U.S. Congress today approved Puerto Rico Democracy Act (HR2499) allowing Puerto Rico to go for a referendum to decide if it wants a statehood, to maintain its current status. This may even open a door for the small Caribbean vacation island to look for independence. If the Puerto Rico decides to change the current status it will face four options.
Whether it is opening a door for independence or Puerto Rico's statehood the new HR 2499 legislation will cause changes int he relationship that Puerto Rico has had with the United states for the past 112 years. The options are now the possibility of a statehood, becoming the 51st state of USA, becoming more of a country or become and independent entity.
This initiative gives Puerto Rico a two-step pathway to express their will. It may change the political future of the island.
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The 2-Step Pathway: Statehood or Other
In the first stage of the developments the residents of the Caribbean vacation island will choose if they want Puerto Rico to remain a commonwealth or take a different route. In case they prefer to change that status, there will be an amendment in the constitution of Puerto Rico. It will offer four options. Those four options are statehood for Puerto Rico making it the 51st state of the United States of America, Independence, acquire sovereignty while maintaining a partnership with the United States or again keep the current relationship with USA.
* Read 50 Opinions About Puerto Rico's Statehood Option
Written by Armen Hareyan
HULIQ.com
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Comments
#1 the 51st state
This bill takes away from the Puerto Rico nationals the option to stay as is. This is a farce to force this island to become the 51st state even if they do not want to. They will vote first on a referendum "Are you happy with the status quo?" Of course, no-one is: are you, is Glenn Beck, is Nancy Pelosi? So, when they state they are not happy with status quo, and say no, then the option to stay in their current relationship with the US is GONE....
Their only option will be to become the next state using the Tennessee option. (look that up)...
#2 the 51st state.
Notice that the article above makes no statement about Puerto Rico remaining the same. Three times they voted on this issue, but they voted as shown above, but had the option to remain as is. NO MORE. Trickery
at its best.. Remember what I am saying here and try to watch this as it unfolds...
#3 2 more progressive liberal
2 more progressive liberal Senators on the way.
#4 About damn time we start
About damn time we start giving other people choices to thier future. As a soldier, i'm ashamed at the impirialism duchebaggery we've imposed for the past...God knows how long. Mabie this is a start of an America who's policies aren't rittled with evil bully world nazism. Puerto Rico, make your future and dont let a bunch of assholes get in the way.
#5 REPLY
YOUR RIGHT ITS ABOUT TIME WE LEAVE THESE TWO IT ISLANDS TO THERE OWN DEMISE.THEY BEEN SUCKING THE TIT TOO LONG AN WHAT DO WE GET OUT OF IT, GIVE THEM INDEPENDENCE INSTEAD OF A RIGHT OFF AN FORGET ABOUT STATEHOOD
#6 What? Are you Serious?
Do you seriously think that Puerto Rico does not have a choice? If they don't, how come they have voted on it several times before? This is NOT about giving Puerto Rico a choice, it is about taking that choice away from them and forcing them to become a state so we can TAX them and gain rights to their Natural Resources. The Puerto Ricans know how much becoming a state would hurt them and that is why they have said no before. They do not want this, and we have no right to force it on them.....
#7 that makes two of us
yeah, um, the only people that want PR to become another state are libs. Libs will give all the goodies to them so they can have a dominant voting block. I say, let PR become a sovereign nation and let them fend for themselves. No reason for us to hold on to them, after all we already have NYC, that's like PR and DR right there!
#8 Of course they don't want to
Of course they don't want to become a state then they will have an obligation to us! Wow pay your part and finally settle the bill for the thousands that just easily float over and take advantage of all the programs and incentives that the US has! Why would they want to have to do that! Imagine this They become a state and we can freely tax everyone there and finally put some money back into our till for the liberties they enjoy, Healthcare, lower cost goods and free movement from the island to the US. Then we can go down there and start saying they need to change the native language to English like they press so hard to have done here to have it changed to spanish! I say close the gate let them stay on their island and let them lose the benefits they now enjoy for nothing instead and finally put things in check. This is a long time coming and I hope what happens is they close their own coffin on this and vote themselves OUT!
#9 Soldier? doubtful
I doubt your a soldier, except in World of Warcraft or some other bullshit. Listen, take your 7-11 nuked lunch, your redbull and coke and get back to your mothers basement where you probably jerk-off to anime and leave the adults alone. By the way, I doubt you are even old enough to vote.
#10 Puerto Rico should have been a state year's ago...
Why? Because protectorates are a relic of the imperialist past and Puerto Rico is effectively a state regardless of it's legal status. In most cases the citizens of Puerto Rico enjoy all the rights and privileges afforded full citizens but without the burdens of certain taxes. Puerto Rico's leadership knows that without statehood they'll fall backwards toward Haiti-like economic status so joining as a state is pretty much their SOLE option. While unfair, it is a necessity. In 1959 when we included Hawaii & Alaska, Puerto Rico should have joined as well.
#11 Anonymous 03:51
WOW!
QUOTE "as a soldier" ENDQUOTE. A soldier for who????????? If you have such a hard time with the United states past policies of letting Puerto-Rico decide it's own fate, then why don't you head off to that country where you will feel better. GOD knows there are lots of countries who feel as you do.For the past 110 years P.R. has enjoyed all the bennifits of a state but none of the responcablities. ie. TAXES. I just hope that THIS CORUPT ADMINISTRATION doesn't have a VILE ALTERNATIVE PLAN for the good people of Puerto-Rico. I'm sorry to say that my hopes will be unrealized. In the battle to return to the CONSTITUTION, I wonder what side you would be on?
#12 now its up to PR citizens
their last ption seems to vote YES for the first referendum, saying they like the current state of things. let s see how it works out...
#13 Glenn Beck robots
Reading the comments gave me a good laugh. I recently watched Glen Beck's take on this, and I noticed the comments on here criticizing the bill are carbon copies of what he said. People: think for yourselves. Glenn Beck makes millions of dollars off of you.
http://www.opencongress.org/articles/view/1841-A-vote-on-voting-on-statehood-for-Puerto-Rico
Get the facts here. The vote would have an option similar to the status quo.
#14 The Facts
Its not that these people are not thinking for themselves, it is that this issue has been prevalent for 50+ years: same issue, same opinions. There have been several plebsites in PR with the same aforementioned options. To tell you the truth, I doubt this one will go any differently than any of the previous. PR enjoys all the benefits of being a US state without having to pay federal taxes. However by becoming a state they would lose much of the latino culture that the island is so proud of (first statehood, next English as the official language ect...) Congress is not trying to trick anyone; including PR as a state would take a whole renovation of Congress, electorial votes, the flag, and so much more. Also, PR is only an island of 100 X 35 miles, and there are not many natural resources left to exploit. What was once sugarcane planations are now secondary forests supporting local families and eco-tourism. While I think it is important to employ a plebsite every few years to assure the puertoricans that they are not victims of imperialism and they have a choice, I don't think the outcome will be anything "front-page" worthy.
#15 Reality Check
With the many mistakes Obama and his 'hidden-agenda' puppeteer team have made....which have made many tax paying Americans angry and feeling disillusioned....there are 2 important things Obama & his team must do to get re-elected in 2012.....1. Reduce the national deficit....2. Acquire new voters (somehow legally).
Bingo! Puerto Rico a new state?.....new voters!....new revenues from federal taxes!
Now all Obama & his team would need to do is legalize the illegal immigrants!....new voters, yes!....but VERY LIMITED revenue from federal taxes!
Notice....the major news media must have been told to BACK OFF coverage of this vote in the US House, H.R. 2499! This agenda has been on a 'fast track' since early 2009!
Is this an underhanded trick to encourage the citizens of Puerto Rico to vote in mass "no" on a carefully worded referendum which asks if they '"approve of their current status"!....not realizing they are giving up their sovereignty? With failure of the world economy, who in their right mind likes their "current status" ? Just what does the statement "current status" mean?
Did you know your tax payer money is currently being spent to take out full page ads in PR newspapers and ads on PR radio to encourage a vote of "no" on this referendum? The newspaper ads probably spell out the details....but non-readers & those who don't like to read the details, often believe what they hear! (ie: Obama election, the financial bailout, Obamacare) This is a detail Obama's team is counting on.
American voters need to become thorough readers & researchers...and follow what is happening... what is being carefully manipulated by Obama's team.
#16 Hawaii
The State of Hawaii was forced on the people of Hawaii and the Queen
deposed. Treachery with Puerto Rico would deny them an actual
choice. The way the question is worded can be all it takes to deny
them what they want.
#17 The fact of the matter is,
The fact of the matter is, the US chose to ignore the Charters of Autonomy Puerto Ricans were granted during Spanish Colonial times. Due to the unconstitutional idea of expansionism/imperialism, the US government was forced to define its relationship with Puerto Rico as a Commonwealth. A commonwealth, by traditional definition, suggests two or more independent nations coming together under one leader (crown)... each retaining its own system of government, military, culture, language, religion. But what the US actually did (in the Foraker Act of 1900) is; replace the local government with a US military government, envelop the naval armada (1898-99), impose English as the second official language of the island (1993)... after Spain awarded the People Of Puerto Rico with the Asturias Award for language arts. Please keep in mind, there is no official language in the continental US. English is merely the US language of commerce. What this new proposed bill does is force the people of Puerto Rico to decide something they've already communicated to the US on several occassions... whether they want statehood. The US is not interested in losing Puerto Rico to full independence. If this was the case, the US would have granted as much--years ago-- under the pressure of the UN. The US is also not interested in recognizing a true to definition commonwealth relationship with Puerto Rico. The Nationalist and Reform Parties on the island and mainland have been asking for as much for more than a century. Has Puerto Rico become economically independent on the US? Yes. But don't ignore the fact this is also a byproduct of the Foraker Act.
#18 Heres hoping for the best.
I am in for support of this. I think it would be great. I served in the military and served with several Porta Rincans. If they can serve our country they should have the right vote as well. They are americans like the rest of us already lets give them the rights that go with it along with paying taxes like the rest of us.