[coconutt2000]

I know a lot of people here will have problems with the way American Samoa is organized under the U.S., but the issue is one of "court vs. self determination" and it is increasingly obvious that American Samoa is going to have to seek a better legal footing if we are to protect some of our cultural heritage while we continue to modernize, otherwise the courts may just decide for us, right or wrong.

It can also be stated that American Samoa is a welfare territory - receiving over $300 USD annually in Federal funding while residents only pay Social Security and Medicare taxes. That is one of those issues to be addressed as American Samoa moves closer toward a future deadline being set on how we relate with the U.S. proper.

It bears mentioning however that American Samoa also contributes the highest per capita recruitment rate to the US Armed Forces, so before capping on the territory, please try and respect that a lot of our people serve honorably in the military and still call Am. Samoa home.

[2ndDivisionVet]

Philippines: 51st American state.
http://choco-java.tumblr.com/post/31921647756/philippines-51st-american-state

[GeronL]

If they want to keep out non-Samoans, how about just become independent??

[GeronL]

If they want a Racial Constitution, then yes- Americans will have a problem with that.

[DesertRhino]

Confining land ownership to one race is pretty F-ed up. Wonder what would happen if there was a law somewhere that said only white people own land?
I guess it’s not racism unless whites do it.

In short, it looks like the argument against citizenship is that Samoa would have to give up monarchist and racist policies? The horror!