I think the racist rally last night made a big case for PR statehood.

[bullimiami]

Population of PR ranks as 32. 18 current states are less populous.

They should be seating 4 Reps and 2 Senators. Instead they have 1 non voting Rep.

That should be a priority.

[ColinC]

1. Make all our territories states

MAOTS!!

[Random Boomer]

9. Definitely all at once, please

Think of all the flags that will have to be remade. Let's not drag this out.

[AllaN01Bear]

20. i second that. all of them. not pr but guam american samoa. etc. all of them

[LakeVermilion]

2. Yes! Fully agree...

Why hasn't this been pushed? Statehood should be a priority.

[Coexist]

3. PR has to make that decision too

I recall a movement in the 80s that failed because the Commonwealth feared losing its identity. But I would like to see them with more rights and protections. DC needs a Senator and Rep too, IMHO

[bullimiami]

4. DC should too but PR has a larger claim. I think they are ready and would vote si if it was offered.

[Coexist]

5. I would love to see that!

[whopis01]

12. They already voted for statehood three times (2012, 2017, and 2020) n/t

[whopis01]

11. Puerto Rico has already voted in favor of statehood in 2012, 2017, and 2020 n/t

[DeepWinter]

6. Puerto Rico has voted on Statehood 6 times

The latest in 2012 and 2019, both referendums rejected. 2020 was a 52% "yes", but considered marred because the language used was highly in favor on the residing political party. (Which at that time aligned with US Republicans)

Politicians and Politics in PR is unsurprisingly complex, and doesn't align well with US politics. There are PR liberals who favor US Republicans, and politicians who we would consider conservative, but favor US Democrats. And they have no issues with switching sides when it gets work done. It's messy, it's complex, you might not get what you think you're getting.

[bullimiami]

7. It's not what I think we might be getting. It's what's right.

They’ve not been offered statehood.
So the referendums were pretty much just temperature readings.

[whopis01]

14. I wouldn't say the 2012 vote rejected statehood.

The 2012 referendum had two questions:
1) Continue as a territory (yes/no)?
2) If not a territory, then (a) statehood, (b) free association, or (c) independence
A majority (54%) voted to not continue Puerto Rico's territorial status.
On the second question 61% voted for statehood and 33% for free association.

I wouldn't count that as being rejected.


The 2017 referendum was boycotted by those opposed to statehood. The vote was 97% in favor from those voting.

[Blue Full Moon]

8. Republicans are holding the process back.

The rich use Puerto Rico as a tax shelter. And also the idea that people of color can't govern themselves. That is in the Congressional records. That's also why they didn't let AZ and NM as states until they had enough European immigrants move there.

[dlk]

10. Until there are Democratic majorities in congress and a Democrat in the White House

All we can look forward to is more Republican obstruction with pretty much everything.

They fail to see the irony and hypocrisy in their belief that government is the problem, yet making their livings (and fortunes) with the government.

Puerto Rico would make a great state and statehood is long overdue. (The same goes for Washington DC.)

[twodogsbarking]

13. The people I have known from PR are welcome at our house any time.

Fuck Trump and his other losers.

[Farmer-Rick]

15. My daughter was born in Puerto Rico

I was stationed there in the 1980s. It's a beautiful tropical Island. I think it has the only tropical forest in the US.

[Ramsey Barner]

17. The amazing El Yunque:

https://www.fs.usda.gov/elyunque

[Farmer-Rick]

22. Yes, it's gorgeous

I should have said it is the only tropical rainforest in the US

[BumRushDaShow]

25. "the only tropical rainforest in the US"

Other than Hawai'i's, where Hawai'i is actually a "state" - https://roadtohana.com/hawaiian-rainforests.php

E.g., the big isle - https://htbg.com/discover/rainforest/

[BumRushDaShow]

16. "Instead they have 1 non voting Rep."

Who is a Republican - https://www.congress.gov/member/jenniffer-gonzalez-colon/G000582

[KPN]

19. Ouch!

[bullimiami]

23. I know. PR is not a guaranteed anything. They have their own minds.

[KPN]

18. THIS.

[BluenFLA]

21. Don't automatically assume PR statehood means more Dems

The island has a conservative streak and their version of Republicans have governed the island for some time. Most likely it will be a battleground state.

[standingtall]

24. I don't believe that

11 of the 15 Governors of Puerto Rico have been Democrats vs just 3 republicans and 1 independent.

Might not be a slam dunk that if Puerto Rico were a State they'd go for Democrats every time, but I'm willing to bet they would vote for Democrats for President most of the time as they usually vote for the Democrat for President although it doesn't count and I would bet they would also for vote for Democrats in Statewide elections far more often then not unless republicans shift to much more moderate positions, because the demographics are against them.

[Wiz Imp]

28. Right. If Puerto Rican's were going to vote automatically Democrat

then the racist Puerto Rican "joke" last night would have no impact because everyone would already be voting Democrat. But we know that's not true. The political party with the largest registration advantage in Puerto Rico is the PNP which is considered to be center-right.

[CanonRay]

26. Get rid of the fillibuster and it's worth a try.

[IbogaProject]

27. Nice in theory

But their tax system is separate and they are a "tax haven", their courting wealthy investors may split their vote on Statehood. And they've never themselves voted in favor of statehood. That said I want both DC and Puerto Rico inside our Nation as states.