Posted on 07/24/2014 6:19:39 AM PDT by Ebenezer
(English-language translation)
The Puerto Rico Republican Party (PRPR) announced on Wednesday that it supports the "Puerto Rico Chose Statehood" march and urged all statehood supporters to participate this Sunday, July 27.
"I urge all Republican supporters of statehood and all of those who believe in equality to march and send a forceful message of support for Puerto Rico statehood," PRPR National Committeewoman Zoraida Fonalledas said in a press release.
"We firmly demand that the democratic will expressed at the polls in November 2012 in favor of statehood be fulfilled. We proudly honor the legacy of our patriots [José Celso] Barbosa, [Rafael] Martínez Nadal, and [Luis A.] Ferré. As Dr. Barbosa said: today, as yesterday, we will continue supporting the same ideal of the American Union and equal in rights and duties," Fonalledas stated.
PRPR Executive Director Ricardo Aponte pointed out that "in the context of commemorating the birth of the patriot José Celso Barbosa, this march is a statement in defense of the determination of a people who voted for equality in rights and our aspiration to be treated on equal footing with the citizens living in the states of our nation."
For his part, PRPR Elections Commissioner José Enrique “Quiquito” Meléndez said that "Puerto Rico voted for statehood, and this is a demonstration to demand our right to equality and that the will of the people as expressed at the polls be respected. This is not subject to interpretations by those who want to perpetuate stagnation at the expense of our economic progress and the future of our children."
The march will begin at Dos Hermanos Bridge this Sunday, August (sic) 27 at 11:00 AM.
Puerto Rico ping
Puerto Rico will never vote to ditch its’ status as a Commonwealth. If it did, they would lose an awful lot of money that subsidizes a huge part of their population.
Does it make any sense to make Puerto Rico the 51st state?
The economy and per capita income of the island is far below that of the poorest states of the U.S.
About 90% of the people do not speak English in Puerto Rico, from what I hear.
It has a very different history and culture compared to the rest of the country.
The barrier of not being connected to the rest of the country geographically, was broken when we admitted Alaska and Hawaii as states. But you wonder if they have enough in common with the rest of the country, to be a state.
They have been talking statehood or independence since I was in school back in the 1970’s and before. Most Puerto Ricans know they already have the best of both worlds and will never vote to give it up.
I’ve followed this issue on and off for a number of years.
The solution is easy, I think...
A referendum is held every five years. The options are statehood, independence or continued territorial status. No other options are available for consideration.
When one option reaches 50% plus 1 of the vote, that’s it. It’s final. That’s Puerto Rico’s permanent status. If nor clear majority is achieved, Puerto Rico’s status remains exactly as it is.
One way or another, this has got to come to an end. My method, while not perfect, may be the solution.
The plebiscite that was held in Puerto Rico in November 2012 featured a two-part ballot which first asked the voter (and I quote verbatim): “Do you agree that Puerto Rico should continue to have its present form of territorial status?” Of 1,798,897 votes cast, 54% answered “No” to 46% “Yes”.
The second part of the ballot provided the following instructions: “Regardless of your selection in the first question, please mark which of the following non-territorial options would you prefer.” The three options, which included a brief explanation of each, were Statehood, Independence, and Sovereign Free Associated State. Of the voters who answered the first part of the ballot, 75.8% chose to answer the second part and thus register their option, as follows:
Statehood - 61.16%
Sovereign Free Associated State - 33.34%
Independence - 5.49%
Supporters of statehood then contend that, since well over half of the voters rejected the present Commonwealth status, and statehood was the preferred non-Commonwealth status by a 3:2 margin, the call to make the island the 51st state should be heeded by Washington.
Excellent Post. But my point is that there should be only one question with three options - statehood, territorial status or independence. None of this two-part ballot tom-foolery!
I have no idea what a Sovereign Free Associated State is? A form of territorial status?
Like I said in my previous choice, voters get three options. This thing need to be made a simple as possible. It’s not because PR voters are stupid. It needs to be made simple because this issue needs to be put to rest immediately. It’s gone on too long.
In years past, simpler consultations have been proposed: either a Statehood vs. Independence plebiscite or a Statehood “Yes” or “No” referendum. Of course, none of these options ever materialized.
Sovereign Free Associated State is an “Independence-Lite” status similar to the relationship the Pacific nations of Palau, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Federated States of Micronesia have with the United States by virtue of what is called a Compact of Free Association.
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