Puerto Rico votes to become America's 51st state

[Noob]

Puerto Rico votes to become America's 51st state in non-binding referendum.

http://www.wtsp.com/news/article/281428/36/Puerto-Rico-on-the-road-to-becoming-a-state

[matt0611]

Wow, I envy them for having a chance to vote for independence, too bad they chose to join us.

[tangent4ronpaul]

This is going to cause Obama endless confusion the next time he tries to guess how many states are in the country...

-t

[Agorism]

Does this have to to the house of reps to become one?

[Noob]

If they do at the state constitutional convention to adopt a new constitution they have a chance to adopt pro liberty amendments.

[itshappening]

13% unemployment, $70bn in debt and 1,000 murders a year, sounds like the perfect 51st State and future Democrat stronghold

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-20238272

"We're doing okay, but we could do better. We would receive more benefits, a lot more financial help."

Congress has never denied a request for statehood

[pochy1776]

fuck them.

[supermario21]

What are the procedures for admitting a state?

[sailingaway]

I think they didn't give them the option on the ballot of 'staying as they are' this time, the last two times they had that option and that was what won.


This time I think they had to vote between divesting altogether or being a state. I could be wrong.

[RonPaulMall]

What are the procedures for admitting a state?

Better question is what is the procedure for giving a territory back to Spain?

[James Madison]

Better question is what is the procedure for giving a territory back to Spain?

Better toss in the UK while we're at it.

[Dr.3D]

Better question is what is the procedure for giving a territory back to Spain?
Why give it back? How about just letting them run their own country and see how it comes out?

[erowe1]

What's in it for them?

I don't know what I'd give for one of the states to leave the union and for me to be able to live there.

[aGameOfThrones]

I think they didn't give them the option on the ballot of 'staying as they are' this time, the last two times they had that option and that was what won.


This time I think they had to vote between divesting altogether or being a state. I could be wrong.

The first question dealt with the current political status. The question that always won was, "NONE OF THE ABOVE".

[aGameOfThrones]

fuck them.

I see you're from New York.

[Matthew5]

Dear Puerto Rico,

We'll trade places with you.

Seriously,
Texas

[pochy1776]

I see you're from New York. I am just a very angry kid. Think Drinking with bob but rich, asian and slightly smarter.

[pochy1776]

Why do we have to have 51 States. Its either 48 or 50. NICE EVEN NUMBER.

[supermario21]

Better question. Can Texas just Secede? President Paul, Senator Cruz, etc!

[erowe1]

Why do we have to have 51 States. Its either 48 or 50. NICE EVEN NUMBER.

51 is ok. It's 3x17. So you'd have a nice flag with 3 rows of 8 stars interspersed with 3 rows of 9.

It's also 1/3 of 153, which is the number of fish the disciples caught in John 21.

[MelissaWV]

I know I'm going to regret this, because for some reason there is a tiny sliver of me that thinks people would rather be educated than sound like xenophobic morons, but...


The ballot measure, which coincided with the general election held throughout the United States, was split into two parts. The first question asked whether the voters preferred to maintain the current political status of Puerto Rico. 54 percent — over 900,000 people — voted against the current commonwealth status.

Independent of the first question, voters were then asked to choose from three options: statehood, independence, or semi-autonomous "sovereign free association". Of those who made a choice, 61 percent supported statehood, 33 percent supported "sovereign free association", and 6 percent supported independence.

Nearly 500,000 people, or a third of those voting, declined to answer this second question, making it difficult to interpret the results. Moreover, the pro-statehood governor — one of the most prominent advocates for statehood — lost his bid for reelection. Governor-elect Garcia Padilla, in favor of maintaining the current commonwealth status, pledged to convene a constitutional assembly to address the matter in 2014. Another referendum would follow with support from the US Congress, whose approval is needed for Puerto Rico to become a state.

I am sure that Texans would love to live somewhere with an even more blatant immigration problem (no one cares, though, and no one comes by to make speeches about it), depleted uranium, where they are charged SS taxes out of an income that is decidedly lower than the mainland, and where they don't have a vote to elect the President who will decide what happens next.

[specsaregood]

I am sure that Texans would love to live somewhere with an even more blatant immigration problem (no one cares, though, and no one comes by to make speeches about it), depleted uranium, where they are charged SS taxes out of an income that is decidedly lower than the mainland, and where they don't have a vote to elect the President who will decide what happens next.

And yet only 6% wanted independence.

[MelissaWV]

And yet only 6% wanted independence.

Again, a bit of context and history would go a long way towards understanding that, but there is zero point. None.

[aGameOfThrones]

I know I'm going to regret this, because for some reason there is a tiny sliver of me that thinks people would rather be educated than sound like xenophobic morons, but...



I am sure that Texans would love to live somewhere with an even more blatant immigration problem (no one cares, though, and no one comes by to make speeches about it), depleted uranium, where they are charged SS taxes out of an income that is decidedly lower than the mainland, and where they don't have a vote to elect the President who will decide what happens next.

I'm not sure Texans would like the gun restrictions on the island.

[specsaregood]

Again, a bit of context and history would go a long way towards understanding that, but there is zero point. None.

well i was kinda pondering what the results would be if a similar vote happened in modern day texas.

[FrancisMarion]

Sorry Puerto Rico, no room on the Stars and Stripes. Unless...

[Indy Vidual]

Better question. Can Texas just Secede? President Paul, Senator Cruz, etc!
^^^
Please, let Texas go.

[scrosnoe]

Hope they are willing to make English primary language and stay off welfare roles...

[Occam's Banana]

51 is ok. It's 3x17. So you'd have a nice flag with 3 rows of 8 stars interspersed with 3 rows of 9.

It's also 1/3 of 153, which is the number of fish the disciples caught in John 21.

Yeah, well, it's also "one shy of a full deck."

[Occam's Banana]

Independent of the first question, voters were then asked to choose from three options: statehood, independence, or semi-autonomous "sovereign free association". Of those who made a choice, 61 percent supported statehood, 33 percent supported "sovereign free association", and 6 percent supported independence.

Nearly 500,000 people, or a third of those voting, declined to answer this second question, making it difficult to interpret the results.

Making it difficult to interpret the results ?? I think "making it difficult to interpret the ballot" would be a much better way putting of things.

I mean, what the hell is "semi-autonomous 'sovereign free association'" ?? For that matter, what the hell does "semi-autonomous" mean? (Isn't that sort of like being "semi-pregnant" ?)

Is it any surprise so many people gave it a miss?

[CPUd]

Flag may look something like this:

http://i.imgur.com/Nowb4.png

[angelatc]

Why do we have to have 51 States. Its either 48 or 50. NICE EVEN NUMBER.

Well, maybe we should take over Cuba, too.

[Spanish Guy]

Better question is what is the procedure for giving a territory back to Spain?

No, thanks. We've nowadays very serious economic and secessionist problems in Spain. We're not for adding more territories

[Tpoints]

They're finally willing to pay federal income taxes in exchange for the right to vote?

[MrGoose]

What are the procedures for admitting a state?They must be a territory, have a certain population, and vote to be a state. Then Congress decides what to do. I think that's the basics.

[John F Kennedy III]

How about we just get some shovels and pick axes and carve Texas out and shove it off into the ocean?

Talk about true independence!

[moostraks]

No, thanks. We've nowadays very serious economic and secessionist problems in Spain. We're not for adding more territories

lol!

[VanBummel]

Man, I was hoping to drop a few states...not add more. :(

[Noob]

Well, maybe we should take over Cuba, too.
Add the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa to make 56. Why are they not States all ready?

[VoluntaryAmerican]

Who cares?

Might as well, 50 states is already too many. One more is a drop in the ocean.

[pochy1776]

Damn It, We need to revert back to 48. So, Sell off Alaska to the Russians and Give Hawaii Independence. Oh, grant independence to all territories

[Tpoints]

Well, maybe we should take over Cuba, too.

where do we move Gitmo?

[Brian4Liberty]

Grant Puerto Rico, Hawaii and Alaska their freedom. Hello, new nations!

Now why would Puerto Rican politicians or businesses want to remain associated? This chart may help.

http://media.economist.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/original-size/20110806_WOC321.png

[Humanae Libertas]

We don't need more leeches on the government dole.

[cindy25]

What are the procedures for admitting a state?

they apply, and then House and senate approve

they would get 2 senators, and about 8 congressmen

[James Madison]

they apply, and then House and senate approve

they would get 2 senators, and about 8 congressmen

That would guarantee an additional 10 electoral votes to whomever the Dems run in the General Election.

[UMULAS]

Hope they are willing to make English primary language

Why is that; is english the official language in the US?