Puerto Rico’s status lies in the hands of Congress

The Hill ^ | 2/01/2006 | Oxford Analytica

[commish]

Actually a Republican won the island wide election to be the delegate from Puerto Rico in the US House.

THanks, I was just getting ready to point out that both houses of thier legislature is currently controlled by the PNP, which alings itself with Republicans in Washington.

[humblegunner]

Near as I can tell, no state has ever entered the Union without first being a territory of the United States.

Texas was it's own Republic before joining the union.
We have never been a territory.

[BenLurkin]

Let me ask it this way -- what is the number one export from Puerto Rico?

[I'm ALL Right!]

I was joking, of course.

[MplsSteve]

Please see Post #27...

[cll]

One thing just occurred to me to start with:

Most of the Valium produced in the world is manufactured in Puerto Rico. Imagine what a world this would be with all the moonbats off their medication! LOL.

[Tired of Taxes]

Italians were Europeans*, who intermarried after the second generation into the general population. Puerto Ricans have never done so in large numbers on the mainland.

Clemenza, Puerto Ricans themselves are a big mixture of intermarriage. I've known Puerto Ricans who will say they're Puerto Rican, and then later tell you they are "half-this (European) and half-that" with a "little bit of this" and "a little bit of that."

But all that is beside the point. I'm against statehood, too.

[AuH2ORepublican]

I suspected as much, but I still think the 52-star flag would look better than the 51-star flag.

[BenLurkin]

Valium ....interesting!

[cll]

Manufactured goods. Pharmaceuticals, medical devices, rum, electronics.

But the largest economic sector are the service industries. Financials, communications, tourism, transportation, etc.

We grow great coffee too. I'll add to the list tonight. Browse http://www.puertoricowow.com for now if you'd like.

[Clemenza]

Correct. Puerto Ricans are mostly mulatto/biracial.

I'm just saying that PRs DO NOT generally intermarry with gringos. They remain separate, unlike most groups in this country that intermarry within two or three generations.

[BenLurkin]

Thank you.

[olde north church]

Without reading another post, I will say Puerto Rican state is an ATROCIOUS IDEA!!!

All you need to do is look to the north and take a deep breath of Quebec. Puerto Rico automatically makes a the US a two language country and English only will be gone as a consideration.

Why should they get the choice? I say, leave the decision up to Americans. I would take BC, even with the leftist Vancouver, Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, geez even Ontario or the Maritimes before extending the hand of statehood to Puerto Rico.

[Tired of Taxes]

The big problem with accepting more people into the union, through statehood or otherwise, is this system we have where anyone can be on the government dole. The gov't budget is just growing larger and larger and larger.

IF we could end this system of "free" (federally-funded) programs that just grow bigger and bigger, then maybe we could not only offer full statehood to PR but to other countries, territories, etc. And, if we did, PR would be the first I'd bet most Americans would want admitted. Right now adding another state would be a big mistake.

[Chode]

i've been to PR for work and play as we had a production plant there in Cayey cause it's a tax haven.... I took my wife on an island cruise from there and the ride from the airport to the ship goes through the heart of San Juan and was an eye opener to say the least! coming from a small town, her thoughts were that it was a teaming slum for the most part. Our own little third world, it truly is pathetic. Bars cover the balcony’s of all the high rises but I can’t believe there’s anything in any of them worth stealing unless it’s something they stole from somebody else. i had to agree with her. i told her welcome to the real world.

coming back to PR we had a couple hours to kill before leaving for the airport so we sat in a little beach bar in old San Juan over looking the sea shore (all of Old SJ looked deserted) where we saw cops on foot, cops on dirt bikes, cops on four wheelers, cops in cars and cops in 4X4 Blazers even cops in helicopters, i figured they prolly must bring out the APC’s at night if they need this much security in the daytime. the bartender said if they weren't there neither would the bar.

since then we bought property on St.Croix. i've had to go to RR several times and one of my best friends on STX is from PR and one of the few permanent party at the AirBase.

but i gotta tell ya... the closing of the bombing range, really was the last straw in my book.

i guess i've just never seen the good side of PR, mostly the criminal element. it's the idea i'm against... treat it like Hawaii with all the rules and regulations and pass all the tests for real Statehood or go Sovereign but this limbo has got to stop.

the USVI will stay tied to the Gov. teat forever... they will never become a State cause they could NEVER pass ANY accounting audit and are too smart to think they could ever survive if they broke away. P.S. i live in NY, and NY and CA catch the MOST flack on this board so take everything with a grain of salt... FReegards

[cll]

I appreciate the candidness of your post. Having said that, I've been all over the United States and Puerto Rico is still my first choice where living is concerned, which I do.

[Chode]

Please see Post #95... it's no different than when people call NY or CA that, it's NOT the people who believe in America that is the problem, it's the Idea that is perverted.
i'd be rich if i had a nickel everytime somebody called NY/NYC a POS and wished they'd become their own State / Sink into the bay etc.

PR and the USVI are treated like redheaded stepchildren and it's got to stop.

Honors to your Son your Husband and his Brother...
THEY are the people i WANT as Americans... because they WANT to be one, it's a State of Mind.

FReegards

[AmericanDave]

Here's a link to the foreign aid we give out around the World... http://usinfo.state.gov/usa/infousa/trade/files/98-916.pdf

[Chode]

i guess that makes you no different than most of the rest of America then... 8^)

i've lived many places and been round the world, but, still live three miles from where i was born.

[right-wingin_It]

If politics didn't matter, I'd be happy to see PR choose statehood or independance. But they do, and we don't need more lib control in a near 50/50 Senate/House/Electoral College/Everything else, if PR becomes a state. Not right now anyways.