Current Events > America: *makes Hawaii a state* Puerto Rico: *Indian man gif*

(+) Yeah! (+)

Does PR resent Hawaii being a state when they didn't even want to be part of the US in the first place while PR is simply relegated to a US territory

What the hell is Indian man gif?

Don't polling in Puerto Rico consistently show disinterest in statehood?

I thought the first step needed to come from Puerto Rico, and they've repeatedly voted against it? Like they have to initialize the bid for statehood before congress could have any say, right?

Hawaii was made a state against its will because of its strategic importance in the Pacific.

Puerto Rico votes against being part of the US tho I hear the gap is shrinking.

Ivynn posted...

Hawaii was made a state against its will because of its strategic importance in the Pacific.

Puerto Rico votes against being part of the US tho I hear the gap is shrinking.

people say "buh! taxation with no representation!" without realizing the PR benefits from not actually being a state

Didn't they literally send representatives to Congress at some point during the last administration? I could have sworn they even gave a speech

PR doesn't even vote against, they just don't show up to the polls. It was part of an admittedly genius anti-statehood slogan which simply told people that not voting at all was the same as being against it. What was it, almost 80% of the populace didn't even bother?

But it is an inevitability. The young, educated, and increasingly affluent have a growing influence, and the old demographics, are, well, dying, because they're old.

It is also possible that the hilariously corrupt government and corporate network are actively trying to convince the people against statehood. Any federal oversight would fuck them over in so many ways.

Puerto Ricans don't want to pay income tax

AloneIBreak posted...

What the hell is Indian man gif?

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/7/74cc45d1.jpg

(Not a gif though)

Aristoph posted...

I thought the first step needed to come from Puerto Rico, and they've repeatedly voted against it? Like they have to initialize the bid for statehood before congress could have any say, right?

They used to, but the local PR government has taken an approach of spending without plans to pay it back, so popular support to becoming a state has gone up as their debt has.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10052212/

As can be seen from Table 1, in 1967, most voters voted for commonwealth status and almost 40% supported joining the US as a state. By 2020, the situation had changed significantly. It is also worth noting that the frequency of nationwide voting has grown. If 26 years have passed between the first and second referendum, then only 5 years have passed between the second and third and only 3 years between the penultimate and the last, which proves the relevance of the issue.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2016/05/02/how-puerto-rico-amassed-72-billion-debt/83820238/
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/3/3203dcc6.jpg

Aristoph posted...

I thought the first step needed to come from Puerto Rico, and they've repeatedly voted against it? Like they have to initialize the bid for statehood before congress could have any say, right?

It's kinda crazy that any country wouldn't want to be part of America in the first place.

We are the Jon Snow of US

LSGW_Zephyra posted...

Didn't they literally send representatives to Congress at some point during the last administration? I could have sworn they even gave a speech

Non-voting representative. I believe a few other territories have them but I can't be bothered to check right now.

Anyway, staying as they are and full state are roughly deadlocked with a slim spoiler group for "independence". It's that third group that's likely screwing up any referendums on the issue.

Id say its around 40% of the population that support statehood. Usually the older folk and the poor dependent on benefits (wonder why...). Also the very religious/ conservative seem to lean that way. Leftists are vehemently opposed.

Also yeah we have a non voting representative (shes actually republican). Launched her campaign for governor recently, but will have to face primaries.

EmilyTheCEman posted...

Im against making Puerto Rico a state purely for OCD reasons. 50 states and 50 stars on the flag is perfect, 51 ruins it. We should abolish Wyoming to keep it 50.

We actually already have a few choices for a 51 star flag.

Ivynn posted...

Puerto Rico votes against being part of the US tho I hear the gap is shrinking.

I heard that back in 2003.

FortuneCookie posted...

I heard that back in 2003.

And have things differed since then?

Friends,

How many of your have been to PR??

You know they speak Spanish there.

when I was there, they seemed to not want to be a state. They like
what they had. Free paper towels.

I think they are doing fine as is. we should do more to make them a tourist
place, and not Dominican Republic.

Lets try to build them UP.

drclaeys posted...

Friends,

How many of your have been to PR??

You know they speak Spanish there.

when I was there, they seemed to not want to be a state. They like
what they had. Free paper towels.

I think they are doing fine as is. we should do more to make them a tourist
place, and not Dominican Republic.

Lets try to build them UP.

Um... shouldn't they decide whether they want to be "just a tourist place" as you so put it?

drclaeys posted...

Friends,

How many of your have been to PR??

You know they speak Spanish there.

when I was there, they seemed to not want to be a state. They like
what they had. Free paper towels.

I think they are doing fine as is. we should do more to make them a tourist
place, and not Dominican Republic.

Lets try to build them UP.

why a tourist state and not something more? you think they are incapable of anything or something?

Can someone briefly summarise to me why they wouldnt want to be a state? Wouldnt that offer useful protections?

majin_nemesis posted...

why a tourist state and not something more? you think they are incapable of anything or something?

I mean, they're basically an Atlantic Hawaii. Difference being, Puerto Rico actually used to be a big coffee exporter until a hurricane came through in the late 1800s or so and knocked all the trees down. Coffee doesn't grow on trees, but the plants require the shade of them so that pretty well killed the industry since trees by and large aren't fast growers.

Revisited posted...

It's kinda crazy that any country wouldn't want to be part of America in the first place.

Some countries like to be culturally and ethnically homogenous.

Ivynn posted...

Hawaii was made a state against its will because of its strategic importance in the Pacific.

Puerto Rico votes against being part of the US tho I hear the gap is shrinking.

Hawaii didnt become a state against its will. It became a territory against its will for sure over a half century prior, but statehood was widely wanted by the time it happened.

PR actually had a pro-statehood vote in 2020 that wasnt boycotted by the opposition, so it does seem like there is now an actual majority push for statehood that should be respected but obviously wont as, along with DC, the GOP doesnt want four more Dem senators and the Dems are too dumb to push for it.

LSGW_Zephyra posted...

Didn't they literally send representatives to Congress at some point during the last administration? I could have sworn they even gave a speech

Like all territories, they have non-voting representation in the House. But as opposed to other territories that have two-year terms for their non-voting delegates, they instead have a four-year resident commissioner for. reasons?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Resident_commissioner_of_Puerto_Rico
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non-voting_members_of_the_United_States_House_of_Representatives

AloneIBreak posted...

What the hell is Indian man gif?

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/5/51f914cf.jpg

Revisited posted...

It's kinda crazy that any country wouldn't want to be part of America in the first place.

This is certainly an American post.

BurmesePenguin posted...

Don't polling in Puerto Rico consistently show disinterest in statehood?

...until it went broke, yes.

A large number of Puerto Ricans have a very low opinion of the US. Between things like military testing on Vieques for decades, the Jones Act, wealthy Americans buying up land as many Puerto Ricans are struggling to make a living and forced to sell, and Trump making an ass of himself after Maria hit, the topic of statehood pretty much always leads to an argument. It doesn't help that America has never given a fuck about Puerto Rico.

ninjaman44 posted...

wealthy Americans buying up land

...and that's why it won't. Becoming a state means the the tax haven goes away, and what wealth is there will suddenly vanish.

ninjaman44 posted...

A large number of Puerto Ricans have a very low opinion of the US. Between things like military testing on Vieques for decades, the Jones Act, wealthy Americans buying up land as many Puerto Ricans are struggling to make a living and forced to sell, and Trump making an ass of himself after Maria hit, the topic of statehood pretty much always leads to an argument. It doesn't help that America has never given a fuck about Puerto Rico.

I'd think then becoming a state would give them the power and voice needed to pushback on some of those

That's because they made the choice to be born so close to Haiti. Should've moved their Island to near the Gilapagos when they had the chance.

modena posted...

That's because they made the choice to be born so close to Haiti. Should've moved their Island to near the Gilapagos when they had the chance.

Galapagos islands? Is the a... sorta earthquake related joke -__-' ?

spikethedevil posted...

This is certainly an American post.

I can only speak for myself but I think Australias doing pretty well for itself without being part of the US

emblem-man posted...

I'd think then becoming a state would give them the power and voice needed to pushback on some of those

Potentially, but I don't believe the US would ever want PR to become a state. The infrastructure is in shambles, and I don't see the US being eager to invest that kind of money in the island, especially given America's track record of being disgustingly indifferent towards the suffering of lower income minorities in the states.

Ricemills posted...

That's Pakistani, but it's a common mistake.

Pakistan used to be part of India until the British fucked everything up

VGAddict90 posted...

When I read "Indian man gif", I thought he was referring to the famous PSA where the Native American man sees a bunch of litter and starts tearing up.

I thought he meant this meme video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H9JMKGwu-w0

Tyranthraxus posted...

Pakistan used to be part of India until the British fucked everything up

British fucked a lot of things but Pakistan independence is not one.
It was created as a refugee location for Muslim Indians who was persecuted by the Hindus.

drclaeys posted...

You know they speak Spanish there.

https://i.imgur.com/MEIj2qn.gifv

not spanish