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I am of course a supporter of Statehood for Puerto Rico. Call me old fashioned but I think that a people must be represented in the Congress that enacts laws that apply to them, and that they should participate in the Presidential elections to choose the executive that enforces those laws. All we have right now is a non-voting delegate or Resident Commissioner to Congress.

There are currently two bills making their way through Congress that would address this issue. The one that's getting more traction, although it is already being torpedoed by the the vested interests of the "commonwealth", would call for two votes.

The first vote would ask Puerto Ricans if they would like to keep the current arrangement or if they would like to change it. If they vote to keep it, periodic votes, say every ten years, would be scheduled to see if that's still the case.

If they/we vote to change the current system, a second vote would be held and the only options would be Statehood or Independence, with an option of free association available after independence.

I think that's a fair bill and I think one of your Senators, Mel Martínez, is pushing it through the Senate, although he's not pushing it hard enough.

Honestly, I don't think the bill will fly. Our current Resident Commissioner, although a Republican, is a weak politician and has fallen for the "there's no will in Congress for a status change" stance. Our position is "well, Luisito, that's what we sent you there for. Make it happen".

Again, there are many powerful ineterest groups that do not like to stir this pot. These are mainly the people who profit from the current arrangement and they use all sorts of dirty tactics to keep it that way. That's unfair and un-American.

What I would like to see happen, and that's what I try to do here in Free Republic, is to enlist the help of the resident of the States to push their respective Congresscritters for action on Puerto Rico status. Again, we have a weak rep in Congress and when we try to talk to Congressmen from the states their attitude is "that's not my problem" or "your not a constituent of me".

But this is America's problem. As a minimum it's costing you as a taxpayer a bundle. But the most fundamental problem is one of principle. Here we go preaching democracy to the world when here at home we have four million Americans who can't vote in Presidential elections and who don't have adequate representation in Congress.

And the issue that we don't pay federal taxes so our status is a good compromise? A myth.

And thank you for your interest. But most importantly, thank you for keeping the most difficult job in the world, that of a military spouse. You're three times the citizen.

Thanks for YOUR service, cll!

I think the matter should be resolved once and for all--statehood or independence. The provision that only Puerto Ricans get to decide troubles me. Perhaps the rest of us should get a say as to whether we want 50 or 51 states (or 52, we should deal with Guam too, although Guam is of far more strategic importance and it makes more sense to keep it as a territory if it does not become a State).

Don't get me wrong, I don't hate Puerto Rico at all, but I just don't think we need to have territories any longer. I'd welcome them in or cheer their independence, whatever. I'll sent a note to Sen. Martinez lending my support to the proposal.

Thanks again! GG