DebateGate
General Category => 3DHS => Topic started by: hnumpah on November 07, 2012, 04:51:00 PM
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Puerto Ricans opt for statehood in referendum
Associated Press
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — A slim majority of Puerto Ricans sought to change their ties with the United States and become the 51st U.S. state in a non-binding referendum that would require final approval from Congress.
The two-part referendum asked whether the island wanted to change its 114-year relationship with the United States. Nearly 54 percent, or 922,374 people, sought to change it, while 46 percent, or 786,749 people, favored the status quo. Ninety-six percent of 1,643 precincts were reporting as of early Wednesday.
The second question asked voters to choose from three options, with statehood by far the favorite, garnering 61 percent. Sovereign free association, which would have allowed for more autonomy, received 33 percent, while independence got 5 percent.
President Barack Obama earlier expressed support for the referendum and pledged to respect the will of the people in the event of a clear majority.
It is unclear whether U.S. Congress will debate the referendum results or if Obama will consider the results to be a clear enough majority.
Puerto Rico's resident commissioner Pedro Pierluisi, who has championed statehood, did not return calls for comment. He received 48 percent or 874,914 votes, while his opponent, Rafael Cox Alomar, received 47 percent or 855,732 votes with 96 percent of precincts reporting.
The island is currently a U.S. territory whose inhabitants are U.S. citizens but are prohibited from voting in presidential elections. Its resident commissioner in the U.S. House also has limited voting powers.
The future of the island's political status, however, also is dependent on who governs the island.
According to partial election results, pro-statehood Gov. Luis Fortuno was ousted by a razor thin margin by an opponent who supports the island's current political status.
With 96 percent of precincts reporting, challenger Alejandro Garcia Padilla with the Popular Democratic Party received 48 percent or 870,005 votes. Fortuno, a Republican and leader of the New Progressive Party, received 47 percent or 855,325 votes.
Fortuno has not issued comment, while Garcia celebrated what he called a victory.
"I can assure you we have rescued Puerto Rico," Garcia said. "This is a lesson to those who think that the well-being of Puerto Ricans should be subjected to ideologies."
Election results also pointed to a major upset for Jorge Santini, who has been mayor of the capital of San Juan for 12 years. His opponent, Carmen Yulin Cruz, received 71,736 votes compared with Santini's 66,945 votes with 96 percent of precincts reporting.
The island's elections commission said it would resume counting votes late Wednesday morning.
http://news.yahoo.com/puerto-ricans-opt-statehood-referendum-134423786.html (http://news.yahoo.com/puerto-ricans-opt-statehood-referendum-134423786.html)
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my brother went there several times in the last two years
said there are some pretty beaches and tourist enclaves
but that most of it is a third world sewer...burglar bars everywhere
the last thing we need is a bunch more poor non-english speaking people flooding in
i say dont let them be a state and send them on their own independence
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Puerto Ricans are already US citizens and can enter and leave the US whenever they wish. Making Puerto Rico a state would not cause anyone to flood into the US.
The Republican Party has always been affiliated with the Statehood movement.The Democrats have been affiliated with the existing Commonwealth (Estado Libre y Asociado) status. The Independence Party rarely has got more than 15% of the vote.
Of course, Puerto Ricans would tend to vote for Democrats. Another added plus would be that Mississippi would no longer have to be the poorest state any longer, at least for a while.
Some pharma companies would lose their tax exempt status.
Puerto Rico is not a sewer at all. It is lots better off than what Cuba is now or would have been had Fidel never happened.
The US cannot throw Puerto Rico away without the consent of the people.
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I like to be in America!
O.K. by me in America!
Ev'rything free in America
For a small fee in America!
Automobile in America,
Chromium steel in America,
Wire-spoke wheel in America,
Very big deal in America!
Immigrant goes to America,
Many hellos in America;
Nobody knows in America
Puerto Rico's in America!
I like the shores of America!
Comfort is yours in America!
Knobs on the doors in America,
Wall-to-wall floors in America!
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Puerto Rico's children mired in
poverty that dwarfs rest of U.S
http://articles.cnn.com/2012-08-01/us/us_puerto-rico-child-poverty_1_poverty-rate-polluted-water-community-leaders (http://articles.cnn.com/2012-08-01/us/us_puerto-rico-child-poverty_1_poverty-rate-polluted-water-community-leaders)
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How appropriate for a country that's reaching out for more dependence in government, for its citizenry
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"Give me your tired,
your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door (as long as they have money and speak only English)!"
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why stop at PR?
lets take on everybody!
send the cargo planes!
send the cruise ships!
lets pick 'em all up....bring 'em on in!
bring in 10 million, 20 million, 50 million,
hell lets make it 100 million of "huddled masses"
ya boss dats it! juzzzz whats we needs!
get 100 million more "homeless" lined up in our failing broke schools
add 100 million more "tired" to our emergency rooms
add millions more people when we already have tons of jobless
long as we gets mo democrat votes....hell lets do it!
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Nah, we got ours, let them get theirs.
Isn't that the GOP mantra?
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"Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door (as long as they have money and speak only English)!"
Wow....what an interesting twist. I wonder who's advocating such an extreme position. Perhaps H can enlighten us, since I don't see anyone opposed to legal immigration.
And no, the GOP Mantra, is come to our country, but do it legally please
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Nah, we got ours, let them get theirs.Isn't that the GOP mantra?
dats what i'm saying!
open the floodgates
since it's so smart...and great
lets bring in 100 million poor and down-trodden
lets hope they dont speak english...that'd be a big bonus
give 'em all a bunch-o-"free"-stuff
let 'em "get theirs"
maybe "share everything"
sings "all we are saying is give peace a chance"
followed by "Imagine" by John Lennon
share like them OccupyWallStreeters did
ya know drinking their Starbucks, talking on their i-phones!
pooping on each other,
but screaming at dat evil old corp america
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Miss Saigon
The American Dream Lyrics
my father was a tattoo artist in Haiphong
but his designs on mother didn't last too long
my mother sold her body, high on Betel nuts
my job was bringing red-faced monsieurs to our huts
selling your mom is a wrench
perfume can cover a stench
that's what I learned from the French
then it all changed with Dien Bien Phu
the frogs went home. Who came? Guess who?
are you surprised we went insane
with dollars pouring down like rain?
businessmen never rob banks
you can sell shit and get thanks
that's what I learned from the Yanks
I'm fed up with small-time hustles
I'm too good to waste my talent for greed
I need room to flex my muscles
in an ocean where the big sharks feed
make me Yankee, they're my fam'ly
they're selling what people need
what's that I smell in the air
the American dream
sweet as a new millionaire
the American dream
pre-packed, ready-to-wear
the American dream
fat, like a chocolate eclair
as you suck out the cream
luck by the tail
how can you fail?
and best of all, it's for sale
the American dream
greasy chinks make life so sleazy
in the States I'll have a club that's four-starred
men like me there have things easy
they have a lawyer and a body-guard
to the Johns there I'll sell blondes there
that they can charge on a card
what's that I smell in the air?
the American dream
sweet as a suite in Bel-air
the American dream
girls can buy tits by the pair
the American dream
bald people think they'll grow hair
the American dream
call girls are lining time square
the American dream
bums there have money to spare
the American dream
cars that have bars take you there
the American dream
on stage each night: Fred Astaire
the American dream
shlitz down the drain!
pop the Champagne!
it's time we all entertain
my American dream!
ENGINEER and CROWD
come ev'ryone, come and share
the American dream
name what you want and it's there
the American dream
spend and have money to spare
the American dream
live like you haven't a care
the American dream
what other place can compare
the American dream
come and get more than your share
the American dream
there I will crown
Miss Chinatown
all yours for ten percent down
ALL
the American dream!
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John Denver
Sunshine on my Shoulders lyrics
Sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy
Sunshine in my eyes can make me cry
Sunshine on the water looks so lovely
Sunshine almost always makes me high
If I had a day that I could give you
I'd give to you a day just like today
If I had a song that I could sing for you
I'd sing a song to make you feel this way
Sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy
Sunshine in my eyes can make me cry
Sunshine on the water looks so lovely
Sunshine almost always makes me high
If I had a tale that I could tell you
I'd tell a tale sure to make you smile
If I had a wish that I could wish for you
I'd make a wish for sunshine all the while
Sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy
Sunshine in my eyes can make me cry
Sunshine on the water looks so lovely
Sunshine almost always makes me high
Sunshine almost all the time makes me high
Sunshine almost always
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"Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door (as long as they have money and speak only English)!"
Wow....what an interesting twist. I wonder who's advocating such an extreme position...
my brother went there several times in the last two years
said there are some pretty beaches and tourist enclaves
but that most of it is a third world sewer...burglar bars everywhere
the last thing we need is a bunch more poor non-english speaking people flooding in
i say dont let them be a state and send them on their own independence
Of course, what he missed, is that they are already American citizens.
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So, if they're already American citizens, what's the problem? Obtain residence within the U.S....poof, they can now vote for their favorite big government give away at tax payer expense Democrat. Sheeeeesh
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I don't see anyone opposed to legal immigration.
And no, the GOP Mantra, is come to our country, but do it legally please.
SIRS....we allow more people in here than any place in the world.
But the Democrats need more "Santa Claus recipients"
Ya see that's their game...the more dependents they can create
the more power and votes they get.
it's really sick when you think about it.
the more unemployment they help foster
the more housing crashes
the more coal factories they shut down
the more people will want/need gvt help
which is their prime sales tool
steal from Peter to pay for Paul's vote
that's why we lost....it's difficult to run against and beat Santa Claus
(http://thumbs.dreamstime.com/thumblarge_331/1226270559f4I37y.jpg)
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I don't see anyone opposed to legal immigration.
And no, the GOP Mantra, is come to our country, but do it legally please.
SIRS....we allow more people in here than any place in the world.
But the Democrats need more "Santa Claus recipients"
Ya see that's their game...the more dependents they can create
the more power and votes they get.
it's really sick when you think about it.[/color]
There is a method to the madness.....its now a #'s game. The more folks that can either be working for the Government or dependent on the Government, the greater the power base for those who wish to "fundamentally change the way we do business in Washington". And when you get a majority of the electorate......well, you get Calif.....you get Greece
All "well intentioned" of course, and if you don't support the intentions of those who preach tolerance and diversity for differing POV's...well, you hate people, immigrants, children, elderly, homosexuals, women, yada, blah, etc. Nevermind the support for LEGAL immigration. Nevermind the amount of charity folks do, especially from the conservative side of the political isle. What you do with your money is just greedy or self serving. Isn't it far better for a 3rd party to better to take and spend your money......for your own good?
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So, if they're already American citizens, what's the problem?
Ask CU4. He's the one who ignored that fact and seems to think there should be some sort of income and language requirement for them to become a state.
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Why should they become a state? We have American Citizens all across the globe, of all stripes of income and language. Establish a residence here, and enjoy. poof, no problem at all
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To have representation in Congress, among other reasons.
Why shouldn't they? The citizens have voted for it in a referendum.
Are you saying their vote should be ignored?
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We have American Citizens all across the globe, of all stripes of income and language. Establish a residence here, and enjoy representation. Poof, problem solved
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Sure. And by your logic, we should only have the 13 original states. Let's strip the senators and representatives from all the rest, give them no representaton in federal government, poof, turn 37 states back to being territories.
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No, by my logic, we currently have 50 states. Residence allows one to vote and have representation, if that's the big issue. IF being the operable word
If the issue is how many more extrememly dependent folks we can turn over to a Government already trillions in debt with the current citizenry its trying to control, restocking even more votes for those politicians who push such an agenda, and mask it as a representation issue, then yea, I can see your point
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The issue is simply what it was for the other 37 states to become states - the majority of the citizens of those territories voted in favor, they applied to become states, were approved...Simple.
Do we now start drawing the line at per capita income, or perhaps not speaking English as a first language, or maybe their skin tone is a shade darker?
It is not hard to see why yours is not seen as the party of inclusion, if your reaction is any indication.
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Establish a residence here, and enjoy. poof, no problem at all
SIRS most Puerto Ricans already live and vote in America for obvious reasons.
This is nothing but the Democrats wanting two more Senate seats.
Next they will start trying to make every Indian Reservation a new state to get more socialist senators.
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BTW....here is more on PR
http://juliorvarela.com/tag/puerto-rico-poverty/ (http://juliorvarela.com/tag/puerto-rico-poverty/)
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I can't imagine what it must be like to live in such a paranoid state...everything is some sort of nefarious plot...everyone is out to get your money and undermine your way of life...look out, the lizard men are out to rule the world...or is it the Freemasons?
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Residence allows one to vote and have representation, if that's the big issue.
If the issue is how many more extremely dependent folks we can turn over to a Government already trillions in debt with the current citizenry its trying to control, restocking even more votes for those politicians who push such an agenda, including a new pair of Senate seats, and mask it as a representation issue.....well......apparently we can safely *gasp* assume which issue you're coming down on 8)
On 2nd thought, perhaps that's going to far in "assuming what you're thinking". Perhaps you just don't care, let them all in, and screw the repercussions. If the country goes further into debt trying to support the mass increase, so be it. If they happen to vote all Democrat, no skin off your back
You see H, this isn't about Cu4 or myself being paranoid about anything, outside of watching the destruction of this country at the hands of the far left. So anything that is likely to speed that along, well, I can't speak for C, but personally, I'm not going to be embracing it. Which brings me back full circle, if its simply a matter of they're being represented, by all means, relocate within the U.S. Folks like myself embrace legal immigration, and if they're already citizens, so much the easier.
But no, just because Obama wins, and the timing is ripe for the notion of a nation like PR to want to have its big brother U.S. fully take them in, with the added 2 Dem Senators to boot....well, no, that's not going to happen
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Residence allows one to vote and have representation, if that's the big issue.
So your solution is a mass immigration of Puerto Ricans, so that they can enjoy the full rights and privileges of the citizens of the other 50 states. That seems in direct contrast to CU's position.
There are three options.
Statehood
Independence
Status Quo.
The people this time has chosen Statehood.
This issue is not much different than granting Statehood to the residents of DC who also do not have the full rights and privileges of residents of these 50 States.
And just to clear up any partisan misinformation. This last statehood initiative was led by the GOP Governor of Puerto Rico Luis Fortuno who i believe also spoke at the GOP convention.
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Residence allows one to vote and have representation, if that's the big issue.
So your solution is a mass immigration of Puerto Ricans, so that they can enjoy the full rights and privileges of the citizens of the other 50 states.
So long as they set up a residence. They are U.S. citizens, or so I'm told
That seems in direct contrast to CU's position.
Not sure where its required that we must have 100% agreement on positions, or even have to agree
There are three options.
Statehood
no, though I grasp whey they're trying to do it, right now
Independence
Sure, if they wish. Still doesn't give them American voting rights, but that's their choice
And just to clear up any partisan misinformation. This last statehood initiative was led by the GOP Governor of Puerto Rico Luis Fortuno who i believe also spoke at the GOP convention.
And that's supposed to mean what, exactly? Because a Republican proffered it, conservatives are required to embrace it??
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I believe Sirs argument is along the lines of, well, if you can't afford to relocate, we don't want you.
Says a lot about inclusion.
CU4 added the 'they no speakee the Eenglish' excuse.
Theirs is the party that is trying to figure out now how to reach out to minorities, women, young voters, and so on?
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So long as they set up a residence. They are U.S. citizens, or so I'm told
They are already US citizens. Have been since 1917.
They can be drafted and they pay some Federal taxes.
They just are not holding the full rights and privileges to that status.
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So long as they set up a residence. They are U.S. citizens, or so I'm told
They are already US citizens. Have been since 1917.
They can be drafted and they pay some Federal taxes.
They just are not holding the full rights and privileges to that status.
Then they can relocate into a state that does give them all that, and bypass all the bureaucracy associated with a non-citizen trying to legally immigrate
I believe Sirs argument is along the lines of, well, if you can't afford to relocate, we don't want you.
Not quite.......We want anyone that wants to come here. But it's wholly inappropriate, and borderline unconstitutional, that tax payers be made to pay for them to come. Says alot about personal responsibility. It's a party that understands both moral and fiscal responsibility. Is that why you hate them so much?
In other words, you seem to be arguing that the GOP needs to buy themselves more voters, with other people's money.....in other words, to be Democrats. That's not my definition of inclusion, that's for sure.
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Next they will start trying to make every Indian Reservation a new state to get more socialist senators.
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That is a classic example of a poorly thought out "slippery slope" logical fallacy. No one has proposed this,and it certainly will never happen. It reveals that you know diddly about Indian reservations, among other things.
In actual fact, DC and PR should BOTH get two senators and however many representatives correspond to their population, just like the other states.
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But it's wholly inappropriate, and borderline unconstitutional, that tax payers be made to pay for them to come.
Who said anything about taxpayers paying for them to relocate?
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It is not very expensive to fly from San Juan to NYC or Miami. There are dozens of flights in huge airplanes. The main usage of huge Boeings are from NYC to San Juan and various parts of the Arab World to Mecca.
I don't think anyone has suggested subsidizing Puerto Ricans coming here.
In the movie Papi, a Puerto Rican fakes coming ashore as a Cuban to get Cuban refugee ("exile") benefits.
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But it's wholly inappropriate, and borderline unconstitutional, that tax payers be made to pay for them to come.
Who said anything about taxpayers paying for them to relocate?
H is the one trying to argue the point about "relocating". But to placate the notion, it would be the massive amount of Federal spending that would be injected into a state that neds to be "brought up to code" to compete with the other 50states. The increased amount of Federal & Government agencies that would have to be built and staffed to deal with all the new citizenry. It's actually a pretty endless list
Throw in a pair of Senators that would undoubtedly be Democrats, and poof, instant increase in politicians pushing for bigger and bigger government.
Or, they can relocate on their own, and bam, full representation and rights abound
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But it's wholly inappropriate, and borderline unconstitutional, that tax payers be made to pay for them to come.
Who said anything about taxpayers paying for them to relocate?
H is the one trying to argue the point about "relocating". But to placate the notion, it would be the massive amount of Federal spending that would be injected into a state that neds to be "brought up to code" to compete with the other 50states. The increased amount of Federal & Government agencies that would have to be built and staffed to deal with all the new citizenry. It's actually a pretty endless list
Throw in a pair of Senators that would undoubtedly be Democrats, and poof, instant increase in politicians pushing for bigger and bigger government.
Or, they can relocate on their own, and bam, full representation and rights abound
Maybe i missed it, but i don't recall Bear saying a thing about taxpayers paying for them to relocate, so maybe you could point us in the right direction concerning your statement in question.
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I doubt that PR or DC will be given statehood representation anytime soon, but that does not mean that it would be improper for them to do so.
DC should have at LEAST one voting senator and one voting rep. There is no reason for them to be denied this.
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Maybe i missed it, but i don't recall Bear saying a thing about taxpayers paying for them to relocate, so maybe you could point us in the right direction concerning your statement in question.
Simple......H referenced relocation, as my supposed arguement, since I'm the one advocating the need to move into a state that offers such rights and representation, that's supposedly the issue.......I responded in clearing up his arguement in who is supposed to pay for any relocation, if they are unable to.......the taxpayers. Then you started to ask me about relocation, in which I've attempted to respond to you about it, and did more so in the "options" you presented
At no time to did I claim, or even infer, H said anything to do with taxpayer relocation.
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So to be clear, it was you who brought up relocation as a means to achieve full citizenship rights and privileges? And it was you who extrapolated that the fed would have to pay for this relocation if they could not afford it?
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So to be clear, it was you who brought up relocation as a means to achieve full citizenship rights and privileges?
Yes
And it was you who extrapolated that the fed would have to pay for this relocation if they could not afford it?
yes...if the notion is to grant the entire citizenry of PR full representation as a resident of the U.S. The cost to tax payers would be even far worse, to try and make a 51st state of of PR, as I addressed in an earlier thread
But if they took it upon themselves to relocate, bam....full representation as a resident of the U.S. without the huge tax burden on those already paying "their fair share"
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We're back to 'We got ours...'
It doesn't matter that the people of Puerto Rico have voted in a referendum to apply for statehood. It doesn't matter that Puerto Ricans serve honorably in the US military, pay taxes, and are already US citizens in pretty much everything except representation in US government, we should completely ignore the will of the people and force them to move to one of the 50 already admitted United States in order to gain that representation.
No one forced Hawaiians to relocate to the US for that right, rather than be granted statehood. Or Alaskans. Or Californians, or Oregonians, or Washingtonians, Nevadans, Arizonans, or anyone from anywhere other than the original 13 colonies. They all followed the procedure of voting in favor of statehood, petitioning for statehood, adopting a form of government and a constitution in compliance with the US Constitution, and being accepted and welcomed into the United States by a simple majority vote of Congress.
Nowhere in that process is there a requirement for a minimum income or that English be the first language of the people.
Here is some information from 2010, when HR 2499 was being discussed ( http://naturalresources.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=183105 (http://naturalresources.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=183105) ), and here is information on the passage of HR 2499 ( http://www.examiner.com/article/h-r-2499-passes-moving-puerto-rico-one-step-closer-to-statehood (http://www.examiner.com/article/h-r-2499-passes-moving-puerto-rico-one-step-closer-to-statehood) ), also from 2010.
Note in the first article there is an estimate of the cost to the federal budget of what it would cost per year if Puerto Rico were to become a state. This is much less than was spent per year to fight the war in Iraq. It just seems odd to me that you were willing to spend that much in money per year (not mention over 4,000 American lives lost) in a war 8.000 miles away but you worry about spending maybe a tenth of that per year to allow Puerto Rico to become a state.
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It just seems odd to me that you were willing to spend that much in money per year (not mention over 4,000 American lives lost) in a war 8.000 miles away but you worry about spending maybe a tenth of that per year to allow Puerto Rico to become a state.
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I think it might be because they heard that Puerto Ricans are Democrats, often Blacks or Mulattoes, while Iraq had a REPUBLICAN Guard.
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...those already paying "their fair share"
...They fought alongside General Bernardo de Gálvez during the American Revolutionary War in the battles of Baton Rouge, Mobile, Pensacola and St. Louis. During the mid-19th century, Puerto Ricans residing in the United States fought in the American Civil War...
...Upon the outbreak of World War I, the U.S. Congress approved the Jones-Shafroth Act, which imposed United States citizenship (the Puerto Rican House of Delegates rejected US citizenship) with limitations upon Puerto Ricans and made them eligible for the military draft. As citizens of the United States, Puerto Ricans have participated in every major United States military engagement from World War I onward. During World War II, Puerto Ricans participated in the Pacific and Atlantic theaters, not only as combatants, but also as commanders. It was during this conflict that Puerto Rican nurses were allowed to participate as members of the WAACs. The members of Puerto Rico's 65th Infantry Regiment distinguished themselves in combat during the Korean War and during the Vietnam War four Puerto Ricans were awarded the Medal of Honor, the highest military honor in the United States. Presently Puerto Ricans continue to serve in the military of the United States...
...About 20,000 Puerto Ricans were drafted during World War I...
...During World War II, it is estimated by the Department of Defense that 65,034 Puerto Ricans served in the U.S. military...
...Sergeant First Class Agustín Ramos Calero was awarded a total of 22 decorations and medals his actions in Europe during World War II, thus becoming most decorated soldier in the United States Military during that war...
...Puerto Rican soldiers were also subject to human experimentation by the United States Armed Forces. On Panama's San Jose Island, Puerto Rican soldiers were exposed to mustard gas to see if they reacted differently than their "white" counterparts...
...Sixty-one thousand Puerto Ricans served in the Korean War, including 18,000 Puerto Ricans who enlisted in the continental United States...
...During the Vietnam War, an estimated 48,000 Puerto Ricans served in the four branches of the armed forces...
...In 1990, 1,700 Puerto Rican National Guardsmen were among the 20,000 Hispanics deployed to the Persian Gulf in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm as part of the Gulf War...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_history_of_Puerto_Rico (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_history_of_Puerto_Rico)
...More than 70 Puerto Ricans have died in Iraq and Afghanistan. The majority of them were born in Puerto Rico, but some were from New York and other states...
...More Puerto Ricans have fought in U.S. wars than have the citizens of 35 of the 50 states...
http://www.peoplesworld.org/puerto-ricans-and-iraq/ (http://www.peoplesworld.org/puerto-ricans-and-iraq/)
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There are economic advantages to both statehood and commonwealth status. They do not benefit the same people.
It is up to the Puerto Ricans to decide which they want, and up to Congress to accept or deny entry into the Union to Puerto Rico. That seems fair to me. It is somewhat ironic that the Republican-affiliated party wants statehood, while the National Republican Party probably opposes it, not because of fairness,but because it would make the slide toward the extinction of the GOP that more rapid.
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According to the GOP platform for 2012 they support Puerto Rican statehood.
We support the right of the United States citizens of Puerto Rico to be admitted to the Union as a fully sovereign state if they freely so determine. We recognize that Congress has the final authority to define the constitutionally valid options for Puerto Rico to achieve a permanent non-territorial status with government by consent and full enfranchisement. As long as Puerto Rico is not a State, however, the will of its people regarding their political status should be ascertained by means of a general right of referendum or specific referenda sponsored by the U.S. government.
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Hey...I got the perfect solution!
how 'bout we let Puerto Rico in and let Texas out?
(http://www.starmuseum.org/homeimages/flagandseal.jpg)
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We're back to 'We got ours...'
Ya know, it gets a tad irritating for the ongoing effort of trying to be made to feel guilty for being born in this country. Yes, I am absolutely thankful for being born in this country, and getting all the "automatic perks" that go along with it. And I feel bad for those who weren't born in this country, and don't. Communist, Fascist, and Socialist countries come to mind
I thank God I live in a country with some of the most charitable folks on the globe
I thank God that we have mechanisms for people to come here and be an intimate part of all those perks
So, no, I'm not going to be made to feel guilty for being born here and "getting ours". There are folks born in some of the worst situations, all across the globe. I feel bad for them. I wish I had the resources of a Mitt Romney, who could donate millions in charitable causes. As it is, I have just enough for me and my family, with a paltry left over to help towards Cancer & ALS research.
So, I got mine, by virtue of being born here. Thankfully we have mechanisms for those who weren't, to come and "get theirs". And for those in PR, made all the easier, since they can bypass all the immigration hurdles, to come and "get theirs" as well. We welcome each and everyone one who wants to
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I really doubt that a majority of Texans want to leave the USA.
The Republic of Texas was broke during its entire life,and every year it got worse.
I would have no objections myself, but secession has been found to be impossible.
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The Republic of Texas was broke during its entire life,and every year it got worse.
was it ever borrowing/printing trillions to stay afloat?
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secession has been found to be impossible.
many current day nations broke off from some other entity
secession will happen here too
the SantaCrats dont have the guts for 500K dead
it would be nothing like 1861
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was it ever borrowing/printing trillions to stay afloat?
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There was no one willing to lend money to Texas.
I think the X I T Ranch near Tascosa was purchased by ten Englishmen from Texas (hence the name Ten In Texas), but that must have been after statehood, because before 1845 the area was controlled by Comanches.
Texas isn't about to secede, that is insane.
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There was no one willing to lend money to Texas.
Texas will do just fine on it's own.
I think the X I T Ranch near Tascosa was purchased by ten Englishmen from Texas (hence the name Ten In Texas), but that must have been after statehood, because before 1845 the area was controlled by Comanches.
Interesting....I need to get a book about the XIT.
I have spent some time in Dalhart which seems to name things after the XIT.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/XIT_Ranch (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/XIT_Ranch)
Texas isn't about to secede
who said it was "about to"?
it will....but it'll be down the road a bit
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I can't imagine what it must be like to live in such a paranoid state...everything is some sort of nefarious plot...everyone is out to get your money and undermine your way of life...look out, the lizard men are out to rule the world...or is it the Freemasons?
Is there any particular way that the Lizard Men , are better than the Democrats?
Why don't we ever hear about the Lizard women? is there a reptillian gender gap?
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We wanted Puerto Rico when we defeated Spain and took it.
It would have been strange to kill so many Spanish soldiers and sailors , then allow them to keep a foothold in the Caribbian.
This is responsibility, not just legacy.
Puerto Rico became what it is while being administered by U.S. appointed governments.
They have been offered Statehood every few years and have untill now declined, are they finally won over?
If they are to be refused , it has to be for better reason than that it would benefit one political party more than another.
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The US did not take PR for any reason other than colonialism. Cuba was the justification of the war with Spain, because of Cubans being repressed in a struggle for independence. Puerto Ricans had no major rebellion.
I am all for Puerto Ricans deciding what their status should be. I agree that it should not be because of politics, but it will be, no matter what I believe.
If PR were still a part of Spain, they might be better off than they are now. Martinique, Guadaloupe and half of Saint Martin are certainly better off than Haiti.
There are no Lizard men, but on the show "V" there were clearly Lizard women as well.
Normally, just as when we say "all men are equal", both genders are included. When we say "Lizard men", we refer to all of Lizardkind, including Lizard women. I suppose that it would be unwise to assume that the sexes of an alien race of Lizard people from Outer Space would necessarily include the same percentage of males as females.
Or we would, if there were intelligent Lizard people from outer space planning a takeover of Earth.
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Ok , I also favor self determination for P.R.
And I still don't know why Lizard Men and Lizard Women are better than Democrats.