Puerto Rico is close to statehood. Jealous yet, Canada?

[pohibaba]

SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO -- A bill has been introduced to the U.S. Congress that could make Puerto Rico the 51st state.

For almost 50 years, the U.S. has been made up of 50 states. In 1959, Hawaii was the last state added to the Union, but that could change.

Puerto Rico has been a territory of the United States for more than a century, and some people think it's time for the commonwealth to become a state. The topic has sparked a heated debate.

"Statehood would go against that sense of uniqueness, culture, identity that we do have under commonwealth," Puerto Rican Gov. Anibal Acevedo-Vila said.

"As a U.S. citizen, if you live in Puerto Rico, you are stripped of your rights," Luis Fortuno, Puerto Rico's only non-voting congressman, said.

Acevedo-Vila believes his people are better off the way they are now.

"We are U.S. citizens, we are a commonwealth of the U.S., but we are a nation sociologically. We call ourselves Puerto Ricans. We don't call ourselves Puerto Rican-Americans," Acevedo-Vila said.

Puerto Ricans do not currently pay taxes and do not vote for U.S. president, but they do receive welfare and unemployment benefits and pay Social Security. Puerto Ricans also serve in the U.S. military.

Fortuno said Puerto Ricans in the U.S. military are why Puerto Rico should become a state.

"We have fought in every single war since the first world war," Fortuno said. "We are proud to be Americans, and we are bound by the same values that actually make us the greatest nation in the world."

"As a senator who represents a lot of Puerto Rican people in this state, I should give them a voice, and I know it's a big deal to the people of Puerto Rico," Sen. Mel Martinez, R-Fla., said.

Martinez said the people of Puerto Rico should decide their own fate.

In August, Martinez introduced a bill to Congress that would set a date for a federally sanctioned vote on the island, which would allow Puerto Ricans to choose between commonwealth status, independence, free association or statehood.

Commonwealth status would mean no change, but independence would make the island a sovereign nation and free association would mean independence with a special relationship to the U.S.

"Since 1898, Puerto Rico has been essentially in a limbo colonial status, and it's just not right. There's not too many places in the world where a complete lack of definity exists for a people," Martinez said.

Puerto Ricans have voted on their status before. In those non-binding referendums, known as plebiscites, Puerto Ricans have rejected statehood.

"I think that Puerto Rico in the future should get a better deal with the U.S. Congress in order for the island to get more power, more autonomy," Acevedo-Vila said.

"We're not asking for any special treatment," Fortuno said. "We just want to participate fully in this experiment. We want to carry our own weight."

Martinez said, ultimately, Congress has the last word on the status of Puerto Rico, no matter what the voters on the island choose.

If Puerto Rico becomes a state, it would be represented by six members of Congress and two U.S. senators.

Martinez's bill is now in the hands of a Senate committee. Lawmakers are expected to act on the bill early next year.

Source: http://www.wesh.com/news/14697953/detail.html

Honestly, I would give Puerto Rico one simple choice: Statehood or independence. Screw this Commonwealth bullshit.

[Byrd]

Doesn't this come up every few years?

Martinez said, ultimately, Congress has the last word on the status of Puerto Rico, no matter what the voters on the island choose.

Not a big fan of this statement. Forced annexation? I'm fine with Puerto Rico becoming a state and all, but only if they want to be a state. Last thing we need is a state that doesn't want to be part of the union.

[Ryko]

Kentucky

Kentucky is designated a Commonwealth by its constitution and is known as the 'Commonwealth of Kentucky'.

[edit] Virginia

Virginia has been known as the 'Commonwealth of Virginia' since before joining the United States.

[edit] Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania uses the term 'Commonwealth' loosely. The 'Commonwealth of Pennsylvania' is its official title.

[edit] Massachusetts

Massachusetts is a Commonwealth, declaring itself such in its constitution, which states that "The body politic is formed by a voluntary association of individuals: it is a social compact, by which the whole people covenants with each citizen, and each citizen with the whole people, that all shall be governed by certain laws for the common good."

[Demosthenes11]

Puerto Ricans do not currently pay taxes and do not vote for U.S. president, but they do receive welfare and unemployment benefits and pay Social Security. Puerto Ricans also serve in the U.S. military.

GTFO or GTFI

[Ryko]

Puerto Ricans do not currently pay taxes and do not vote for U.S. president, but they do receive welfare and unemployment benefits and pay Social Security. Puerto Ricans also serve in the U.S. military.

GTFO or GTFI

You make it sound like PR actually has a choice in the matter.

[Maxxthepenguin]

Puerto Ricans do not currently pay taxes and do not vote for U.S. president, but they do receive welfare and unemployment benefits and pay Social Security. Puerto Ricans also serve in the U.S. military.

GTFO or GTFI

AMBIGUOUS STATES OF BEING WITH DIFFERENT RULES CONFUSE ME

[Shuemue]

Do they currently get PR or US passports?

[Alleya]

I agree with the OP. Independence or statehood. All in or all out. Take your pick. If they're not paying taxes but still getting benefits, that's BS to americans, especially the middle class who pay outrageous taxes and do not qualify for those benefits.

[kuronosan]

Our passports are US, I believe. However, a passport is not required to travel between the island and the mainland.

[Deejay]

Nope sorry I like 50.

51 is just weird.

[Khamsin]

Kentucky

Kentucky is designated a Commonwealth by its constitution and is known as the 'Commonwealth of Kentucky'.

[edit] Virginia

Virginia has been known as the 'Commonwealth of Virginia' since before joining the United States.

[edit] Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania uses the term 'Commonwealth' loosely. The 'Commonwealth of Pennsylvania' is its official title.

[edit] Massachusetts

Massachusetts is a Commonwealth, declaring itself such in its constitution, which states that "The body politic is formed by a voluntary association of individuals: it is a social compact, by which the whole people covenants with each citizen, and each citizen with the whole people, that all shall be governed by certain laws for the common good."

Yeah, but they also pay taxes and operate exactly as a state would.

[oxx2]

why would canada care?

[Alleya]

why would canada care?

Because Canadians secretly love paying out the nose for inadequate health care, placing their lives in the hands of an institution that is more interested in making money than helping people.

[oxx2]

you sound bitter?

did your tummy hurt and a visit to the ER empty your change purse?

[Maxxthepenguin]

why would canada care?

Because Canadians secretly love paying out the nose for inadequate health care, placing their lives in the hands of an institution that is more interested in making money than helping people.

Replace canadians with americans and it becomes much more true!

[sephir]

why would canada care?

Because Canadians secretly love paying out the nose for inadequate health care, placing their lives in the hands of an institution that is more interested in making money than helping people.

I hope your kidding because we pay less per person by far than you guys do. Taken from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_a ... s_compared : "Government and private health and public policy analysts have compared the health care systems of Canada and the United States.[1][2][3][4] In 2004, per-capita spending for health care in the U.S. was more than double that in Canada: in the U.S., it totaled US$6,096; in Canada, US$3,038.[5] "


But I think this commonwealth thing is kind of BS. They act almost exactly like a state as is, but cant vote for their representation in the elections.

[Khamsin]

why would canada care?

Because Canadians secretly love paying out the nose for inadequate health care, placing their lives in the hands of an institution that is more interested in making money than helping people.

I hope your kidding because we pay less per person by far than you guys do. Taken from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_a ... s_compared : "Government and private health and public policy analysts have compared the health care systems of Canada and the United States.[1][2][3][4] In 2004, per-capita spending for health care in the U.S. was more than double that in Canada: in the U.S., it totaled US$6,096; in Canada, US$3,038.[5] "


But I think this commonwealth thing is kind of BS. They act almost exactly like a state as is, but cant vote for their representation in the elections.

I think the point was that Canada is jealous of Puerto Rico because they want nothing more than to become a state and pay out the nose for healthcare. Not that they do already.

[Elesirdur]

why would canada care?

Because Canadians secretly love paying out the nose for inadequate health care, placing their lives in the hands of an institution that is more interested in making money than helping people.

Well, when you yanks can waltz into any hospital's ER with a case of the sniffles or suffering a heat attack, get treatment, and not pay a cent out of your pocket all without extended medical coverage, then you can start ragging on our healthcare system.

I will concede that it's not the world's best and I would like to see the option of a totally separate private system open up in Canada that receives zero dollars from municipal, provincial, or federal governments. That way rich folks who feel they can afford private care to get things done faster can open up more spots in the public queues to get the average Canadian needing a hip replacement or cancer treatment through that much faster. During my political volunteering I've had the chance to speak with some MPs who are doctors and endorse a very tightly regulated, not-funded, private system that runs in parallel to the public system. The first best steps would be for diagnostic work, that shit can take forever to get through the queue and can easily be taken over by private clinics without compromising the public system.

Anyways, that's a really short and disjointed recap of some very complicated policies.

[Hitoshura]

you sound bitter?

did your tummy hurt and a visit to the ER empty your change purse?

^lol.

[Chips]

Puerto Ricans do not currently pay taxes and do not vote for U.S. president, but they do receive welfare and unemployment benefits and pay Social Security. Puerto Ricans also serve in the U.S. military.

Rofl. No wonder they don't want to be recognized as a state. Made in the shade 8)