"Take it to a plebiscite and make two distinct choices - put up or shut up - either statehood or independence."
That's exactly what statehooders in Puerto Rico want, and what the White House task force on Puerto Rico's political status recommended. You should write your congressman to pass a law asking Puerto Rico to "fish or cut bait."
An overwhelming majority of residents of Puerto Rico prefer statehood over independence, and the only reason why statehood doesn't get 80% support in the polls is because a lot of Puerto Ricans benefit (or think they benefit) from the current status in which the federal income tax does not apply to Puerto Rico-source income but in which Congress sends like $16 billion a year to Puerto Rico (although, in fairness, a huge chunk of that are Social Security and Medicare payments, and residents of Puerto Rico pay Social Security and Medicare taxes just like everyone else).
"(although, in fairness, a huge chunk of that are Social Security and Medicare payments, and residents of Puerto Rico pay Social Security and Medicare taxes just like everyone else)."
yeah i thought they did something like that
exactly - what i am saying is for a vote to take away that third option. that way they will be forced to either go their own way or become a state