Will Puerto Rico become a state during Obama's administration?

[EconomicLiberal]

The PNP, the pro-statehood party in PR, won the governor's race this past election. They also hold control over the House and the Senate.

Will a referendum on statehood come up during Obama's term? Thoughts?

[NeedleCast]

1. Pretty much see it as a PR issue

It wouldn't surprise me if a referendum came up. Ultimately, I think it should be up to an open vote in PR, and those have, if memory serves, failed in the past.

[surrealAmerican]

3. You're right. It's up to them.

Still, it's very unlikely they would choose statehood if it came to a referendum.

[NeedleCast]

9. As a person who loves PR pretty much how it is, I hope they don't become a state

I really don't have much issue with their current status. There are arguments on both sides that make sense to me. Puerto Rico is such an awesome place that I'd hate to see it change. Then again, I say that as mostly a tourist who doesn't have to live there year round, although I've seriously thought about retiring to PR when I'm of retirement age.

[Oregone]

2. This would cost our nation so much

Redesigning logos and replacing flags would be a staggering cost to this nation. On the other hand, it would be a boon the the graphical designers and flag factories, whose lobbies are already pushing this movement.

Doesn't the USA already have about 25 too many states?

[EconomicLiberal]

4. It would put people to work, wouldn't it?

;)

[Oregone]

5. If only FDR thought of this

[drm604]

18. Probably in China. n/t

[arcadian]

6. No, they would have to find a largley Republican territory to admit as well.

To balance out power. And there aren't any.

[EconomicLiberal]

8. That is certainly not a requirement at all.

The Republicans shouldn't play politics with this.

[arcadian]

12. Well, if you look at U.S. history it aways has been.

Alaska and Hawaii. Missouri Compromise. The Compromise of 1850. Kansas-Nebraska Act.

All involved the balance of power in the U.S. Congress.

[msongs]

7. free puerto rico from imperialist dominance nt

[NeedleCast]

10. So you think PR would be better off as a wholly independent nation?

The people of PR seem to disagree with you.

[Lost-in-FL]

16. They disagree because...

they are indoctrinated to think that way. Any country has the capacity to rule its own and be free even from the USA.

[NeedleCast]

21. Your argument is pretty dismissive and can be applied to pretty much anything

Democrats don't want to be democrats, they're just indoctrinated by the liberal media and school system to beleive in liberal theory.

That's not a very good argument.

I agree that any country has the capacity to rule it's own but lets not pretend that PR doesn't gain some advantages from it's current standing.

[Lost-in-FL]

23. It has a lot to lose from its current standing (Commonwealth).

They are a country but aren't able to trade freely with other countries to help their economy (Might work for the District of Columbia because they are in the main USA but not for a place so far away). They have no votes in congress but a lame representative (Resident Commissioner), veterans cannot even vote for their president as residents of PR (they have to move to the states to vote for a president). Professionals are fleeing PR by the loads each passing year due to low wages and a very poor economy. That is why PR is sinking. Thank the ESTADO LIBRE ASSOCIADO for that.

Yes, they are indoctrinated by Republicans and Pro-Commonwealth in the island that statehood/or Commonwealth are their only hope and they cannot do without the USA. That becoming a free country would make them automatically like Cuba and they have to flee the island in boats. That is wrong.

[Terran]

13. Are you a bot?

Free Puerto Rico from imperialist dominance. Thank you. Next please.
Free California from imperialist dominance. Thank you. Next please.
Free Mississippi from imperialist dominance. Thank you. Next please.
:eyes:

[crispini]

11. That would be fun, wouldn't it? It's up to them, though.

I don't know enough about internal PR politics to say if it would pass or not.

[Lost-in-FL]

14. It is up to Congress and not Puerto Ricans to admit PR in the union

Congress is also under no obligation to admit states even when those populations express a desire for statehood.

Free PR!!! Down with imperialism!!

[JonQ]

15. I doubt it

they haven't really ever shown much interest in becoming a state.

[davidinalameda]

17. no, they will not become a state anytime soon

I hope DC becomes a state but I don't see that happening anytime soon either

[cherokeeprogressive]

19. Didn't Bubba promise Jesse Jackson that in return for his support

he'd make DC a state during his second term?

[davidinalameda]

20. Bubba made a lot of promises

[cherokeeprogressive]

22. In my short 47 years, I've come to see campaign promises as being of no more consequence

than farts in the wind. I don't care WHO makes them. Obama included.

[liberalpragmatist]

25. There was a vote on DC Statehood in Congress back in '93

It failed by a 2-1 margin in the House -- and that's when Democrats controlled Congress.

There's a lot of speculation that under Obama, DC could get voting rights in the House. But I don't understand why nobody is pushing full statehood -- we have possibly the largest majorities we'll see for a long time, and it's possible full statehood could pass (the Dem majority today is much less conservative and much more unified than it was 16 years ago).

[ArrowMan]

24. You would have to call it Rich Port. :You can't have Spanish words for states' names.

That is why Florida and Colorado had to switch to Indian names. And don't say that Dakota is Spanish. It's Greek.