We have not rejected anything. Puerto Rico falls under the territorial clause of the Constitution. That means that any status change has to be moved forward and approved by Congress, who has absolute control of the territory (property) of the United States. The referenda held over the years have been all locally produced and mean nothing. They mean nothing because the alternatives have always been watered down by the very powerful lobby that profits the most from the current colonial condition. Watered down with implausible and unconstitutional alternatives. Witness the "free beer and barbeque" option of 1993 and the "none of the above" option of 1998.
This is about nothing less than a continuance of segregation under disguise. Four million American citizens are being governed without their consent. Our great nation came to being precisely because of the same condition. We are denying American citizens their full rights simply because of their place of residence. Before that was because of skin color. And before that was because of gender. And before that because of property ownership.
The fact remains that Congress governs the territories without their consent. And it is a shame that the self appointed guardians of democracy promote its growth around the world but does not practice it fully here at home.
We were in SanJuan on our honeymoon-the place stinks to high heaven, the people are lazy, they brag about the money the USA sends them, they take no responsibility for their actions.
Our tour bus struck a stop sign and sideswiped a parked car trying to turn a corner. NEVER stopped. Puerto Ricans historically have always handed themselves over to whoever would pay the most for the resulting tourist trade.
Its the perfect example of a welfare state and they like it that way. Sell them to Cuba and pay off the nat'l debt.
Congress approved a referendum held in PR, and the PR's CHOSE to remain a territory.
There have been several votes, and PR's have never chosen Independence or Statehood.
If you're for Independence, you're in a tiny minority, and if you're for Statehood, you're still in the minority.