Puerto Rico, the 51st State?

[Mikelus]

In November 6, 2012, Puerto Rico will hold a referendum on its future status. The first referendum will ask voters whether they want to maintain the current Commonwealth status under the territorial clause of the U.S. Constitution or whether they prefer a nonterritorial option. If more voters check that nonterritorial option, a second vote would be held giving people three status options: statehood, independence or free association.

Background:

Populated for centuries by aboriginal peoples, the island was claimed by the Spanish Crown in 1493 following Christopher COLUMBUS' second voyage to the Americas. In 1898, after 400 years of colonial rule that saw the indigenous population nearly exterminated and African slave labor introduced, Puerto Rico was ceded to the US as a result of the Spanish-American War. Puerto Ricans were granted US citizenship in 1917. Popularly-elected governors have served since 1948. In 1952, a constitution was enacted providing for internal self government. In plebiscites held in 1967, 1993, and 1998, voters chose not to alter the existing political status with the US.

Puerto Ricans often call the island Borinquen, from Borikén, its indigenous Taíno name, which means "Land of the Valiant Lord". The terms boricua and borincano derive from Borikén and Borinquen respectively, and are commonly used to identify someone of Puerto Rican heritage. The island is also popularly known in Spanish as la isla del encanto, which means "the island of enchantment" in English.
Christopher Columbus named the island San Juan Bautista, in honor of Saint John the Baptist. Eventually, traders and other maritime visitors came to refer to the entire island as "Puerto Rico", and "San Juan" became the name of the main trading/shipping port.

Spanish
The Spanish of Puerto Rico has evolved into having many idiosyncrasies in vocabulary and syntax which differentiate it from the Spanish spoken in other Spanish-speaking countries. While the Spanish spoken in all Iberian, Mediterranean and Atlantic Spanish Maritime Provinces was brought to the island over the centuries, the most profound regional impact on the Spanish spoken in Puerto Rico has been from the Spanish spoken in present day Canary Islands.

English
Since the acquisition of the Island by the US from Spain in 1898, the linguistic impression of American English increasingly leaves its linguistic impact on the island in all aspects of social, commercial and educational exchange.

According to a study by the University of Puerto Rico, nine of every ten Puerto Ricans residing in Puerto Rico do not speak English at an advanced level. More recently, according to the 2005–2009 Population and Housing Narrative Profile for Puerto Rico, among people at least five years old living in Puerto Rico in 2005–2009, 95 percent spoke a language other than English at home. Of those speaking a language other than English at home, 100 percent spoke Spanish and less than 0.5 percent spoke some other language; 85 percent reported that they did not speak English "very well."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puerto_rico


Economic overview:

Puerto Rico has one of the most dynamic economies in the Caribbean region, however, growth has been negative for the past four years, and unemployment has risen to nearly 16% in 2011. The industrial sector has surpassed agriculture as the primary locus of economic activity and income. Mainland US firms have invested heavily in Puerto Rico since the 1950s. US minimum wage laws apply. Sugar production has lost out to dairy production and other livestock products as the main source of income in the agricultural sector. Tourism has traditionally been an important source of income with estimated arrivals of more than 3.6 million tourists in 2008. Closing the budget deficit while restoring economic growth and employment remain the central concerns of the government.

GDP real growth rate:
-5.8% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 214
-3.7% (2009 est.)
-2.8% (2008 est.)

GDP per capita:
$16,300 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 73
$17,400 (2009 est.)
$18,100 (2008 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 1%
industry: 45%
services: 54% (2005 est.)


https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/rq.html
__________________________________________

My opinion on the island's status (as someone that knows the country very well):

Since Puerto Rico is a Hispanic country and the United States is not a federation of nations like the European Union, the island would lose too much of its actual autonomy, including competing in international competitions like the Olympics, etc. Free Association (semi-independence) seems the best solution for both PR and the USA, the island would have more autonomy and preserve its culture. The US would keep its privileged relationship while reducing its financial transfers to the island. The only reason Puerto Ricans prefer either Commonwealth or statehood, is because they fear the consequences of independence, they think the country can't survive without federal transfers.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compact_of_Free_Association


Puerto Rican culture:
[YT]abHiArkkdug[/YT]


Puerto Rico beats USA (2004 Olympics in Athens):
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Why Puerto Rico will never become a state:
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[hippie_hunter]

Puerto Ricans are also American citizens, so I imagine that the citizenship status also influences their decision in not wanting to leave the United States.

 

[whetteon]

Might as well make Puerto Rico a state. Although it messes up the number of stars on the flag.

 

[Kahran Ramsus]

If they want to be, yes.

 

[Duke]

If they desire to become the 51st state, then so be it.

 

[Mikelus]

Puerto Ricans are also American citizens, so I imagine that the citizenship status also influences their decision in not wanting to leave the United States.

Yes, but it's based on fear of independence, not because they're patriotic or anything. I'm an American citizen, but I don't feel American, one thing is the political status of the island, and another thing the cultural identity of the people.

Statehood is not the best option for either country, it would create political problems for the US, specially conservatives and the Tea Party, and the increase of federal transfers would hurt the budget.

 

[hippie_hunter]

I doubt that Tea Partiers and conservatives have a problem with Puerto Rico statehood. Conservative resistance against immigration is based more off of xenophobia, not racism. There's a big difference there. Having Puerto Rico as a state would essentially adding in people who have been American citizens for almost a century and including a territory that has been an American posession for over 100 years. A big difference between people from a foreign land illegally entering the country.

And including Puerto Rico is not going to hurt Puerto Rican culture. The United States is a culturally diverse nation (Deep South, the Rust Belt, Northeast, Pacific Northwest, etc.), adding Puerto Rico a rich Hispanic culture is beneficial to both the United States by adding a rich Hispanic area to our culture and Puerto Rico by adding more American influences to it.

 

[Mikelus]

I doubt that Tea Partiers and conservatives have a problem with Puerto Rico statehood. Conservative resistance against immigration is based more off of xenophobia, not racism. There's a big difference there. Having Puerto Rico as a state would essentially adding in people who have been American citizens for almost a century and including a territory that has been an American posession for over 100 years. A big difference between people from a foreign land illegally entering the country.

And including Puerto Rico is not going to hurt Puerto Rican culture. The United States is a culturally diverse nation (Deep South, the Rust Belt, Northeast, Pacific Northwest, etc.), adding Puerto Rico a rich Hispanic culture is beneficial to both the United States by adding a rich Hispanic area to our culture and Puerto Rico by adding more American influences to it.

Is more complicated than that, many conservatives don't want another democrat state nor more Hispanics either. PR is not just an area, is a nation, and since the US is not a union of nations, the island would lose its right to compete in any international event, etc. It would be easier to integrate Canada as a state than PR (Anglo culture & language, same development level, etc.).

 

[hippie_hunter]

Puerto Rico itself actually trends sorta Republican. Most of the members of the political party that currently dominates Puerto Rico, the New Progressive Party, also allign themselves with the Republican Party. And many Puerto Ricans who were born in Puerto Rico tend to be a bit more Republican than American born Puerto Ricans.

Also, the GOP has endorsed Puerto Rican statehood. During the primaries all of the candidates endorsed the idea of Puerto Rican statehood (Mitt Romney was the most supportive) and the GOP party platform states that if Puerto Rico decides to become a state, they support the decision made.

 

[Hotwire]

According to my Puerto Rican wife, who was born in Puerto Rico, they are mainly Democrats. They don't want statehood as they feel it would dissolve their culture the way it did Hawaii. Even Santorum pretty much said he would only welcome Puerto Rico as a state if they gave up Spanish and spoke English. They are a proud people and cherish their culture dearly. Don't expect that vote to pass this year, or any other year, for that matter.

 

[hippie_hunter]

I'm not expecting it to pass, but I don't see a lot of conservative resistance to it in the United States. The Latino resistance in the GOP is based more on xenophobia, not racism. And the party has come out saying that they support whatever Puerto Rico chooses.

And despite many on the left who like to combine the two to make the GOP look like a bunch of racist bigots (and it's easier to accuse someone of racism rather than xenophobia), they're two very different concepts.

 

[Kahran Ramsus]

Canada would definitely not be easier to make a state than Puerto Rico, not even counting that the Canadians would strongly resist it, probably to the point of war. There is no benefit from a Canadian perspective for them to join the US.

Canada is a gigantic nation in terms of area (larger than the US), with a large spread out population (ten times that of Puerto Rico) with several cultures and languages, including the two official national languages. It would instantly become the largest and most influential state in the Union.

In short, it will never happen.

 

[hippie_hunter]

If Canada joined the Union, it would never be admitted as one state to begin with. At the very least, the new states that would join would be the various provinces that form Canada. It also probably wouldn't be the most influential state in the Union because California has a bigger GDP than Canada and states like Texas, New York, Florida and others come rather close to it.

EDIT: Canada's population also isn't very well spread out. It's pretty much almost all concentrated along the border with the United States. Candada's population is just about as well spread out as Nevada's.

 

[Kahran Ramsus]

Yeah, it is all along the border, but that is one long border.

California is the one state with a larger population than Canada. Barely at that. Adding Canada would greatly alter the balance of power in the United States, swinging it to the left.

Adding Puerto Rico would be much, much easier.

 

[hippie_hunter]

Yeah, it is all along the border, but that is one long border.

California is the one state with a larger population than Canada. Barely at that. Adding Canada would greatly alter the balance of power in the United States, swinging it to the left.

I also doubt that as well. Sure, there would be Manitoba and British Columbia, but do you think that the United States would let Quebec properly integrate in that would allow a full on left wing swing? And of course you have Alberta, Saskatchewan, New Brunswick, and Newfoundland that trend a bit more conservative and the more centrist Ontario.

 

[Kahran Ramsus]

Alberta is really the only province that is right wing by American standards. There is a reason that Stephen Harper doesn't dare go after things like healthcare.

EDIT: We are really going off topic here, so it would probably be best to drop it and go back to talking about Puerto Rico.

 

[Thundercrack85]

I do recall reading a poll which showed that a surprisingly large number of Quebecers were cool with the idea of being part of America. Though that's probably more because of dislike of Canada than anything else.

Most Canadians dislike and look down on America (figuratively speaking).

 

[Kahran Ramsus]

Well since they are north of us, they look down on America literally too.

 

[Mikelus]

And despite many on the left who like to combine the two to make the GOP look like a bunch of racist bigots (and it's easier to accuse someone of racism rather than xenophobia), they're two very different concepts.

Lets be honest, there's a lot of racism hidden in that xenophobia.

Canada would definitely not be easier to make a state than Puerto Rico, not even counting that the Canadians would strongly resist it, probably to the point of war. There is no benefit from a Canadian perspective for them to join the US.

Culturally speaking, it would be easier.

Back on topic, PR has more in common (in terms of culture) with other Latin American nations. In the island, the State plays a huge role in the economy and most Puerto Ricans support that, they're more to the left in terms of economic policy, so yes, Puerto Rico is more liberal than conservative.

Puerto Ricans’ escalating numbers already have helped Florida Democrats reach a crucial milestone: In 2008 – and for the first time in the state – more Hispanics registered as Democrats than as Republicans. In the latest state statistics, Democrats outpaced Republicans in Hispanic voter registration by 8 percentage points. “You used to be able to say Florida Hispanics are Republicans,” [Jamie] Miller [a Sarasota-based Republican consultant] said. “Now that’s not necessarily the case. The Puerto Rican community is much different from the Cuban community from an electoral standpoint. They vote Democrat rather than Republican, for the most part.” http://repeatingislands.com/2011/04/17/influx-of-puerto-ricans-changes-voting-patterns-in-florida/

Only 128,834 voted in the Puerto Rico Republican primary this year compared to the 388,477 that voted in the Democratic primary of 2008.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puerto_Rico_Democratic_primary,_2008

And speaking of Canada and the USA: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annexation_movements_of_Canada

 

[Mikelus]

Many Puerto Rican statehood supporters say Puerto Rico can keep its Olympic team despite evidence showing otherwise. What do you think, would you accept Puerto Rico keeping its Olympic team as a 51st state? I don't think most Americans would be ok with it for obvious reasons.

Advantages of Commonwealth over Statehood

The main advantages of Commonwealth over statehood involve Puerto Rico’s unique culture and sense of identity. Supporters of Commonwealth argue that statehood would erode Puerto Rico’s culture, language, and sense of national identity.

Perhaps the most visible symbol of Puerto Rican national pride is the Puerto Rican Olympic team. During the 1996 Olympics, the Popular Democratic Party (PDP) ran television ads showing an athlete running in reverse and having his medal taken away, dramatizing the fact that Puerto Rico could not maintain its own Olympic team after becoming a state. Although some statehood supporters have argued that a separate Olympic team would still be possible, a careful examination of International Olympic Committee rules and relevant U.S. law has come to the opposite conclusion.

During the 1993 plebiscite campaign, there was another highly visible reminder of national pride: the reigning Miss Universe was a Puerto Rican.

Pride in Puerto Rico’s heritage goes deeper than sports and beauty pageants, however. Of much more fundamental importance, and touching the life of all Puerto Ricans, is the issue of language. Ninety-eight percent of Puerto Rico’s population speaks Spanish; more than half speak no English at all, and another quarter speaks it with difficulty. Even though statehood supporters insist that a Puerto Rican state can keep Spanish as its language, many Puerto Ricans share the worries of Commonwealth advocate Roberto Sanchez, who says that if Puerto Rico becomes a state, "our children will forget to speak Spanish, and we will eventually lose our culture."

http://www.usefoundation.org/foundation/publications/prbriefing.asp

And according to a poll earlier this year, most Americans in the US prefer Commonwealth or independence over statehood:

Future of Puerto Rico Divides Opinions in the United States

A third of respondents want the island to remain a U.S. territory, but one-in-five Americans would like to see it become the 51st state.

American adults are divided on the best course of action for the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, a new Angus Reid Public Opinion poll has found.

In the online survey of a representative national sample of 1,008 American adults, one third of respondents think Puerto Rico should remain a U.S. territory. One-in-five respondents (21%) would like to see the archipelago become the 51st state, and a similar proportion (23%) believes Puerto Rico should become an independent nation.

Puerto Rico has been a commonwealth associated with the United States since 1898, after the Spanish-American War. Since 1917, Puerto Ricans have been U.S. Citizens, but are not allowed to vote in presidential elections. Puerto Rican voters have rejected statehood and independence in two non-binding referendums held in 1993 and 1998.

Hispanic respondents are slightly more likely than non-Hispanics (35% to 31%) to support the status quo in Puerto Rico. The idea of Puerto Rico remaining a U.S. territory is the top choice for respondents of all political stripes. However, a quarter of Republicans and Independents approve of the idea of an independent Puerto Rico, while the same proportion of Democrats would like to see the archipelago become an American state.

Men (35%) are more likely than women (28%) to support the continuation of Puerto Rico as a U.S. territory, while respondents aged 18-to-34 (25%) are more supportive of Puerto Rico becoming independent than older Americans.

http://www.angus-reid.com/polls/44380/future-of-puerto-rico-divides-opinions-in-the-united-states/

 

[smashmode]

Yes, they should be if that is what they want.

 

[Malice]

From what I have heard, many (I dont want to go as far as say most without proof) would rather it stay as is.

I am not entirely sure why.

 

[Mikelus]

From what I have heard, many (I dont want to go as far as say most without proof) would rather it stay as is.

I am not entirely sure why.

Well, Commonwealth gives them more autonomy than a state (Olympics, international events, etc.), but at the same time most of its advantages (citizenship, federal benefits, etc.). The problem with Commonwealth is that its autonomy is limited and the US Congress has plenary power over Puerto Rico under the Territory Clause, meaning it can do whatever they want with the island. The ideal solution would be a Free Association agreement between the two countries, more independence for the island, but most Puerto Ricans fear the country can't survive without federal money, so they prefer being a US territory, for now.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_status_of_Puerto_Rico

 

[Mikelus]

Yesterday, Puerto Rico held general elections and a non-binding referendum to choose between a Sovereign Free Associated State, statehood or independence. Statehood won for the first time ever, but the victory is tainted with the defeat of current pro-statehood governor Luis Fortuño and his party at the general elections, plus over 400, 000 Puerto Ricans casted blank votes, which added to the Free Associated State and independence votes, means most people voted for other options than statehood.

Here are the official results:
http://div1.ceepur.org/REYDI_NocheDelEvento/index.html#en/default/OPCIONES_NO_TERRITORIALES_ISLA.xml

It should be interesting how president Obama decides to deal with this issue, along with the new pro-Commonwealth governor, Alejandro García Padilla.

 

[wiegeabo]

Firstly, casted isn't a word.

but more importantly, how can blank votes be counted to any of the options?