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Puerto Rico wants to become the 51st state of the US
BBC News ^ | The Day After | 7 November 2012

Posted on 11/07/2012 6:39:20 PM PST by MinorityRepublican

Voters in Puerto Rico have supported a non-binding referendum to become a full US state.

The measure will require approval from the US Congress, but President Barack Obama has said he will respect the vote.

The island is currently a US territory, which uses the dollar and whose citizens travel on US passports.

But it does not return senators to the US Congress and is represented in Washington by a non-voting delegate.

Almost 80% of the island's electorate took part in the referendum, the fourth in the past 45 years.

With almost all the votes counted, almost 54% voted to change the island's relationship with the US.

And in reply to a second question on what future they favoured, nearly two-thirds wanted full statehood.

If Congress grants its approval, Puerto Ricans would have the right to vote in all US elections, but would also have to pay federal taxes, something at present they are excused from.

(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.co.uk ...


TOPICS: Breaking News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: puertorico
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To: wardaddy
You keep hours, that I can only keep, these days, if I am on a vacation. But more power to you.

On the Puerto Rico question, why don't you cite Jefferson, who was not against anyone because of their ethnicity, but understood that there was a great disadvantage in confusing Anglo & Hispanic cultures & societies. The reason he cut a Constitutional corner--the one time--was for the Louisiana Purchase, which he justified as necessary to put a buffer between the Amglo coast States & the Hispanic part of the New World.

I believe that I went into this, a bit in a response to George W. Bush on immigration. (Answer To President Bush On Immigration)

If the discussion is not in that essay, it is certainly in one of the links from that essay. (And I am sure you realize that Thomas Jefferson was somewhat smarter than George W. Bush.)

Now specific to Puerto Rico: Is there any discussion in Puerto Rico, today, from which one can infer that they both understand & would defend the principles of the Federal Constitution?

I do not mean giving lip service to what some Leftist pundit suggests was the intent. I mean an actual functional understanding & support for limited Federal Government, with virtually all social issues left to the States. For that is what the Constitution provides. Even the one social issue, sound money, that the Constitution does address, is primarily enforced by the provision that no State can make anything but gold or silver coin a legal tender for payment of debt (Art. I, Sec. 10), which has been effectively rendered unenforceable, as a result of the Federal failure to perform the functional monetary role that it was given, as expected.)

I have nothing against Puerto Ricans. But that does not mean that they are inter-changeable with Americans or any other people; anymore than we are inter-changeable with any other people. The idea of trying to amalgamate the peoples of the earth, in my opinion, is an insult to the peoples of the earth.

William Flax

181 posted on 11/08/2012 7:48:08 AM PST by Ohioan
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To: TwelveOfTwenty; sean327

Just what ARE so-called “Hispanics”?

Is it the Castilian Spanish language, but not the Basque language of Spain? Is it the ‘z’ in the last name? Is it Latinos, but not the original Latins, the Italians? Is it Brazilians, but not Spainards? Is it Cameron Diaz, but not a Peruvian Indian named Jorge or Japanese Peruvian named Alberto Fujimori?

Or is it an erroneously created ethnonym so government mandarins and their progessive enablers in the grievance lobby can arbitarily lump together a heterogenous group of people (see: “Asians”) for the ease of making assumptions and dolling out entitlements and unfounded affirmative action chits in exchange for votes?


182 posted on 11/08/2012 7:51:43 AM PST by mkboyce
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To: Verginius Rufus

I think Lousiana is the only State that doesn’t base their legal system on English Common Law.


183 posted on 11/08/2012 8:01:41 AM PST by mkboyce
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To: AuH2ORepublican
Interesting ideas.

I don't like "New Columbia" as the name. Where is "Old Columbia"? Besides, it would have the same initials as North Carolina. Plus, it brings back memories of Jesse Jackson advocating statehood for DC under that name--it's tainted by association with him.

Why not just "Columbia"?

184 posted on 11/08/2012 8:09:05 AM PST by Verginius Rufus
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To: Cronos
Vermont.. province of Canada” — you may have missed the election trends in Canada. the Canucks voted for a conservative party and moved hard right. Now they have lower corporate taxes than we have...

And the average Canadian is $40,000 better off than the average Ameerican.

185 posted on 11/08/2012 8:10:49 AM PST by pgkdan (We are witnessing the modern sack of Rome. The barbarians have taken over.)
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To: Gator113

Well, there is two things we can agree about....

One, not to tkae you seriously....

Two, Cuban cigars.....

BTW, I left off one of my greatest accomplishments....

Long distance swimming, it’s a Cuban heritage requirement....


186 posted on 11/08/2012 8:16:02 AM PST by nevergore ("It could be that the purpose of my life is simply to serve as a warning to others.")
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To: MinorityRepublican

Under the current system, it will be just another million mouths to feed.


187 posted on 11/08/2012 8:34:31 AM PST by Crucial (Tolerance at the expense of equal treatment is the path to tyranny.)
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To: Clint N. Suhks

I was on WMAL this morning with Brian Wilson talking about this (at about 6:20am) — talking about DC and Puerto Rico statehood...

:-)

Best to you and Mrs. S....


188 posted on 11/08/2012 9:03:16 AM PST by SilvieWaldorfMD (A Realistically Really Real Housewife)
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To: MinorityRepublican

Make it a State! When 54 percent vote to join the USA when our economy is dying, well that is a good sign. They have a Pro Republican Governor ....thats another sign. Very Catholic, should be accepting of a Pro Life message...IF WE CAN FIND REPUBLICANS WHO CAN ARTICULATE WHY THEY ARE PROLIFE, BESIDES JUST SAYING “I’M PRO LIFE”.

If we can’t defend it, we should promote it.

And definately if we defend it, we should stand and defend those who do.


189 posted on 11/08/2012 9:04:28 AM PST by TomasUSMC ( FIGHT LIKE WW2, FINISH LIKE WW2. FIGHT LIKE NAM, FINISH LIKE NAM)
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To: MinorityRepublican

Make it a State! When 54 percent vote to join the USA when our economy is dying, well that is a good sign. They have a Pro Republican Governor ....thats another sign. Very Catholic, should be accepting of a Pro Life message...IF WE CAN FIND REPUBLICANS WHO CAN ARTICULATE WHY THEY ARE PROLIFE, BESIDES JUST SAYING “I’M PRO LIFE”.

If we can’t defend it, we should promote it.

And definately if we defend it, we should stand and defend those who do.


190 posted on 11/08/2012 9:04:46 AM PST by TomasUSMC ( FIGHT LIKE WW2, FINISH LIKE WW2. FIGHT LIKE NAM, FINISH LIKE NAM)
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To: wardaddy

Excellent post. So much so, in fact, I’m gonna read it again.....


191 posted on 11/08/2012 9:16:09 AM PST by CatherineofAragon (The idiocracy has come home to roost. God help us.)
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To: sean327

“Puerto Rico has a Republican gov. The one thing I dislike about FR is the constant bashing of Hispanics. There are many of us who are Conservatives, and many more who have served this country honorably in the military.”

Just to let you know, there’s at least one non-Hispanic basher here. I have a great deal of respect for the Hispanics in my neck of Colorado and like them very much as a people. I have Hispanic friends and do lots of business with them. Quite frankly, I don’t really think about it that much.

And yes, there’s plenty of conservative Hispanics here, but unfortunately, there’s even more Obamabot Hispanics as well.


192 posted on 11/08/2012 9:26:19 AM PST by catnipman
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To: MinorityRepublican

Personally I think they could take Oklahoma and Texas spot....And then we could become the country of Texoma.


193 posted on 11/08/2012 9:31:11 AM PST by Osage Orange ( Liberalism, ideas so good they have to be mandatory.)
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To: nevergore

LOL.... I would have used a boat.


194 posted on 11/08/2012 9:34:08 AM PST by Gator113 (I would have voted for NEWT, now it's Romney & Ryan.~Just livin' life, my way~)
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To: sean327; CaptainKrunch
The one thing I dislike about FR is the constant bashing of Hispanics. There are many of us who are Conservatives, and many more who have served this country honorably in the military.

Well said!

FWIW, talking about military service I believe as a % of the military more medals for valor have been awarded to Puerto Ricans than any other ethnic group.

195 posted on 11/08/2012 10:42:46 AM PST by wmfights
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To: Verginius Rufus

I chose New Columbia specifically because it could draw in supporters of the old Jesse Jackson plan for DC statehood, and similarly would exclude federal areas from its territory. For this idea to fly, we’re going to need to get support from the DC statehood folks, and if choosing the same name that Jesse selected helps us with that, I’m all for it.

I hadn’t thought of the NC abbreviation thing—you’re right, that might be a problem. I don’t like the name State of Columbia, because not only will it create confusion with the Republic of Colombia (it’s not as much of a problem with Georgia because the Caucasus are so far away), but I would always associate it with the Columbia River, which is in the State of Washington (making it even more confusing). Maybe the State of Potomac (postal abbreviation PO)?


196 posted on 11/08/2012 11:00:48 AM PST by AuH2ORepublican (If a politician won't protect innocent babies, what makes you think that he'll protect your rights?)
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To: sean327

Who is “bashing” Hispanics?

PR has a history of being solidly in the liberal/democrat camp.

Who do their non-voting reps to the House caucus with?

Illegal aliens. . .you bet, we are against that. . .too include ALL illegal aliens.

Hispanics that vote slavishly for the democrats just because they are democrat, and we object, and that makes us Hispanic-bashers?


197 posted on 11/08/2012 11:34:06 AM PST by Hulka
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To: CaptainKrunch; SilvieWaldorfMD

Reagan was in favor of it, I was about 25 years ago but I do not want to have two more Dem Senators.


198 posted on 11/08/2012 11:38:53 AM PST by Perdogg
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To: MinorityRepublican

What does it mean to be a state? America is one big state at the whim of a quasi-dictator and his merry band of quasi-media meatheads and g’ment hacks.


199 posted on 11/08/2012 11:39:46 AM PST by Leep (Are you smarter than a 7th grade math student and or Barack 0bama?)
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To: cll

In my current mood, I’m ready to declare independence myself.

Still, PR is one of the most beautiful places in the world. If you’re crazy enough to want to be a state, welcome.


200 posted on 11/08/2012 11:46:59 AM PST by marron
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