Why is Alaska a State, but Puerto Rico isn't??

[Lock him up.]

[dsc]

1. Ironically it was the Democratic state that was admitted to balance the GOP Hawaii

well we know how that turned out.

[BumRushDaShow]

2. Because multiple referendums that they had resulted in their wanting to continue their

commonwealth status.

[Statistical]

5. No they didn't.

Not any of the last three.

[BumRushDaShow]

8. The problem is

But the process is usually marred, with ballot language phrased to favor the party in office. In 1998, “none of the above” was the top winner. In 2012, 61 percent of counted votes went to statehood — and half a million ballots were left blank.

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/11/us/puerto-ricans-vote-on-the-question-of-statehood.html

But you also have the issue where Congress must act and there has been talk over the years of D.C. statehood coupled with Puerto Rican statehood, but the implications are too dire for the GOP to fathom so it always becomes a non-starter.

[JonLP24]

7. They voted for statehood in 2017 & 2012

It is also on the ballot this year. The previous ones had confusing questions but this year is a simple yes or no.

[BumRushDaShow]

11. I posted this as a note

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=14436882

[marybourg]

3. Alaska (R) was brought in to balance HI(D)

Isn’t it wonderfull to be so old you remember these things happening? .

[jalan48]

4. Natural resources we can exploit

[Lock him up.]

9. Lots of hurricane-resistant vacational resorts could be built there (21st-Century style).

For those who could invest in building them (I want 1 underwater too... lol ... natural marine life et al).

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

6. One reason had to do with AK's strategic military bases during and after WWII.

But it took from 1916 to 1958.

[Lock him up.]

10. A territory wouldn't have done that too?

Why a STATE and not a territory? Who created it?

[In It to Win It]

12. Politics