Posted on 04/29/2010 11:08:50 AM PDT by ConjunctionJunction
All I can figure is what I posted at post #12:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2503223/posts?page=12#12
"In my opinion, Congress has no existence and can exercise no authority outside of the Constitution. Still less is it true that Congress can deal with new territories just as other nations have done or may do with their new territories. This nation is under the control of a written constitution, the supreme law of the land and the only source of the powers which our government, or any branch or officer of it, may exert at any time or at any place. Monarchical and despotic governments, unrestrained by written constitutions, may do with newly acquired territories what this government may not do consistently with our fundamental law. To say otherwise is to concede that Congress may, by action taken outside of the Constitution, engraft upon our republican institutions a colonial system such as exists under monarchical governments. Surely such a result was never contemplated by the fathers of the Constitution. If that instrument had contained a word suggesting the possibility of a result of that character it would never have been adopted by the people of the United States. The idea that this country may acquire territories anywhere upon the earth, by conquest or treaty, and hold them as mere colonies or provinces,—the people inhabiting them to enjoy only such rights as Congress chooses to accord to them,—is wholly inconsistent with the spirit and genius, as well as with the words, of the Constitution." - Justice John Harlan, dissenting in the Insular Cases, 1901
Different type of Commonwealth. Politically, Puerto Rico is more akin to Washington DC than a state as they are US citizens, but have no voting representation in Federal government.
Let them vote..... And let Guam, Virgin Islands and American Samoa vote as well. It’s time to figure out who’s who. I have a feeling the dems might be very surprised how the state of Puerto Rico might vote.
Since Puerto Rico has control of their own fate (more or less), it seems absurd for Washington to dictate to them. I thought Glenn Beck’s analysis yesterday was quite enlightening on how this limits their options for succeeding votes....
hh
The fact this has been kept under the radar is reason to believe it is bad for the US.
Puerto Ricans like their commonwealth status just like it is. It provides 97% of the benefits of being an American citizen, without those pesky income taxes. The last time they held a plebiscite, the breakdown was something like 65% for the status quo, 20% for full independence, and 15% for statehood. Hell, I’d take that deal for my own state!
I would be fine with them having a fair vote, but have you seen their choices? They’re being funneled into choosing statehood. Look at the questions they will be asked:
http://biggovernment.com/jmsimpson/2010/04/29/puerto-rican-statehood-today/
Thanks for the clarification.
Another Obamunist cram down.
Well, it was in 1901 when your quote is from. By mutual agreement, it became a commonwealth in 1952, so your quote is a bit dated.
I think you should be told what is going on, in the Marxofascist globalist war and rape of America, frankly and respectfully
http://investigatingobama.blogspot.com/2010/04/greatest-scandal-in-modern-history.html
I haven't seen that. Thank you for the link.
“by mutual agreement, it became a commonwealth in 1952”
Please find and cite for me that article of the U.S. Constitution which allows for such a status to exist within the United States.
I’ll give you the answer: It does not exist. The so-called “commonwealth” was a creation of activist judges, to which Justice Harlan was dissenting. Harlan’s opinion is correct to this day.
Remember that it was activist judges who gave us abortion, eminent domain and other such atrocities, of which the current American apartheid status of “commonwealth” is one.
The PR governor is a Republican, and is a leader in the statehood movement there.
They have been part of the US for a century now. Its time to quit shacking up and go see the preacher.
For good of America it must always be territory/possession.
Respectfully, this mechanism is opposed, not for, the self determination of the U.S. Citizens of Puerto Rico.
Why would 60 Rs sponsor such a bill?
Because they thought it would be non-binding and have no legal effect. They did not know about the history of the “Tennessee Plan”. Thanks to Glenn Beck, now they know (or at least some of them do).
Oh really? So the US is not allowed to own any unincorporated territories? I’m afraid you’re wrong - our history is littered with unincorporated territories, some of which became states, some of which are commonwealths, at least one of which is an independent nation.
Tell the Puerto Ricans they aren’t a commonwealth:
http://welcome.topuertorico.org/government.shtml
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