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View Full Version : Puerto Rico may (finally) become the 51st state


MKH
06-19-2011, 06:06 AM
President Obama is the first sitting president in about 50 years to visit Puerto Rico, and apparently the message he's bringing is "statehood now."

http://blogs.reuters.com/gregg-easterbrook/2011/06/14/why-puerto-rico-should-become-the-51st-state-it-would-be-good-for-business/

Thoughts?
sotrix
06-19-2011, 06:28 AM
It won't happen because (1) the Republicans won't let it (2) the US flag will have to change.
MKH
06-19-2011, 06:35 AM
I'm personally for it just because Puerto Rico already follows a lot of US customs, primarily with currency, so it actually seems unfair that they can't vote and such with being a US territory. I've honestly wondered why this hadn't happened yet for a long time because I never understood the whole "territory" concept not being a state.
travz21
06-19-2011, 06:39 AM
First step to taking over the world, so why not?
MKH
06-19-2011, 06:41 AM
First step to taking over the world, so why not?

I think we're well into that already :lol:
Gloomy Mushroom
06-19-2011, 11:46 AM
I thought Hawaii was the 51st state. Meh shows how much I know about American geography.
SuperDude526
06-19-2011, 12:19 PM
So Puerto Ricans have no problems with this? I honestly don't know their thoughts on losing a chance at true national autonomy.
Todd
06-19-2011, 01:40 PM
It won't happen because (1) the Republicans won't let it (2) the US flag will have to change.
Yeah, the Republicans are going to be the biggest hurdle. The flag isn't a big deal. It's changed before, it can change again.


First step to taking over the world, so why not?
The US wouldn't be taking over anything. Puerto Rico is already a commonwealth of the US. They basically are a state already, they just can't vote for president and don't have senators and congressmen to represent them in the Senate.


I thought Hawaii was the 51st state. Meh shows how much I know about American geography.
No, Hawaii was the 50th.


So Puerto Ricans have no problems with this? I honestly don't know their thoughts on losing a chance at true national autonomy.
Puerto Rico has relied on the federal government for so long, that I'm not sure they can truly break away and be autonomous. None of the states can, which is why I laugh when a bunch of inbred rednecks in the south say they still want to secede. Their states are reliant on the federal government for defense, disaster relief, social security, medicare, infrastructure, etc, that the state would go broke without support for the government.

I was in Puerto Rico a few years ago and a tour guide mentioned that Puerto Ricans are allowed to join the US Army and be sent off to die, but they can't vote for the people who would ship them off to war. And that's bullshit. And Puerto Rico is a fun place to visit, I recommend everyone goes some time. If you're a US Citizen, you don't need a passport, it's like traveling to any other state. Next time you're planning a vacation to a beach down in Florida, consider Puerto Rico instead.
Timothy
06-19-2011, 02:26 PM
As long as Puerto Ricans want it, I see no problem with it.
Derek The Infamous
06-19-2011, 04:12 PM
I support this completely.

Maybe I'll even see things improve between us and Cuba in my lifetime, that'd be interesting.
Benjamin
06-19-2011, 04:25 PM
Considering how much it has in common with any other state already, I find it silly for anyone to be "against" adding Puerto Rico as a state.
Blackee Dammet
06-19-2011, 04:51 PM
What do the Republicans have to do with anything? Since when has expanding the empire been something the right isn't in favor for? Are we under the impression it'll just be a "I like the idea but hate Obama so fuck it" type deal?
Todd
06-19-2011, 04:55 PM
What do the Republicans have to do with anything? Since when has expanding the empire been something the right isn't in favor for? Are we under the impression it'll just be a "I like the idea but hate Obama so fuck it" type deal?

Puerto Rico would basically guarantee 2 more Democratic senators, at least one more Democratic congressman, and at least 3 Democratic electoral votes. It's the same reason they're against statehood for Washington DC. DC is almost in the same boat as Puerto Rico. DC has 3 electoral votes, but no senators or congressional representatives.

It's all about politics. The teabaggers will whine about no taxation without representation (even though they are represented - just by people they don't like) but the second people who truly are taxed without representation fight for that representation, the baggers are against it because it wouldn't help them politically. If PR or DC were heavily Republican areas, I bet they'd both be states by now.
Timothy
06-19-2011, 05:02 PM
The irony is, by our standards, the majority of Puerto Ricans would be considered conservatives.
Blackee Dammet
06-19-2011, 05:02 PM
I think that could be worked around. Many "traditionally" Democrat/Republican areas swing back and forth with a little extra effort, and if what I'm reading about PR being super pissed off about high crime and no jobs, that actually sounds like a golden bagger opportunity. Not entirely likely, but plausible enough I think.
Todd
06-19-2011, 05:08 PM
The irony is, by our standards, the majority of Puerto Ricans would be considered conservatives.

Yeah, it's not that Puerto Rico would be liberal like California or anything, but the GOP hasn't done anything to win over Latinos. The Tea Party is a bunch of racists, their immigration policies suck, and they've worked so hard for so long to deny Puerto Rico voting rights that they're not going to win anyone over. I once heard a bagger bitching about all of the illegal immigrants for Puerto Rico. I brought up the fact that there is no such thing as an illegal immigrant from Puerto Rico since Puerto Ricans are US citizens and are free to move to the mainland, and when confronted with these facts, he said "Well, they're a bunch of [insert racial slur for Mexicans here] anyways"

I was there in 2008 during the primaries - right before Puerto Ricans voted (they do get to vote in presidential primaries, just not the general election). I saw a lot of signs and support for Clinton and Obama, and none for any of the GOP candidates.
Timothy
06-19-2011, 05:35 PM
Yeah, it's not that Puerto Rico would be liberal like California or anything, but the GOP hasn't done anything to win over Latinos. The Tea Party is a bunch of racists, their immigration policies suck, and they've worked so hard for so long to deny Puerto Rico voting rights that they're not going to win anyone over. I once heard a bagger bitching about all of the illegal immigrants for Puerto Rico. I brought up the fact that there is no such thing as an illegal immigrant from Puerto Rico since Puerto Ricans are US citizens and are free to move to the mainland, and when confronted with these facts, he said "Well, they're a bunch of [insert racial slur for Mexicans here] anyways"

I was there in 2008 during the primaries - right before Puerto Ricans voted (they do get to vote in presidential primaries, just not the general election). I saw a lot of signs and support for Clinton and Obama, and none for any of the GOP candidates.

Yeah, the whole thing is strange, really. You'd think conservatives would work harder for the Latino vote. The Republicans are usually good at playing politics to their advantage, but I guess being a xenophobic dipshit can really cloud your judgment. :P




Edit: Before anyone gets their panties in a bunch, I'm not saying all Republicans are like that. I'm not one for broad generalizations.
Benjamin
06-19-2011, 05:45 PM
Edit: Before anyone gets their panties in a bunch, I'm not saying all Republicans are like that. I'm not one for broad generalizations.

But I think it's safe to say that if you ARE a xenophobic dipshit, there's a 95% chance you're a Republican :lol:
sotrix
06-19-2011, 05:50 PM
What do the Republicans have to do with anything?
There aren't a lot of wealthy white people there.
ThaHandyman
06-19-2011, 07:04 PM
There aren't a lot of wealthy white people there.

http://www.nbra.info/

The NBRA would disagree with the generalizing ignorance here.

What does Puerta Rico have to offer economically? Because politics asside, the only reason we should consider taking in any other states, would be if we were a stable country (which we're not) orrrr another state could help. I don't see that happening in this situation.
Todd
06-19-2011, 07:07 PM
http://www.nbra.info/

The NBRA would disagree with the generalizing ignorance here.

What does Puerta Rico have to offer economically? Because politics asside, the only reason we should consider taking in any other states, would be if we were a stable country (which we're not) orrrr another state could help. I don't see that happening in this situation.

Puerto Rico basically is already a state, just not officially. The only change with Puerto Rican statehood is that they would get representation and the right to vote. We wouldn't be taking anything in that we aren't now.
Dean
06-19-2011, 07:24 PM
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__3VQTGOfxWk/S8G5-7Ip5uI/AAAAAAAABWQ/IHrDJZs-xWY/s1600/A70-14531.jpeg
Louis
06-19-2011, 10:53 PM
If we're taking Puerto Rico, Canada is coming too. There has been provisions for them (at least under the Articles of Confederation, I think) for them to become a part of the United States. If we could have Canada, WE COULD HAVE IT ALL.

I WANT IT ALL AND I WANT IT NOW.
Benjamin
06-20-2011, 01:47 AM
If we're taking Puerto Rico, Canada is coming too. There has been provisions for them (at least under the Articles of Confederation, I think) for them to become a part of the United States. If we could have Canada, WE COULD HAVE IT ALL.

I WANT IT ALL AND I WANT IT NOW.

That would be one big ass state :lol:.
MKH
06-20-2011, 01:59 AM
That would be one big ass state :lol:.

I'd finally start feeling like Alaska was a state though, finally being connected. For some reason, with that argument, I always looked at Hawaii as a state, but not Alaska :blink:
Benjamin
06-20-2011, 02:03 AM
I'd finally start feeling like Alaska was a state though, finally being connected. For some reason, with that argument, I always looked at Hawaii as a state, but not Alaska :blink:

We could make the pacific ocean a state so then Hawaii is also connected. That would make MKH happy :awesome:
Hybrid
06-20-2011, 08:40 PM
I wish legislature was passed so the Northern Penninsula of Michigan would become the state of Superior. The two peninsulas of Michigan aren't even attatched and the lifestyle in the UP is far different then that of the LP. I know lifestyles don't matter much when choosing state-hood, but it is what it is. I know this thread is about Puerto Rico, But I'm just saying that we should have already had a 51st state but didn't...
Gloomy Mushroom
06-21-2011, 01:17 AM
It won't happen because (1) the Republicans won't let it (2) the US flag will have to change.

I'm sure adding one more star to the flag won't hurt.
F-ck Casey
06-21-2011, 05:15 AM
it would totally throw off the even balance of having 50 stars. FUCK!
Gloomy Mushroom
06-21-2011, 11:09 AM
First step to taking over the world, so why not?

They're only following the British example.

Oh wait I'm from a British colonised country
Dusty
06-21-2011, 12:14 PM
I say go for it. If they want to be a state then so be it. :)
+ / –
06-21-2011, 03:18 PM
Oh wait I'm from a British penal colonycolonised country

Fixed that for you.
Louis
06-21-2011, 04:38 PM
They're only following the British example.

Oh wait I'm from a British colonised country

Cyprus was too, and I'm not bitter.
Hybrid
06-22-2011, 02:16 PM
it would totally throw off the even balance of having 50 stars. FUCK!

This was one of the reasons Northern Michigan wasn't concidered for state-hood. Just sayin...
the enigma
07-03-2011, 07:59 PM
This was one of the reasons Northern Michigan wasn't concidered for state-hood. Just sayin...

Many people from the Lower Peninsula of Michigan feel that the Upper Peninsula might as well be Canada. There isn't much difference between the two. Accents, food, attitude.

Yo soy Boricua, and as such it's about damn time Puerto Rico became a state. What, we can go back and forth between the US and PR, we can join the US Military, but we have no representation in the country? It blows.
+ / –
07-03-2011, 08:04 PM
In case you were ACTUALLY panicking about the flag, the US has already considered and accepted that a 51st state will eventually exist and have designed a few options.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/51st_state
Louis
07-03-2011, 09:15 PM
In case you were ACTUALLY panicking about the flag, the US has already considered and accepted that a 51st state will eventually exist and have designed a few options.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/51st_state

That's actually pretty cool. I like the circular design displayed there.
lakoniasm
07-04-2011, 05:11 AM
In my mind they are already a state, My opinion is they should stay the way they are, its working out fine...so keep it that way.
the enigma
07-08-2011, 07:30 AM
In my mind they are already a state, My opinion is they should stay the way they are, its working out fine...so keep it that way.

Thankfully, what's in your mind isn't reality. It seems like PR has it good to most people, but fact is they pay almost every type of tax that any of the states pay, and have no real representation in the federal government.

I was going to write more, but fact is, there is far too much to cover and most people in the US are completely uninformed. You may see it as a state, but there are people who have lived for generations on the island and still consider it it's own nation with it's own constitution, one that the US maintains can be taken away and replaced by will of Congress.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puerto_Rico (Wiki Link)