Fifty-First State Leans Toward Puerto-Rico: US Gives Money For Second Vote

[FreakensteinAG]

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In the first vote given, 62% of Puerto-Rican citizens voted that, since they did not feel satisfied with their current relationship with the United States, they wished to be the newest State member of the sovereign. The problem is (something I never thought about), quite a few Puerto-Rican citizens intentionally left the second question blank! It seems for the full majority to actually count, you have to officially answer parts one and two of the question: (paraphrased)"Are you dissatisfied with the current relationship of the United States; if so, do you wish to become a State of the sovereign?" Since the total votes that included both parts of the question did not complete the majority, the invitation to become the newest State member was declined. However, the United States government submitted a budget proposal to give Puerto-Rico $2.5 million so they can fund another status vote.

While the official vote percentage wasn't the majority, it was clear the majority of Puero-Rican citizens were unsatisfied with their current commonwealth status.

So uhh... how do you folk think things will turn out if Puerto-Rico does indeed become the 51st state? It's hard letting that flag go, seeing as how that's the only flag I've seen flown. And the fifty stars look so...symmetrical.

 

[Holy Cross]

When I was in school, there were only 50 states...

When i'm 20, this statement is going to make me feel like an old man.

 

[SenseiMartian]

I mean, they already receive a crap ton of US benefits, without having to pay near as much in taxes.
Either cut them loose, or make them a state.
EDIT: As a commonwealth, I am not entirely sure that they don't have to pay taxes at all, but not sure to the extent of their benefits either. What I mentioned previously was just what I had heard through the grapevine.

 

[muutobirama3rdraikagemizu]

wait what!!!

 

[FreakensteinAG]

I mean, they already receive a crap ton of US benefits, without having to pay near as much in taxes.
Either cut them loose, or make them a state.

Yeah, with their becoming a 51st state, they also receive the public government benefits that all states have, but they also have to pay 33% income tax

 

[NeverEnding]

I mean, they already receive a crap ton of US benefits, without having to pay near as much in taxes.
Either cut them loose, or make them a state.
EDIT: As a commonwealth, I am not entirely sure that they don't have to pay taxes at all, but not sure to the extent of their benefits either. What I mentioned previously was just what I had heard through the grapevine.

Do you got a problem wit puertorico?

 

[SenseiMartian]

Do you got a problem wit puertorico?

Nunca. No hay problemas aqui.
Seriously though, I do have a problem with how the commonwealth system works, where a country (like Puerto Rico) puts in little to no tax dollars relative to the amount they receive from the US. That's all really.

 

[NeverEnding]

Nunca. No hay problemas aqui.
Seriously though, I do have a problem with how the commonwealth system works, where a country (like Puerto Rico) puts in little to no tax dollars relative to the amount they receive from the US. That's all really.

Honestly I live there and we barely make change 45% of puertorico is consider poor and below!!! Crime rate is amazingly high...so pretty much this benifits no one!

 

[bsims08]

Actually I haven't seen this information anywhere else. I know for a fact most Puerto Ricans love their status due to not having to pay taxes, they have their own laws, and are still represented in Congress

 

[NeverEnding]

Actually I haven't seen this information anywhere else. I know for a fact most Puerto Ricans love their status due to not having to pay taxes, they have their own laws, and are still represented in Congress

Yep this is not gonna pass and republicans are gonna be completely butt hurt if this happens! (NOT PUERTO-RICAN REPUBLICANS) Some puertoricans like it but there are a lot who don't! This is a horrible economic country!

 

[SenseiMartian]

Honestly I live there and we barely make change 45% of puertorico is consider poor and below!!! Crime rate is amazingly high...so pretty much this benifits no one!

Well, right now, the infrastructure of Puerto Rico receives lots of US dollars at little or no cost (the US does this with many countries), so by cutting ties with Puerto Rico, it would leave them worse off.
That being said, making Puerto Rico a state would require each citizen to pay taxes, which would probably just bring more poverty to Puerto Rico. So really, the USA can't just cut ties with them because then it would mean another country might try to take it over if we just let Puerto Rico fend for itself.