Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Puerto Rico wants to become the 51st state of the US
BBC News ^ | The Day After | 7 November 2012

Posted on 11/07/2012 6:39:20 PM PST by MinorityRepublican

Voters in Puerto Rico have supported a non-binding referendum to become a full US state.

The measure will require approval from the US Congress, but President Barack Obama has said he will respect the vote.

The island is currently a US territory, which uses the dollar and whose citizens travel on US passports.

But it does not return senators to the US Congress and is represented in Washington by a non-voting delegate.

Almost 80% of the island's electorate took part in the referendum, the fourth in the past 45 years.

With almost all the votes counted, almost 54% voted to change the island's relationship with the US.

And in reply to a second question on what future they favoured, nearly two-thirds wanted full statehood.

If Congress grants its approval, Puerto Ricans would have the right to vote in all US elections, but would also have to pay federal taxes, something at present they are excused from.

(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.co.uk ...


TOPICS: Breaking News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: puertorico
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 181-200201-220221-240241-243 next last
To: Hulka

Texas annexation was by Joint Resolution of Congress, and put to a vote, and agreed to by the electorate of Texas.

The Joint Resolution of Congress has the provision permitting Texas to divide itself.

On the other hand, Texas claimed more land, and some of the land they claimed has been divided into parts of what are now New Mexico, Colorado, Kansas, and Wyoming.

So it would be an interesting court case, and I don’t know how it would end. Of further interest it may be the kind of controversy that would, per Article 3 of the Constitution, have the SCOTUS as original juridiction.


221 posted on 11/08/2012 6:11:53 PM PST by donmeaker (Blunderbuss: A short weapon, ... now superceded in civilized countries by more advanced weaponry.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 201 | View Replies]

To: Clemenza
A Third World miscegenated craphole...

Kind of like Texas?

222 posted on 11/08/2012 6:13:37 PM PST by donmeaker (Blunderbuss: A short weapon, ... now superceded in civilized countries by more advanced weaponry.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 217 | View Replies]

To: AuH2ORepublican

Welcome PR to the club of irrelevance. Everyone not in OH, FL feel your pain. Maybe we conservatives should all move there 4 months before the next election.

I’m not advocating an end to the electoral college. The concept was brilliant and prescient 220 years ago. Federalism didn’t want small states to crush big states. No reason why people in TN should pay for the sins of profligate politicos in CA.


223 posted on 11/08/2012 6:46:01 PM PST by Eric Blair 2084 (I don't always drink beer, but when I do, I prefer to drink a bunch of them. Stay thirsty my FRiends)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 162 | View Replies]

To: ME-262

what you said...a few of us get it

many do not

just look at our idiots on TV

sickening


224 posted on 11/08/2012 8:54:13 PM PST by wardaddy (wanna know how my kin felt during Reconstruction in Mississippi, you fixin to find out firsthand)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 120 | View Replies]

To: Vision; Hulka

that was an excellent question


225 posted on 11/08/2012 8:56:06 PM PST by wardaddy (wanna know how my kin felt during Reconstruction in Mississippi, you fixin to find out firsthand)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 136 | View Replies]

To: sean327

Sean.....I love Hispanics for what its worth....I love immigrants for the most part..


226 posted on 11/08/2012 9:02:17 PM PST by cherry
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: sean327
Sean...completely on target......Hispanics have as long a history in this country than most of us of other European heritage.....

we need more very loud very visible and very dynamic Hispanic leaders in the pub party....

I've sent money to Raul Labrador fwiw...

227 posted on 11/08/2012 9:05:31 PM PST by cherry
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 39 | View Replies]

To: AuH2ORepublican; All

Actually DC has more like 630,000 population and is adding more than 1,000 a month. My jaw drops every time I go downtown. Cranes decorate the skyline. What would make sense would be to return the chunk of DC that was ceded to VA, illegally I have heard (research needed). DC has more population than at least 4 states. It is totally unfair that DC residents pay 100% taxes when they have only 40% representation while PR pays $0 federal income tax with 0% representation.

A bill could be approved in Congress reducing the Federal income taxes paid to what the DC voting rights would make fair, 40% taxes at present, 60% if the Delegate were given voting rights, and 100% only if two senators are added. Regarding electoral votes. I have heard that DC is currently fixed at 3, although the population should entitle DC to 4 electors. I don’t know if that could be fixed by Congress or if that would be a constitutional question. The 2012 payment to the Federal government of Individual income taxes and FICA was around $17 billion. I don’t know what percentage of that total is FICA, but I strongly suspect it is not more than half. If DC residents were only paying 40% Federal tax, they would have higher personal incomes to pay DC income tax which would be more than enough to pay for the DC government items that currently are not affordable and continue to motivate cries for a commuter tax. The current infighting for funds amounts to somewhere between 1/2 and $1 billion dollars which would probably be the range that would be incoming. Thank you for this detailed and thoughtful analysis.


228 posted on 11/08/2012 10:23:41 PM PST by gleeaikin
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 162 | View Replies]

To: wardaddy

Wardaddy, I can’t believe that the Republicans are even thinking about comprehensive immigration reform.

What they haven’t been able to understand is that their base stayed home!

Lordy...out here, sure, Hispanics are so-cons, but they do love the unions, and they love free stuff!

If Boehner thinks they will vote republican, he will have a very rude awakening on another election day.

BTW, have you heard that the Republicans want to get rid of so-cons?

If they are successful, they will never, ever win another election.

BTW, awesome rant! Very worthy!


229 posted on 11/09/2012 12:01:46 AM PST by dixiechick2000 (The most massive vote fraud in history has just occurred. We don't know by whom, just yet.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 92 | View Replies]

To: ME-262; wardaddy

I “get” it.

Thank you for an excellent post!


230 posted on 11/09/2012 12:17:37 AM PST by dixiechick2000 (The most massive vote fraud in history has just occurred. We don't know by whom, just yet.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 120 | View Replies]

To: Vision

As “they” say: “ooohhh. . .SNAP”


231 posted on 11/09/2012 6:56:25 AM PST by Hulka
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 136 | View Replies]

To: donmeaker

Appreciate it.

I read the Texas constitution and see no reference to how Texas would sub-divide (or how they would do it).

So, thus far, I understand Texas was admitted to the Union by a Joint Resolution of Congress. I ask, in this joint resolution were Texans granted the right to sub-divide?

If so, do you have a citation/link I can read that resolution permitting sub-division? Hate to ask, as you have been patient.

Regarding the other areas originally claimed by Texas, those territories, were they not defined by the federal government and not Texas, so Texas did not themselves, sub-divide (as that would be prohibited by the consitution).

Seriously, not arguing, really want to find out so I may become more deeply aware of the facts.

Thanks.


232 posted on 11/09/2012 7:05:35 AM PST by Hulka
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 221 | View Replies]

To: gleeaikin
Interesting.

DC is not a state, it is a federal territory, the seat of the federal government.

So, should the federal government have representation within the peoples House and the Senate where states are represented? DC is not a state so the Senate is right out, but the “peoples house,” that is interesting. Since DC was never intended to have representation in either House of Senate, I think not because DC was never intended to be a “state,” but “federal” and we all know how sacred the divide is between the federal government and the states.

So, if the federal government had representatives in the House and Senate then the federal government would be representing themselves alongside states, intruding upon the sovereign responsibilities of the states and the people.

Interesting. . .

233 posted on 11/09/2012 7:15:15 AM PST by Hulka
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 228 | View Replies]

To: sean327

Unfortunately not nearly enough Hispanics are conservative according this article. The rest just want free $h!t.

http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/332916/why-hispanics-dont-vote-republicans-heather-mac-donald

“And a strong reason for that support for big government is that so many Hispanics use government programs. U.S.-born Hispanic households in California use welfare programs at twice the rate of native-born non-Hispanic households. And that is because nearly one-quarter of all Hispanics are poor in California, compared to a little over one-tenth of non-Hispanics. Nearly seven in ten poor children in the state are Hispanic, and one in three Hispanic children is poor, compared to less than one in six non-Hispanic children. One can see that disparity in classrooms across the state, which are chock full of social workers and teachers’ aides trying to boost Hispanic educational performance.”


234 posted on 11/09/2012 9:55:19 AM PST by Rockitz (This is NOT rocket science - Follow the money and you'll find the truth.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: desertfreedom765

Perhaps but first things first have to build a northern, eastern, and western wall with the illegals...then kick their butts out. Should be plenty of extra housing when the 5-6 million folks on welfare move out to get their safety net. Then we will do immigration interviews.


235 posted on 11/10/2012 4:09:01 AM PST by JohnD9207 (Isn't freedom worth fighting for?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 71 | View Replies]

To: wardaddy
Kiss my butt...if non whites can't get the message about liberty and Constitutional government then I'm not gonna excuse them..I'm gonna fight them and call them for what they are

and calling me bigot quit bothering me decades ago when I shed my freedom rider youth..after realizing my unappreciated folly


Yeah, I now where you're coming from. This has been festering for a while but I think with the election of the Bamster, this has been blown wide open. Many I have talked to, think the same as you. I'm thinking the same. When Bammy was elected in 2008, I saw 70 years of rage in Mom's eyes, and I felt 42 year of rage. Add 4 years and we are the same, plus Mom literally threw up, she was so sick when they called it for Bammy election night.

Until I know the true ideology of someone who is a minority, I an very aloof. If they believe in hard work, freedom and the right to keep your stuff, AND PROVE IT, then I welcome them as friends and fellow soldiers in the cause of liberty. I don't care in that case if you're Black, White, Mexican, etc. Still, I find it uncanny that minority groups as a whole or a large fraction thereof stick together and are usually out to mooch off the public coffers for real or imagined past injustices. Bad things happened to everyone's ancestors. I'm part Jew, my Russian Jewish ancestors were victims of the pogroms but I don't see that as an excuse to claim the product of another's labor.

However, it is not all the fault of minorities that voted for Bammy, they are a huge part of the problem as stated above but the blame can be put upon White liberals and liberals of all stripes too who want something for nothing. I blame single mom's of all stripe who look to government to be big daddy to the kid and a husband to them.

Bammy has set race relations to 1970, well, even further back and yes, like you, I have become hardened too. It hurts me to be this way but if my country, way of life and survival is at stake, then I have to be hard as I can. I hate having these thoughts though.
236 posted on 11/10/2012 7:38:35 PM PST by Nowhere Man (Whitey, I miss you so much. Take care, pretty girl. (4-15-2001 - 10-12-2012))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 92 | View Replies]

To: Travis McGee

I agree with you on demographics.


237 posted on 11/10/2012 9:11:03 PM PST by Nowhere Man (Whitey, I miss you so much. Take care, pretty girl. (4-15-2001 - 10-12-2012))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 158 | View Replies]

To: Hulka

Somehow I don’t think that our founders would have wanted 630,000 citizens to have no vote on how their taxes are spent, so either give DC the votes, or stop taxing. At least 4 states have smaller population. I think the founders would be amazed at how many people now life in DC.


238 posted on 11/10/2012 11:50:41 PM PST by gleeaikin
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 233 | View Replies]

To: xzins; AuH2ORepublican; BillyBoy; fieldmarshaldj; sickoflibs

VA got their piece back it’s all MD.

We can’t do that to Maryland, they would never a Republican again, may not anyway but still. And the poor Maryland taxpayers.

I support making a new state only if liberal suburbs in both Va and MD are added as Auh2o suggests.

If democrats would never agree to that then the residents of DC can pound sand as far as I’m concerned, I’d take away their electoral votes if I could. I know I am very mean.


239 posted on 11/12/2012 1:30:05 AM PST by Impy (Boehner for President - 2013)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 167 | View Replies]

To: AuH2ORepublican; fieldmarshaldj; cll

I didn’t even know Fortuno was in any danger.

And the legislature is lost to the PPD as well? Damn.

Yet they voted for statehood, curious.

And of course the PNP democrat Res Com won and I assume is now the face of the party?

Icky. I am sorry, you must be crestfallen. Though no more so than the rest of us.


240 posted on 11/12/2012 1:35:46 AM PST by Impy (Boehner for President - 2013)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 162 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 181-200201-220221-240241-243 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson