Puerto Rico

[Saniflush]

So like many other things that get overshadowed, this weekend Puerto Rico voted for statehood.  This is not binding and would have to be approved by congress but I am curious as to people's opinions about having a 51st state.

Chad doesn't your wife have family that hails from there?  I imagine they have some strong feelings maybe on both sides of the issue?

[GH2001]

They're in debt. They get and want more assistance. Of course they want to be a state.

[Kaos]

No thank you.   

I'd like to get rid of some of the ones we have. 

[Buzz Killington]

Can we trade them for California?

[chinook]

Can we trade them for California?

Watcha talking about Willis? 

I'm thinking West Virginia.   

[AUChizad]

So like many other things that get overshadowed, this weekend Puerto Rico voted for statehood.  This is not binding and would have to be approved by congress but I am curious as to people's opinions about having a 51st state.

Chad doesn't your wife have family that hails from there?  I imagine they have some strong feelings maybe on both sides of the issue?

I'm not an expert. Her close family are all here now. But from what I understand from those that are still there, they're not interested.

They already get most of the benefits by being a territory. Really the only thing they don't get is the ability to vote on our President and a voting representative in Congress. They already are getting about the same federal funding they would as a state, they're already on the dollar, they already get our military protection, they already are free to come in and out as easy as it is to come in and out between Georgia and Alabama. And by NOT being a state, they're exempt from a lot of federal taxes.

From what I understand this:

They're in debt. They get and want more assistance. Of course they want to be a state.

has it kind of backwards. If they become a state, they may get a little more federal funding, but will be giving it back to Washington in the form of taxes. Most citizens, from what I understand, don't think the benefits outweigh the cost, particularly to the individuals.

[WiregrassTiger]

When using the term "wife" when referring to Chizzy, does Puerto Rico recognize gay marriage?

[CCTAU]

Most citizens, from what I understand, don't think the benefits outweigh the cost, particularly to the individuals.

Funny. Sounds like "most citizens" voted yes? No?


What wrong wif the stars we have? Don't they fits jus fine on da flag?

[AUChizad]

Funny. Sounds like "most citizens" voted yes? No?


What wrong wif the stars we have? Don't they fits jus fine on da flag?

I meant in the past.

And only 23% of Puerto Ricans turned out to vote. So "most citizens" don't care all that much.

[Kaos]

I meant in the past.

And only 23% of Puerto Ricans turned out to vote. So "most citizens" don't care all that much.

That's the way votes work.  If all those millions and millions if illegal aliens and dead voters had just shown up at  the polls in November, idiots like Prowler would have something different to bitch about. 

[WiregrassTiger]

Apparently the Like button is not enabled on my posts. Who can fix this? Pronto.

[CCTAU]

I meant in the past.

And only 23% of Puerto Ricans turned out to vote. So "most citizens" don't care all that much.

Maybe they do care, but they had no one to drive them to the polls!

Or maybe they didn't get their racist ID card!

[AUChizad]

The official Republican platform is for Puerto Rican statehood.

I'm guessing every person who opined in this thread just changed their opinion.

Code: [Select]

https://prod-cdn-static.gop.com/media/documents/DRAFT_12_FINAL[1]-ben_1468872234.pdf

The Territory of Puerto Rico
We support the right of the United States
citizens of Puerto Rico to be admitted to the Union
as a fully sovereign state. We further recognize the
historic significance of the 2012 local referendum in
which a 54 percent majority voted to end Puerto
Rico’s current status as a U.S. territory, and 61
percent chose statehood over options for sovereign
nationhood. We support the federally sponsored
political status referendum authorized and funded
by an Act of Congress in 2014 to ascertain the
aspirations of the people of Puerto Rico. Once the
2012 local vote for statehood is ratified, Congress
should approve an enabling act with terms for
Puerto Rico’s future admission as the 51st state of
the Union.

[chinook]

The official Republican platform is for Puerto Rican statehood.

I'm guessing every person who opined in this thread just changed their opinion.

Code: [Select]

https://prod-cdn-static.gop.com/media/documents/DRAFT_12_FINAL[1]-ben_1468872234.pdf

Wrong. 

[Snaggletiger]

I'm not going to opine.  Just say that a couple of years that my daughter was working with Royal Caribbean, Puerto Rico was the home port for her ship.  Went there twice and...

[Saniflush]

I don't have strong opinions either way.  I just knew that you (Chad) had some PR connection and I always find the views of the people that have first (or secondhand knowledge in your case) very intriguing. 

Much like how I put a lot more stock in my father in laws views on immigration since he immigrated here from Cuba during the Castro years.

[Kaos]

The official Republican platform is for Puerto Rican statehood.

I'm guessing every person who opined in this thread just changed their opinion.

Code: [Select]

https://prod-cdn-static.gop.com/media/documents/DRAFT_12_FINAL[1]-ben_1468872234.pdf

Shows the closed status of your mind. 

Positions, not party.

[The Prowler]

That's the way votes work.  If all those millions and millions if illegal aliens and dead voters had just shown up at  the polls in November, idiots like Prowler would have something different to bitch about.

You mean like the illegals that President Cheeto claims to have voted in California?

[GH2001]

I'm not an expert. Her close family are all here now. But from what I understand from those that are still there, they're not interested.

They already get most of the benefits by being a territory. Really the only thing they don't get is the ability to vote on our President and a voting representative in Congress. They already are getting about the same federal funding they would as a state, they're already on the dollar, they already get our military protection, they already are free to come in and out as easy as it is to come in and out between Georgia and Alabama. And by NOT being a state, they're exempt from a lot of federal taxes.

From what I understand this:has it kind of backwards. If they become a state, they may get a little more federal funding, but will be giving it back to Washington in the form of taxes. Most citizens, from what I understand, don't think the benefits outweigh the cost, particularly to the individuals.

Would it not open them up to full blown federal subsidies? And yes if 100% worked and paid taxes, that'd be a good financial deal for us. But like most states here, more are pulling money out than are putting in.

[wesfau2]

But like most red states here, more are pulling money out than are putting in.

Fixt.