Posted on 06/21/2017 6:34:42 AM PDT by cll
It has been nearly 58 years since the last star was added to the U.S. flag when Hawaii joined the union in August 1959. In a referendum 10 days ago, Puerto Rico residents voted to become the next. The matter isn’t up to residents alone, of course — Congress and the president would have to sign off on the admission of a new state, and there are many political hurdles that stand in between America’s closest possession and statehood. But those obstacles existed for Alaska, too, and we had allies who helped us gain entry to the U.S.
As Puerto Rico seeks its star, it should have Alaska’s support.
It wasn’t so long ago, after all, that the Last Frontier was in the same boat. Many of the concerns raised by those skeptical of Puerto Rican statehood mirror those of Alaska opponents in the 1950s. It’s too far away, statehood opponents would argue, and the culture is too different from the rest of America. Others are concerned the territory won’t be able to earn its keep. “We were the 49th state and I heard the same arguments then,” Rep. Don Young said in a statement announcing his support for Puerto Rico’s statehood bid.
Rep. Young is right to call out the tired arguments trotted out by statehood opponents now, which are as hollow as they were when Alaska sought entry as a state in the 1950s. Puerto Ricans have been U.S. citizens for a century, but its 3.4 million people are unrepresented in Congress and cannot vote in U.S. presidential elections.
And without the privileges of greater self-governance granted by statehood, Puerto Rico’s status is similar to Alaska’s in territorial days — less able to substantially govern its affairs or enjoy the privileges of membership in the United States, a colony in a post-colonial age.
Given those facts, it’s surprising there isn’t greater clamor to support Puerto Rico’s bid for statehood. Puerto Rico’s debt situation is a concern (ironically, its seeds were sown in the same congressional act that made it a territory), but statehood could provide much-needed stability and help the island recover from a crippling decade-long recession.
The real reasons many oppose Puerto Rican statehood are political, as was case for Alaska. With Hispanic people in the U.S. voting overwhelmingly for Democratic candidates, many in the GOP fear Puerto Rico’s senators and representatives would tilt the balance of power in the House and Senate. That’s not only a craven reason to deny the territory’s people the right of self-determination, history has also shown it to be foolish. Alaska, for instance, was assumed to be a safe state for the Democratic Party and Hawaii was assumed to be Republican, as that was the makeup of their territorial governments. But relatively soon after each achieved statehood, both flipped their predominant party status, with Alaska becoming a GOP-friendly state and Hawaii becoming one of the safest strongholds in the country for the Democrats.
Kudos to Rep. Young for his support of Puerto Rico’s bid despite the less courageous and more partisan attitudes of some of his colleagues. The admission of a new state should be an opportunity to remove partisan blinders and celebrate a new partner in the American experiment.
Puerto Rican statehood would be a strong assertion of American greatness. It would also be an opportunity to show the world that what makes our country strong. In spite of — and because of — America’s great geographic and cultural diversity, its people find common ground in our shared values and the freedoms that have made the U.S. a shining light to the world for more than 200 years.
Alaska’s senators, as well as their colleagues and those of Rep. Young, should join him and support Puerto Rico’s admission as the 51st state.
” Puerto Rico deserves its star”
Terrible idea.
Let’s trade them to Mexico for Baja.
—NO—it should be given back to Spain-—
The money quote:
The real reasons many oppose Puerto Rican statehood are political, as was case for Alaska. With Hispanic people in the U.S. voting overwhelmingly for Democratic candidates, many in the GOP fear Puerto Rico’s senators and representatives would tilt the balance of power in the House and Senate. That’s not only a craven reason to deny the territory’s people the right of self-determination, history has also shown it to be foolish. Alaska, for instance, was assumed to be a safe state for the Democratic Party and Hawaii was assumed to be Republican, as that was the makeup of their territorial governments. But relatively soon after each achieved statehood, both flipped their predominant party status, with Alaska becoming a GOP-friendly state and Hawaii becoming one of the safest strongholds in the country for the Democrats”.
now, that’s an idea - send Puerto Rico to Alaska, and build a vacation wonderland on Puerto Rico. Or they could take Hawaii, either or.
If we want a crime-ridden, fiscally irresponsible, bankrupt state we already have Illinois.
PR offers nothing of value to the USA. Not only no to statehood, cut ‘em loose completely and let them be their own country.
Spanish speaking, socialism loving PR should be returned to Spain.
It seems like it should be easy to solve the last half of that sentence. Why shouldn't citizens living in US territory be allowed to vote in federal elections? That would include Guam, and why not other far flung territories that are absolutely part of the US, but far too small to be considered for the normal representation in congress and the senate.
That’s all we need.... Two more Dem Senators. I think....NOT!
There will be a vacancy when Illinois is demoted to a territory...
Dems would love it re: Congress - it would mean two more Dem Senators, plus Dem Representatives...forever.
Jeez, if people would just read before offering a visceral reaction.
I agree. No way.
It’s a failed corrupt socialist country, leave it alone. Only to bring in 2 Democrat senators is why the left supports this move same with DC.
Very very stupid.
F**k that. Cut them loose.
with calls for PR statehood, I wonder about other places too.
There’s been talk of making the District of Columbia a state.
What about others? Should we make Guam a state? American Samoa? The Virgin Islands?
Talk of “equal” status?? Well, territories don’t have the same status as states. That’s why they are not “equal”. What am I missing???
PR has nothing in common with the US. Give PR a choice - go back to Spain or be independent. If you will not pick, we should pick for them and it should be done this year.
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