SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) -- Puerto Rico's governor announced that the U.S. territory overwhelmingly chose statehood on Sunday in a nonbinding referendum held amid a deep economic crisis that has sparked an exodus of islanders to the U.S. mainland.
Nearly half a million votes were cast for statehood, about 7,600 for free association/independence and nearly 6,700 for the current territorial status, according to preliminary results. Voter turnout was just 23 percent, leading opponents to question the validity of a vote that several political parties had urged their supporters to boycott.
And the U.S. Congress has final say in any changes to Puerto Rico's political status.
But that didn't stop Gov. Ricardo Rossello from vowing to push ahead with his administration's quest to make the island the 51st U.S. state and declaring that "Puerto Rico voted for statehood." He said he would create a commission to ensure that Congress validate the referendum's results.
In one sense this is a nothingburger
in another, this is going to flair up along political party lines and might become our next headache.
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) -- Puerto Rico's governor announced that the U.S. territory overwhelmingly chose statehood on Sunday in a nonbinding referendum held amid a deep economic crisis that has sparked an exodus of islanders to the U.S. mainland.
Nearly half a million votes were cast for statehood, about 7,600 for free association/independence and nearly 6,700 for the current territorial status, according to preliminary results. Voter turnout was just 23 percent, leading opponents to question the validity of a vote that several political parties had urged their supporters to boycott.
And the U.S. Congress has final say in any changes to Puerto Rico's political status.
But that didn't stop Gov. Ricardo Rossello from vowing to push ahead with his administration's quest to make the island the 51st U.S. state and declaring that "Puerto Rico voted for statehood." He said he would create a commission to ensure that Congress validate the referendum's results.
In one sense this is a nothingburger
in another, this is going to flair up along political party lines and might become our next headache.
Puerto Rico deserves its independence
"I fancied myself as some kind of god....It is a sort of disease when you consider yourself some kind of god, the creator of everything, but I feel comfortable about it now since I began to live it out.” -- George Soros
Statehood should only be discussed in conjunction with the other U.S. territories, including First Nations and the District.
“Christ has no body now but yours. Yours are the eyes through which he looks with compassion on this world. Yours are the feet with which he walks among His people to do good. Yours are the hands through which he blesses His creation.”
All US citizens deserve Congressional representation. Especially if they can be drafted into combat. This is a nothingburger -- if Puerto Rico wants statehood, we are obligated to grant it.
Zack Morris wrote:All US citizens deserve Congressional representation. Especially if they can be drafted into combat. This is a nothingburger -- if Puerto Rico wants statehood, we are obligated to grant it.
Representation yes, statehood no. Two senators for Guam? The Virgin Islands? The District? Every First Nations tribe?
We are obligated to give Puerto Rico back its independence if they wish. Statehood has a different constitutional procedure in place.
“Christ has no body now but yours. Yours are the eyes through which he looks with compassion on this world. Yours are the feet with which he walks among His people to do good. Yours are the hands through which he blesses His creation.”
Zack Morris wrote:All US citizens deserve Congressional representation. Especially if they can be drafted into combat. This is a nothingburger -- if Puerto Rico wants statehood, we are obligated to grant it.
Representation yes, statehood no. Two senators for Guam? The Virgin Islands? The District? Every First Nations tribe?
We are obligated to give Puerto Rico back its independence if they wish. Statehood has a different constitutional procedure in place.
Maybe California can join Puerto Rico in forming a new caliphate.
"I fancied myself as some kind of god....It is a sort of disease when you consider yourself some kind of god, the creator of everything, but I feel comfortable about it now since I began to live it out.” -- George Soros
Zack Morris wrote:All US citizens deserve Congressional representation. Especially if they can be drafted into combat. This is a nothingburger -- if Puerto Rico wants statehood, we are obligated to grant it.
Representation yes, statehood no. Two senators for Guam? The Virgin Islands? The District? Every First Nations tribe?
Sure, why not? Do you have some problem with representative democracy?
Zack Morris wrote:All US citizens deserve Congressional representation. Especially if they can be drafted into combat. This is a nothingburger -- if Puerto Rico wants statehood, we are obligated to grant it.
Representation yes, statehood no. Two senators for Guam? The Virgin Islands? The District? Every First Nations tribe?
We are obligated to give Puerto Rico back its independence if they wish. Statehood has a different constitutional procedure in place.
Maybe California can join Puerto Rico in forming a new caliphate.
What an intelligent joke! You really should have your own cable TV show. Or at least a YouTube podcast!
Zack Morris wrote:All US citizens deserve Congressional representation. Especially if they can be drafted into combat. This is a nothingburger -- if Puerto Rico wants statehood, we are obligated to grant it.
Representation yes, statehood no. Two senators for Guam? The Virgin Islands? The District? Every First Nations tribe?
We are obligated to give Puerto Rico back its independence if they wish. Statehood has a different constitutional procedure in place.
Maybe California can join Puerto Rico in forming a new caliphate.
What an intelligent joke! You really should have your own cable TV show. Or at least a YouTube podcast!