest selling point of statehood for the poor on the island. If 60% are on food stamps now, wait till statehood comes. However this will be a hard sell in Congress.
. However can free entrance to the.US. be negotiated?
No on knows and less so with the ascendency of the Tea party. 
