http://news.msn.com/politics/puerto-ricans-opt-for-statehood-in-referendum
I for one, am not surprised by this move......It was only a matter of time.
Discuss Civilly please.
http://news.msn.com/politics/puerto-ricans-opt-for-statehood-in-referendum
I for one, am not surprised by this move......It was only a matter of time.
Discuss Civilly please.
That's actually really cool!
I do wonder what the Philippines will do...
I don't have a problem with that. As-is they're in kind of a quasi-status. I don't know enough history to speak fluently on the issue... but it seems that maintaining this:
"The island is currently a U.S. territory whose inhabitants are U.S. citizens but are prohibited from voting in presidential elections. Its resident commissioner in the U.S. House also has limited voting powers."
...isn't really a long term plan. In or out. Why halfway? We're playing the statehood version of "just the tip"
It would be really cool for something like that to happen, I've hadn't given much thought to the US adding a state in my lifetime. It's something I just didn't expect to happen. I wonder what the flag would look like?
Javelin wrote: That's actually really cool! I do wonder what the Philippines will do...
???
Philippines is an independant country (since 1946). Puerto Rico has been part of the US since 1898.
In reply to xflowgolf:
Being as they are, Puerto Rico gets their own representation on an inernational basis- particularly in sport and other stuff. Remember that the Puerto Rican mens team beat the US mens BB team in Greece- which raised a lot of eyebrows.
I pay a lot of attention to this- as an in-Law of Puerto Rico.
Aquadilla pipe line
alfadriver wrote:Javelin wrote: That's actually really cool! I do wonder what the Philippines will do...??? Philippines is an independant country (since 1946). Puerto Rico has been part of the US since 1898.
This.......we took both from Spain in the Spanish American War, but the Phillipine people never liked us that much before ww2. They chose soverignty, and they had the same options Puerto Rico has.
alfadriver wrote:Javelin wrote: That's actually really cool! I do wonder what the Philippines will do...??? Philippines is an independant country (since 1946). Puerto Rico has been part of the US since 1898.
They've had a bitter sweet relationship with the US as well after the US helped them kick out the Spanish and then essentially took Spain's place. During WWII, they looked to the US to protect them from the Japanese (as the fighting with the US for their independence left them unready for the Japanese invasion) and many were given citizenship in the US after serving in the US armed forces. There is a still a symbiotic relationship with the US, but they certainly are an independent country.
As for PR, I think that making them the 51st state is fine, if that is their choice. However, I think that if that doesn't happen, then they should be set free to govern themselves.
I'm sure the Hawaiians are sending them letters essentially stating, "Don't do it!" or, "Its a Trap!" Since many Hawaiians believe their statehood was not by choice and that they have every right to self-govern themselves.
Meanwhile in Alaska, someone fired a snot rocket and asked for another beer.
yamaha wrote: http://news.msn.com/politics/puerto-ricans-opt-for-statehood-in-referendum I for one, am not surprised by this move......It was only a matter of time. Discuss Civilly please.
The odd thing is, a week or two ago, I was just reading about the exact nature of Puerto Rico's place in the US.
In reply to alfadriver:
I thought the Philippines were still a semi-protectorat or something like that, ie - not fully independent, but I was just confused.
turboswede wrote: They've had a bitter sweet relationship with the US as well after the US helped them kick out the Spanish and then essentially took Spain's place. During WWII, they looked to the US to protect them from the Japanese (as the fighting with the US for their independence left them unready for the Japanese invasion) and many were given citizenship in the US after serving in the US armed forces. There is a still a symbiotic relationship with the US, but they certainly are an independent country. As for PR, I think that making them the 51st state is fine, if that is their choice. However, I think that if that doesn't happen, then they should be set free to govern themselves. I'm sure the Hawaiians are sending them letters essentially stating, "Don't do it!" or, "Its a Trap!" Since many Hawaiians believe their statehood was not by choice and that they have every right to self-govern themselves. Meanwhile in Alaska, someone fired a snot rocket and asked for another beer.
MacArthur was brought back from retirement to help the Phillipines form an army to defend themselves......even then they were overwhelmed, just like everyone else. Japan basically rick-rolled the Pacific. Many did recieve citizenship(one of the nicest things imaginable for the time), and many of Phillipine descent still live in the states.
Hawaiians just got out-voted by all the people who moved there....
Also, Breaking news......the Alaskan Gov. just killed a moose. DINNERTIME!!!!
Would the US Virgin Islands qualify as a potential next state?
turboswede wrote: I'm sure the Hawaiians are sending them letters essentially stating, "Don't do it!" or, "Its a Trap!" Since many Hawaiians believe their statehood was not by choice and that they have every right to self-govern themselves.
Well there is a difference. Puerto Rico just voted yes. Hawaii was basically stolen by the US at the bidding of Dole and other companies. But these days, other than a small minority, I don't think Hawaii really wants to be independent.
No jokes yet about taxation without representation with Puerto Rico
IIRC, one issue in PR is the tax-shelter status they lend to pharmaceutical companies, and how statehood would remove that and potentially loose a lot of money.
I seem to recall a tax break on Rum made there. A lot of the other Caribbean islands are upset about that.
In reply to Javelin:
FWIW, the US took control (in a way, for each country) of Cuba, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Phillippines as a result of the Spanish American War.
Cuba was given back to themselves provisionally in 1902. Phillippines had a rocky relationsip, Guam is still a commonweath.
Puerto Rico re-defined their relationship in 1948, which granted US citizenship to all of them- and they have been a "part' since. Basically a colony of the US, but are allowed to represent themselves in the Olympics and Ms Universe kind of stuff.
It's a great place, but I'm not sure what this really means- my in-laws are not for statehood, they are happy being roughly a colony.
If they want to be Americans but not be allowed to vote- I'm ok with that.
Adrian_Thompson wrote: No jokes yet about taxation without representation with Puerto Rico
Outside of the jokes, Puerto Ricans don't pay federal tax. The taxes they do pay are Island based- so technically, they do have taxation with representation.
Even without the federal taxes, a lot of money is sent to Puerto Rico. Interestingly, I've read a study that once they start paying federal tax, they will get even more federal monies.
Not sure if that still applies, since when that was written, there was still an army and navy base there, as well as the use of Vieques as a live fire island.
pinchvalve wrote: IIRC, one issue in PR is the tax-shelter status they lend to pharmaceutical companies, and how statehood would remove that and potentially loose a lot of money.
That issue was ended a few years ago, when the tax shelter expired. Still a lot of pharm companies there. But that expiration was one of they reasons they pushed for statehood, I think.
alfadriver wrote:Adrian_Thompson wrote: No jokes yet about taxation without representation with Puerto RicoOutside of the jokes, Puerto Ricans don't pay federal tax. The taxes they do pay are Island based- so technically, they do have taxation with representation. Even without the federal taxes, a lot of money is sent to Puerto Rico. Interestingly, I've read a study that once they start paying federal tax, they will get even more federal monies. Not sure if that still applies, since when that was written, there was still an army and navy base there, as well as the use of Vieques as a live fire island.
As I said jokes, I bow to your knowledge, I didn't know they didn't pay Fed tax. A loop hole to be closed 
Now what happens with the flag? How do you add one more to the current 6,5,6,5,6,5,6,5,6 pattern? How about we let Texas go and keep at 50. Joke joke joke honest!
they have a HARP array in PR as well.....just sayin...
In reply to Adrian_Thompson:
DC, Virgin Islands, etc- we can make it equal.
edit- I forgot- California CAN break into 2. It's in their constitution.
Add Puerto Rico, split Texas into 4 reasonably sized states and add another row of 5 stars to the flag. No one would even notice.
In reply to Adrian_Thompson:
Nah, If anywhere needs to go, its Cali....silly clean air hippies
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