No, puerto rico is not a state, but rather a commonwealth of the united states. The puerto rican government will emphasize that 97 percent of voters in the plebiscite said they want puerto rico to be the 51st state. A plebiscite in the uss oldest and largest colony, puerto rico, has returned an overwhelming vote in favour of becoming the 51st state of. Puerto ricans vote in favour of being 51st us state, but. The economist explains could puerto rico become americas 51st.
The authorities have failed to deal with this criminal threat and the best they can do is to arrest and imprison them which is very pathetic, shamefull and. Puerto rico was a spanish colony until 1898, when the u. There has been much coverage of this in the news of late. Puerto rico is a an organized territory of the united states, and operates as the commonwealth of. A definitive procon list for admitting puerto rico in as. Will puerto rico be the 51st state of the united states. There are several states which have commonwealth in their official names just as puerto rico does. Americans continue to support puerto rico statehood. Last week, the house approved a bill that would give puerto ricans a chance to vote on whether the island should become a state, seek. Since then, there have been few attempts to add a 51st state, although puerto rico has considered a referendum to become a state. However, these results werent taken very seriously since only 23% of eligible citizens voted.
On sunday, for the fourth time in history, puerto rico voted on whether or not it wanted to join the union as the 51st state in the united states. For one, the number 51 states has a nice ring to it, secondly, its time we had a new star added to the flag. The us governs its economy, currency, international trade relations, importexport quotas, shipping, consumer prices, judicial code, military, postal system, fcc licensing, and the us congress has plenary jurisdiction veto power over any law or regulation passed by the insular legislature. He begins the book with a brief, interesting, and informative geographical and historical overview. However, since 1898, five other territories were annexed in the time puerto rico has been a colonial possession. While more than half voted to change puerto ricos commonwealth status, the vote did not offer a clear sense of whether statehood or independence is the preferred next step, writes a guest blogger. Puerto ricans are americans, but they dont get all the. The population of puerto rico in 2015 was over three million people and larger than that of 21 states. But the commonwealth is still an unincorporated territory. Whether it will ultimately become a state or a nation has not been determined. Puerto rico should become the fiftyfirst state because it is already receiving financial assistance from the u. The political status of puerto rico is that of an unincorporated territory of the united states.
It was the fourth referendum on status to be held in puerto rico and the first in which a majority voted for statehood. Puerto rico is not a state in the union that is the united states of america. Residents of puerto rico will receive the same amounts as residents of states, even if they did not file a federal income tax return in 2018 or 2019. The statehood movement in puerto rico aims to make puerto rico a state of the united states. Does puerto rico really want to become the 51st us state. Puerto rico, the 51st state puerto rico has been under the u. The people of puerto rico have been citizens of the united.
Because of that ambiguity, the territory, as a polity, lacks certain rights but enjoys certain benefits that other polities have or lack. An example of this concept can be found in 2003 when martine rothblatt published a book called two stars for peace that argued for the. Acevedovila advocates a new economic relationship with. Now beyond those two silly reasons, there are a number of even more substantiated diplomatic reasons. I think it should become a state because california has a population of about 25 millon when puerto rico has about 2 million and puerto ricos a country and californias a state. Jose enrique serrano of new york called the vote an earthquake in puerto rican politics and a historymaking moment. Most certainly puerto rico should be welcomed into the folds of the united states as our 51st state. Book now you could go to hawaii for five times cheaper this winter if you book now. New bill could make puerto rico the 51st state by 2021. The island will host a referendum on june 11 to decide whether to join the u. The 51st state as puerto rico draws closer to statehood, tim schultz wonders how many special rules will be made for the united state s 51st.
Puerto rico has been a territory of the united states since it was acquired from spain. She thinks becoming the 51st state would only lock in puerto ricos dependence on its. Why puerto rico will never become the 51st state franky. This extraordinary set of conditions, known as the meech lake accords. What are your thoughts on making puerto rico the us 51st. Regardless, congress is in no hurry to make puerto rico the 51st state. It may be time to reconsider puerto ricos status, and, if puerto ricans prefer so. As such, the island is neither a sovereign nation nor a u. Puerto rican voters endorsed statehood in a nonbinding referendum, but they dont get to decide the u. It took alaska years to become a state, with the approval of congress, after it passed its referendum in the wake of world war ii. While there are both pros and cons when considering whether puerto rico should be admitted as the 51st state of the united states, it is ultimately up to congress to decide the fate of the island. Republicans are mixed on the question of statehood for puerto rico, with 45% favoring statehood and 48%.
Nancy pelosi will soon bring to the floor a bill that would allow puerto rico to become the 51st u. Puerto rico is not a nationstate, not an independent country, but still it has its own history, language, territory, culture and autonomy, said jorge duany, a dean and anthropologist at the. It would also be entitled to about 10 congressional seats, which means some states would have to lose about 10. Puerto rico the state would also gain two seats in the u. Five referenda have been held on the topic, most recently in 2017. If puerto rico became a state, the flag would have to be amended to account for the 51st state. Puerto rico, if it was a state as is right now, would be much poorer than mississippi, which happens to be the poorest state.
First of all, puerto rico doesnt want to become the 51st state of the usa. Over the weekend, democratic presidential hopeful beto orourke called for admitting puerto rico as the 51st u. Sometimes when this happened, id be called upon to explain things. Senate and five in the house of representatives a major upgrade from the one nonvoting delegate that currently represents the. Time for puerto rico to be 51st state aarp online community. The oxford covid19 government response tracker oxcgrt has examined puerto rico on the basis of this criteria. I would agree that there is now reason that puerto rico should not be named as the 51st state. The election was boycotted by many groups because they believe that the wording of the ballot was confusing and misleading.
It is sometimes a joke term in american politics, and sometimes a realistic one. Is it possible that puerto rico will become the 51st u. When used to refer to other countries, it is a joke, usually about canada. The united states must not allow puerto rico to become the 51st state because more of these people would flood into the united states from puerto rico to cause more caos and mayhem. Ultimately, one thing is certain amid all of puerto ricos economic chaos. A 2012 status referendum found that 61% supported statehood and in december 11 of that year, the legislature in puerto rico requested that action be taken on the results, end their current form of territorial status and start the process for admitting the country to the union as. Puerto rico has been an unincorporated territory of the united states since the spanishamerican war in 1898 puerto rican voters were asked two questions. These are american citizens, who deserve a vote, just like the millions of other american citizens living in this country.
Puerto rico is not considered a nation state because it does not meet the criteria. Puerto rico also has a way less population then new york texas and a lot of other thats my opoinion. Should pueto rico become 51st state essay 326 words. A groundbreaking book on puerto rico by territorial law expert howard hills, with an introduction by the former u.
Majorities across key subgroups favor making puerto rico a u. Puerto rico has been discussed as a potential 51st state of the united states. It is usually said about the possibility of puerto rico or other u. After overwhelming results from a nonbinding referendum vote in 2017, many puerto ricans are in favor of becoming a state. Puerto rico is a major tourist attraction which could help the u.
He urged trump to allow puerto rico to become the 51st us state. While they report no information on whether workplaces and public gathering places are ready, they judge that puerto rico is in a strong position for community understanding and engagement. There have been discussions about making puerto rico the 51st state of the united states of america. This status provides local autonomy to the island and allows puerto rico to publicly display its flag.
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