Puerto Rico -- Why?

[Epee_Pox]

Why isn't Puerto Rico a U.S. state?

Or, put another way, why isn't Puerto Rico independent?

Shouldn't it be one or the other?

[Morion]

Puerto Rico is a territory much like the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, etc. Puerto Rico has voted on independance and I think also on the possibility statehood before. Neither side has enough support to win. So they just go on as they are.

[keith]

Given the current political climate, the two new senators and loss of congress seats for other states, and the budget deficits I would imagine that they would not get statehood. Even if they wanted it.

[lochinvar]

Originally Posted by Epee_Pox

Shouldn't it be one or the other?

You would think so, wouldn't you?

The fact is, however, that there is a sizable number of Puerto Ricans who feel that P.R. couldn't survive as an independent country and so oppose independence--while there is also sizable number who see it in their best interests not to become a state. This has to do with various economic perks that they receive as a territory which would disappear under statehood.

So the two sides roughly cancel each other and things go on as they have been. Until something happens to change the algebra, I doubt very much that we'll see any changes in the near future.

[rcmatthews]

Im pretty sure that they dont have to pay taxes like a state, but get to reap the benefits of protection

[TrainingDummy]

Originally Posted by rcmatthews

Im pretty sure that they dont have to pay taxes like a state, but get to reap the benefits of protection

Hey, sounds like Israel! Oh wait, except we dump fighter jets in Israel's backyard with US taxpayers' money! Puerto Ricans leeching off our military support is a non-issue to me.

[Phaeton]

It'd make west side story a hell of a lot less intresting.

[jeff]

It'd bugger up the flag design - how do you put 51 stars in a neat pattern?

[Philistine]

Originally Posted by jeff

It'd bugger up the flag design - how do you put 51 stars in a neat pattern?

Three rows of 9 and three of 8.

You can see it and an alternative version Here

--Philistine

[jeff]

Oooh, funky. Not bad though... thanks!

[ReverseLunge]

So many reasons and all of them wrong. It's because the Ricans, like the Mexicans don't have what it takes to create or manage civilization.

[General Sweetpants]

Originally Posted by ReverseLunge

So many reasons and all of them wrong. It's because the Ricans, like the Mexicans don't have what it takes to create or manage civilization.

Thank God I'm Italian, then! I know why this is so! It is because the Puerto Ricans and Mexicans do not have the talent that Italians do in the ways of love!

[lochinvar]

Originally Posted by General Sweetpants

Thank God I'm Italian, then! I know why this is so! It is because the Puerto Ricans and Mexicans do not have the talent that Italians do in the ways of love!

One wonders: Why, then, are there so many of them? Obviously they are skilled enough in the "ways of love" to pop out babies like breath mints...

[General Sweetpants]

Originally Posted by lochinvar

One wonders: Why, then, are there so many of them? Obviously they are skilled enough in the "ways of love" to pop out babies like breath mints...

You are right! But remember, many Italians are Catholics.

But seeing as you've clearly read my take on Abortion and Birth Control, I am actively taking part encouraging contraception (I nearly said conception here, ha!).

[Josedariom]

Originally Posted by ReverseLunge

So many reasons and all of them wrong. It's because the Ricans, like the Mexicans don't have what it takes to create or manage civilization.

Yes that is true if you mean civilization to be a culture based on war, money, self-interest and intolerance towards other peoples. Well yeah Puerto Ricans are incapable of creating such a civilization. Comments like that show even more why I loathe the idea of becoming a state.

[noodle]

Originally Posted by Josedariom

Yes that is true if you mean civilization to be a culture based on war, money, self-interest and intolerance towards other peoples. Well yeah Puerto Ricans are incapable of creating such a civilization. Comments like that show even more why I loathe the idea of becoming a state.

ignore that guy, his entire purpose on this board is to make people angry

[Josedariom]

Yeah I should ignore him I just get kind of mad at this kind of stereotype by ignorant people.

[Have At You]

Originally Posted by Josedariom

I loathe the idea of becoming a state.

But do you equally loathe the idea of getting all the US-taxpayer-funded stuff without paying taxes yourselves?

[ReverseLunge]

Originally Posted by Josedariom

Yes that is true if you mean civilization to be a culture based on war, money, self-interest and intolerance towards other peoples. Well yeah Puerto Ricans are incapable of creating such a civilization. Comments like that show even more why I loathe the idea of becoming a state.

You loathe the idea of becoming a state while inside you know it is better for you but worse for us. We have tolerated diversity for many decades now and it is destroying us. Diversity is the disintegration of culture and values.

When we import the third world we must adjust our values to accomodate their standards and because of this we will become a third world country. Perhaps in the end it will be a good example for Europe and Asian to learn from.

Diversity allows us to experience the problems created by people who are irrelevant to us.

Why struggle with conflicting values and goals when you have a choice to unify with people who want the same?

[Durando]

Originally Posted by ReverseLunge

We have tolerated diversity for many decades now and it is destroying us. Diversity is the disintegration of culture and values.

...Ein volk, etc.

Remarkably Hitlerian, even for you RL.