Fair enough, I guess–but why the hell don’t they want statehood? I just don’t see the downside to getting it.
It may have been flippant, but I don’t think it’s specious. My underlying point, again, is that if you’re going to have a democracy, it’s not right to have some citizens have less of a chance to participate than other citizens (excepting categories such as children and the clinically insane). If Puerto Ricans really don’t want the right to vote in presidential elections, that’s just weird to me, but it doesn’t contradict what I’m saying about how I believe democracy should work. (Incidentally, it’s similar reasoning that makes me hate the electoral college and its unequal distribution of the vote).
Tis Rome all over again. When the sow becomes fat and the greedy suckle upon the teets of the almighty dollar, then all becomes fragmented and lost. The Republic will fail because of the corruption and the fact that the people are so consumed with self-interest they become apathetic. We are selfish, shallow people and we deserve selfish shallow leaders.
Puerto Rico won’t be admitted as a state until there is an offsetting state to admit. That’s why Hawaii and Alaska were admitted at the same time. One predominately Democrat and one predominately Republican.
Why does no one read the meat of my posts? Article 1, Section 8, reads in part "The Congress shall have power…To exercise exclusive legislation in all cases whatsoever, over such District (not exceeding ten miles square) as may, by cession of particular states, and the acceptance of Congress, become the seat of the government of the United States,… "
Congress can do whatever it wants with D.C.
The independance movement draws some support away from statehood.
My understanding is that for some, especially the young, favoring statehood is seen as walking away form their distinctive PR heritage. Maintaining commonwealth status is the midpoint between (on one hand) selling out to the US and (on the other) becoming suddenly saddled with the burdens of independance.
Indeed. This would seem to contradict Article II, Sec. 2, Clause 2: No Person shall be a Representative who shall not…when elected, be an Inhabitant of that State in which he shall be chosen.
Surely they would have to make DC a state before giving them a representative, wouldn’t they?