Could Puerto Rico Statehood Ever Become Real?

[Man of the Century]

As some may recall, Puerto Rico voted several years ago between three choices:

Apply for U.S. Statehood
Become independent of the U.S.
Maintain status

P.R. chose to have things remain the same.

Do you see P.R. ever petitioning for U.S. statehood, or attempting to become independent of the U.S.?

[fernando]

What were the results a few years back?

[Severian]

I doubt that Washington would grant statehood even if a majority voted for it.

Independence remains the position of the most progressive forces in Puerto Rico; whenever workers there are moving forward, they tend to look for pro-independence leadership.

So I think it's likely that position will ultimately win.

[CrazyModerate]

Originally posted by [email protected] 19 2005, 04:28 AM
I doubt that Washington would grant statehood even if a majority voted for it.

Independence remains the position of the most progressive forces in Puerto Rico; whenever workers there are moving forward, they tend to look for pro-independence leadership.

So I think it's likely that position will ultimately win.
I think the constitution requires that, if the territory wants to apply for statehood, and meets certain requirements, such as a certain population, they are let into the Union.

[Man of the Century]

Above is not true "the Constitution requires". I don't have it from memory, but the Constitution simply says Congress may create a method regarding the inclusion of new states, but the minimal requirements of statehood is not included in the text of the Constitution. In theory, Catalina Island off the California coast could be made a state. Remember from your high school history the various states created in the weirdest ways: Maine was once a part of Massechusetts, West Virginia was the Virgiania counties that did not seceed, the Dakotas were split, etc.

Regarding the statement above of what Washington would or would not do, I don't see how anyone could predict what a given government would do in such a case. Mexico was against the Texas statehood and the issue was put on hold for a decade, but there is no such competing power that would claim Puerto Rico.

[Commie Girl]

Originally posted by Man of the [email protected] 19 2005, 12:01 AM
but there is no such competing power that would claim Puerto Rico.
Except Puerto Rico itself.

[Man of the Century]

Commie Girl:

1) Why are you trying to wreck my Father's Day. I just got a cool raft for the pool with two drink holders from my son, and an M3P-something that can play music my daughter can steal from the web for listening to music at the club. And you go on and on...

2) You clearly didn't read the post, which, in the specific scenario discussed, Puerto Rico were to petition for statehood and another nation state would object. A competing power meant antoher country that viewed P.R. as its own, as was the case with Texas and Mexico in the 1830's. There is NO nation state that is "claiming" P.R. is theirs, so I pointed out the comparison didn't work. If P.R. didn't petition for statehood, there would be no reason for it to try and prevent anything.

3) You're all over the place on my posts. People('s Republic) will say we're in love. (That's a built in joke. I can be very clever at times. But can't spell, despite a bunch of degrees and education.)

[Borincano]

Actually, in the 1998 referendum there were 5 options. They were: Independence (2.5%), Statehood (46.5%), Commonwealth (.1%), Associated Republic (.3%), and None of the Above (50.3%), which won and is clearly recognized as a protest of the pro-Commonwealth and Independence supporters against then-Governor Dr. Rosselló's insane campaign for statehood, costly referendums on the issue, and and campaign to remove the Commonwealth option.

I, as a Puerto Rican, do not believe in statehood for many reasons, but will only get into it briefly:

1) The USA Congress won't allow it. (Language, iindependence militancy, culture, xenophobia...etc) If they wanted it to be done, then they would allow for a binding referendum on the issue. The referendums have all been non-binding and payed for by the PR Government.

2) Puerto Rico's economic structure is not ready for statehood - it is too based on manufacturing and tax-incentives.

3) Culture and its affects on economic, social, and political policy

4) Further dependency and unfairness to the U.S. taxpayer.

To learn more about Contemporary P.R., go to my blog : http://trescaminos.blogspot.com