Posted on 06/21/2017 6:34:42 AM PDT by cll
It has been nearly 58 years since the last star was added to the U.S. flag when Hawaii joined the union in August 1959. In a referendum 10 days ago, Puerto Rico residents voted to become the next. The matter isn’t up to residents alone, of course — Congress and the president would have to sign off on the admission of a new state, and there are many political hurdles that stand in between America’s closest possession and statehood. But those obstacles existed for Alaska, too, and we had allies who helped us gain entry to the U.S.
As Puerto Rico seeks its star, it should have Alaska’s support.
It wasn’t so long ago, after all, that the Last Frontier was in the same boat. Many of the concerns raised by those skeptical of Puerto Rican statehood mirror those of Alaska opponents in the 1950s. It’s too far away, statehood opponents would argue, and the culture is too different from the rest of America. Others are concerned the territory won’t be able to earn its keep. “We were the 49th state and I heard the same arguments then,” Rep. Don Young said in a statement announcing his support for Puerto Rico’s statehood bid.
Rep. Young is right to call out the tired arguments trotted out by statehood opponents now, which are as hollow as they were when Alaska sought entry as a state in the 1950s. Puerto Ricans have been U.S. citizens for a century, but its 3.4 million people are unrepresented in Congress and cannot vote in U.S. presidential elections.
And without the privileges of greater self-governance granted by statehood, Puerto Rico’s status is similar to Alaska’s in territorial days — less able to substantially govern its affairs or enjoy the privileges of membership in the United States, a colony in a post-colonial age.
Given those facts, it’s surprising there isn’t greater clamor to support Puerto Rico’s bid for statehood. Puerto Rico’s debt situation is a concern (ironically, its seeds were sown in the same congressional act that made it a territory), but statehood could provide much-needed stability and help the island recover from a crippling decade-long recession.
The real reasons many oppose Puerto Rican statehood are political, as was case for Alaska. With Hispanic people in the U.S. voting overwhelmingly for Democratic candidates, many in the GOP fear Puerto Rico’s senators and representatives would tilt the balance of power in the House and Senate. That’s not only a craven reason to deny the territory’s people the right of self-determination, history has also shown it to be foolish. Alaska, for instance, was assumed to be a safe state for the Democratic Party and Hawaii was assumed to be Republican, as that was the makeup of their territorial governments. But relatively soon after each achieved statehood, both flipped their predominant party status, with Alaska becoming a GOP-friendly state and Hawaii becoming one of the safest strongholds in the country for the Democrats.
Kudos to Rep. Young for his support of Puerto Rico’s bid despite the less courageous and more partisan attitudes of some of his colleagues. The admission of a new state should be an opportunity to remove partisan blinders and celebrate a new partner in the American experiment.
Puerto Rican statehood would be a strong assertion of American greatness. It would also be an opportunity to show the world that what makes our country strong. In spite of — and because of — America’s great geographic and cultural diversity, its people find common ground in our shared values and the freedoms that have made the U.S. a shining light to the world for more than 200 years.
Alaska’s senators, as well as their colleagues and those of Rep. Young, should join him and support Puerto Rico’s admission as the 51st state.
Is this a ploy to become a State for that reason???
I vote no on this idea.
DC should not be a state, but there is no question that DC residents should be able to vote for president. I suggest the same thing should be true of Guam and PR.
Guam also tipped over, or was in danger of doing so.
Screw that!
Exactly. And we don't need two more permanent Democrat Senators.
It’s too far away, statehood opponents would argue, and the culture is too different from the rest of America. Others are concerned the territory won’t be able to earn its keep.
You forgot it is bankrupt and has no means what so ever of recouping the money.
Been to Alaska. Been to PR. PR has no business becoming a state. Alaska brought gold, timber, seafood, oil and other natural resources to the table. All’s PR has is bad spending habits based upon liberal ideas.
No
>>Just what we need! Two more socialist Senators! If PR can be a State, why not DC? Then we can have four more Socialist Senators!
We could always carve off the commie coast of Kali and admit PR alongside the “State of Jefferson” with its 20 EVs at the same time..
Probably and probably promoted by the debt-holders who bought that PR junk for pennies on the dollar and will profit YUGELY if it becomes a state.
Think of all the LIB idiot voters and congresscritters this would mean. No thanks!
I served alongside Puerto Rican soldiers my entire career. They were hard working, courageous, dedicated, and loyal. No one was any better.
They have served, bled, and died in our wars from the Spanish American war until present time by the thousands.
They are our brothers in arms.
Is this a ploy to become a State for that reason???
Yes. You are the daily winner of the internets.
Not only should we not grant them statehood, we should not retain them as a possession. Grant independence. America is not supposed to be an empire, and I’m fine with divesting ourselves of the last vestiges of it.
No, they deserve to be indpenedent. Their own nation, proud and free.
No, they deserve to be independent. Their own nation, proud and free.
”Puerto Rico deserves its star”
Stars on the flag are not participation trophies.
and more Spanish speaking grifters (that will vote Democrat) for us to take care of, just like our illegal south of the border “friends” in Mehico.
Guam is actually not as demonratic. Until the last election it had a Republican legislature and still has a Republican governor. Crime is low. The society is friendly. The territory runs a balanced budget and handles its internal affairs pretty well. It does suffer from a bad case of nepotism.
Statehood would double our taxes as right now every dollar the IRS collects on Guam stays here. If we were a state the state would have to impose more taxes.
Guam will never have enough population to be a state. 170,000 is already pretty high for 212 square miles.
It is actually a real blessing to be so small and insignificant that Uncle Sam ignores you!
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