Puerto Rico our 51st State ....why?

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Belly35's avatar

Belly35

Elderly Intellectual

9,716 posts
Apr 29, 2010 10:10 AM
Does America “WE THE PEOPLE” want Puerto Rico our 51 State ..WHY?
If it for political votes ...NO …. the Democrat suggesting this are Assholes and should be voted out ….

I see no reason, … no benefit, profit, security advancement, agricultural, technology, or economic justification ....nothing to justify doing this... only more cost and additional burden on the American Public.

I say ...... NO .......

http://biggovernment.com/taylorking/2010/04/28/puerto-rico-51st-state-congress-scrambling-to-make-it-so/
Apr 29, 2010 10:10am
CenterBHSFan's avatar

CenterBHSFan

333 - I'm only half evil

6,115 posts
Apr 29, 2010 10:15 AM
They've talked about this before, haven't they? (politicians)
Apr 29, 2010 10:15am
ptown_trojans_1's avatar

ptown_trojans_1

Moderator

7,632 posts
Apr 29, 2010 10:25 AM
Does Puerto Rico want to become a state? I was under the impression they have not wanted to become a state.

If they do, I don't see why not. They've been a territory for many years. They've shed blood to defend this country.
I also think DC should be considered a state. Taxation without Representation at its finest.
Apr 29, 2010 10:25am
Q

QuakerOats

Senior Member

8,740 posts
Apr 29, 2010 10:31 AM
It is a trick to add 2 democrat senators to immediately be able to rebuff republican filibuster efforts.

It is clever, but it is completely underhanded ----- just like everything else coming out of DC now.

November cannot get here fast enough.
Apr 29, 2010 10:31am
THE4RINGZ's avatar

THE4RINGZ

R.I.P Thread Bomber

16,816 posts
Apr 29, 2010 10:36 AM
Interesting that the people of PR are American citizens but can't vote.
Apr 29, 2010 10:36am
ptown_trojans_1's avatar

ptown_trojans_1

Moderator

7,632 posts
Apr 29, 2010 10:41 AM
THE4RINGZ wrote: Interesting that the people of PR are American citizens but can't vote.
Add the citizens of DC. I moved to DC in January. I have a House Rep. but no Senator. There is a reason why the DC license plates say, "Taxation without Representation"

Puetro Rico is the same, but again, I was under the impression they did not want to become a state to avoid the taxes.
Apr 29, 2010 10:41am
J

jmog

Senior Member

6,567 posts
Apr 29, 2010 11:12 AM
THE4RINGZ wrote: Interesting that the people of PR are American citizens but can't vote.
They do vote, they have their own government.

Plus, PR has voted against becoming a state many times, they don't want to.
Apr 29, 2010 11:12am
C

cbus4life

Ignorant

2,849 posts
Apr 29, 2010 11:17 AM
I think the people of PR have voted against it, but i don't really have a problem with it if they do decide that they want to become a state.

And lol @ the writer in the link complaining about us automatically becoming a bilingual nation if this happens, "like Canada." I don't really see what the problem with that is, either.

But, i am against it if the Puerto Ricans vote against becoming a state, as they have recently, and it still happens.

But, if they want it, then by all means, i have no problem with it.
Apr 29, 2010 11:17am
majorspark's avatar

majorspark

Senior Member

5,122 posts
Apr 29, 2010 11:22 AM
ptown_trojans_1 wrote: Add the citizens of DC. I moved to DC in January. I have a House Rep. but no Senator. There is a reason why the DC license plates say, "Taxation without Representation"
No way should DC become a state. It would be a state that would have a distinct advantage over all others. It would hold the seat of the federal government. The founders new this and instead of allowing the federal capital to be within the borders of any state the required a federal district in the constitution. Virginia and Maryland ceded land to carve out this federal district. I believe the land Virginia ceded has been returned.

I would suggest if you want representation in the senate you can live outside of the district in Maryland or Virginia.
Apr 29, 2010 11:22am
ts1227's avatar

ts1227

Senior Member

12,319 posts
Apr 29, 2010 11:38 AM
QuakerOats wrote: It is a trick to add 2 democrat senators to immediately be able to rebuff republican filibuster efforts.

It is clever, but it is completely underhanded ----- just like everything else coming out of DC now.

November cannot get here fast enough.
They've tried multiple times over the years and they always vote it down.

It's not like they just came up with this out of nowhere. But, there's no getting through to you so what does it matter.
Apr 29, 2010 11:38am
Q

QuakerOats

Senior Member

8,740 posts
Apr 29, 2010 11:47 AM
ts1227 wrote:
They've tried multiple times over the years and they always vote it down.

It's not like they just came up with this out of nowhere. But, there's no getting through to you so what does it matter.
http://blog.heritage.org/2010/04/27/puerto-rico-democracy-act-%E2%80%93-legislation-biased-in-favor-of-statehood/

You are smart enough to connect ALL the dots.
Apr 29, 2010 11:47am
jhay78's avatar

jhay78

Senior Member

1,917 posts
Apr 29, 2010 12:32 PM
ts1227 wrote:
QuakerOats wrote: It is a trick to add 2 democrat senators to immediately be able to rebuff republican filibuster efforts.

It is clever, but it is completely underhanded ----- just like everything else coming out of DC now.

November cannot get here fast enough.
They've tried multiple times over the years and they always vote it down.

It's not like they just came up with this out of nowhere. But, there's no getting through to you so what does it matter.
They've never tried it with a rigged bill like this one.
Apr 29, 2010 12:32pm
J

jmog

Senior Member

6,567 posts
Apr 29, 2010 1:11 PM
majorspark wrote:
ptown_trojans_1 wrote: Add the citizens of DC. I moved to DC in January. I have a House Rep. but no Senator. There is a reason why the DC license plates say, "Taxation without Representation"
No way should DC become a state. It would be a state that would have a distinct advantage over all others. It would hold the seat of the federal government. The founders new this and instead of allowing the federal capital to be within the borders of any state the required a federal district in the constitution. Virginia and Maryland ceded land to carve out this federal district. I believe the land Virginia ceded has been returned.

I would suggest if you want representation in the senate you can live outside of the district in Maryland or Virginia.
Exactly, but don't use logic/reason in this thread full of opinion :).

There's a reason when it was first "created" the District was made/annexed from land that was half MD and half VA. Modern DC is now really just from the original land annexed from MD, but it really doesn't matter now.

There is a reason DC is not a state, if you want respresentation move a couple miles either direction and live in MD or VA.
Apr 29, 2010 1:11pm
C

cbus4life

Ignorant

2,849 posts
Apr 29, 2010 1:17 PM
I lived in College Park for a summer while interning in D.C., that was ok, but would much rather live in D.C. if i am working there...if i can afford it. :D
Apr 29, 2010 1:17pm
dwccrew's avatar

dwccrew

Not Banned

7,817 posts
Apr 29, 2010 10:34 PM
jmog wrote:
THE4RINGZ wrote: Interesting that the people of PR are American citizens but can't vote.
They do vote, they have their own government.

Plus, PR has voted against becoming a state many times, they don't want to.
Winner!!!!
Apr 29, 2010 10:34pm
I

I Wear Pants

Senior Member

16,223 posts
Apr 29, 2010 11:07 PM
cbus4life wrote: I think the people of PR have voted against it, but i don't really have a problem with it if they do decide that they want to become a state.

And lol @ the writer in the link complaining about us automatically becoming a bilingual nation if this happens, "like Canada." I don't really see what the problem with that is, either.

But, i am against it if the Puerto Ricans vote against becoming a state, as they have recently, and it still happens.

But, if they want it, then by all means, i have no problem with it.
This.
Apr 29, 2010 11:07pm
Sykotyk's avatar

Sykotyk

Senior Member

1,155 posts
Apr 30, 2010 2:33 AM
Congress has been trying to figure out what to do with PR for a long time. Unlike the other territories (Guam, American Somoa, Northern Marianas, US Virgin Islands), Puerto Rico is quite capable of existing as a state. So, the fact that it has perpetually been kept a territory has been puzzling. Alaska and Hawaii became states. The Philippines and Cuba became independent). Yet, PR is still there "None of the Above" according to their last vote. Which was a sham.

Their options were Statehood, Commonwealth (i.e., current status), Independence or None Of The Above. Which was the majority vote. They had no force with the majority being the final result of their status.

Any new vote must just say "Independence or Statehood" as the two options. No more Status Quo, and definitely no "None of the Above".

Sykotyk
Apr 30, 2010 2:33am
jhay78's avatar

jhay78

Senior Member

1,917 posts
Apr 30, 2010 4:17 PM
QuakerOats wrote: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/04/29/house-approves-puerto-rico-statehood-measure/%20/?test=latestnews



More ............................................... change we can believe in ................
Don't worry Quaker, I'm sure the President won't sign the bill until after people have had 5 days to review and comment on the White House website.:D
Apr 30, 2010 4:17pm
A

Al Bundy

Senior Member

4,180 posts
Apr 30, 2010 8:05 PM
How would making PR a state benefit our country?
Apr 30, 2010 8:05pm
I

I Wear Pants

Senior Member

16,223 posts
Apr 30, 2010 8:10 PM
Al Bundy wrote: How would making PR a state benefit our country?
How does having it as a territory benefit our country?
Apr 30, 2010 8:10pm
Sykotyk's avatar

Sykotyk

Senior Member

1,155 posts
Apr 30, 2010 9:07 PM
If they became a state, they'd pay federal income tax, for one. We already pay to protect them. We have paid for various other things. Our federal highway bills pay for some of their roads, etc.

PR has the best of both worlds. Not be independent (with all the headaches and negatives), yet doesn't have to be a state.

Their last vote didn't 'cast down' statehood. Their last vote was between four options. Independence, Commonwealth (i.e., Status Quo), Statehood, and "None of the Above". They voted just above 50% in favor of "None of the Above". Just about 47% voted for statehood. They didn't vote against statehood. They voted in favor of not having to make a decision as nobody has ever explained what other option they could have in "None of the Above". The majority didn't even vote in favor of independence or in favor to stay a territory/colony.

If we do force them to hold another vote (which is about the only way we'll decide this matter of their status), they need two choices. Independence or Statehood. If conservatives out there are against a welfare state, PR is the quintessential definition. They get the benefits of citizenship without paying federal income taxes. Either let them go free or let them vote to be a full tax-paying state of the United States.

Sykotyk
Apr 30, 2010 9:07pm
A

Al Bundy

Senior Member

4,180 posts
Apr 30, 2010 10:21 PM
Sykotyk wrote: If they became a state, they'd pay federal income tax, for one. We already pay to protect them. We have paid for various other things. Our federal highway bills pay for some of their roads, etc.

PR has the best of both worlds. Not be independent (with all the headaches and negatives), yet doesn't have to be a state.

Their last vote didn't 'cast down' statehood. Their last vote was between four options. Independence, Commonwealth (i.e., Status Quo), Statehood, and "None of the Above". They voted just above 50% in favor of "None of the Above". Just about 47% voted for statehood. They didn't vote against statehood. They voted in favor of not having to make a decision as nobody has ever explained what other option they could have in "None of the Above". The majority didn't even vote in favor of independence or in favor to stay a territory/colony.

If we do force them to hold another vote (which is about the only way we'll decide this matter of their status), they need two choices. Independence or Statehood. If conservatives out there are against a welfare state, PR is the quintessential definition. They get the benefits of citizenship without paying federal income taxes. Either let them go free or let them vote to be a full tax-paying state of the United States.

Sykotyk
I have my doubts whether they would be paying more in federal taxes or receiving more in refunds.
Apr 30, 2010 10:21pm
A

Al Bundy

Senior Member

4,180 posts
Apr 30, 2010 10:25 PM
I Wear Pants wrote:
Al Bundy wrote: How would making PR a state benefit our country?
How does having it as a territory benefit our country?
There were miliary reasons for making it a territory after we took control of it in the Spanish-American War.
Apr 30, 2010 10:25pm
I

I Wear Pants

Senior Member

16,223 posts
Apr 30, 2010 11:35 PM
Al Bundy wrote:
I Wear Pants wrote:
Al Bundy wrote: How would making PR a state benefit our country?
How does having it as a territory benefit our country?
There were miliary reasons for making it a territory after we took control of it in the Spanish-American War.
How is that relevant to today?
Apr 30, 2010 11:35pm