Hey y'all
Trumps bluster about making canada the 51st state or annexing greenland is a mentaly declining fraudster businessman's fantasy, in my humble opinion. But his expansionist fever dreams for an american empire have got me somewhat back into doing some selfteaching and researching into the current american structure of politics and the rights of it's different citizens.
And i've been reading up about the american territories. Guam, samoa the virgin islands, the mariana islands and puerto rico. I believe?
The fact that, if i am correct over 3 million american citizens can't vot in the american elections is already wild to me.
The fact that they don't have a voting member in the senate too. I already think that whole system is rather unfair, but to exclude them completely is just the cherry on top.
But can someone explain to me what possible arguments there are to not allowing puerto rico with its significant population to become a state? Are there any valid arguments to be had? I truly wonder. It is larger than quite a lot of states. It just seems like such a sham in 'the land of the free', to me.
Maybe i am missing some cultural distinction. But for the life of me, i see no reason anyone could put forth in good faith as to oppose giving a vote to fellow citizens.
The Puerto Ricans must vote themselves into statehood, which the won't do.
Agreed. Turn out for "statehood" votes in PR are usually low enough prima facie to render the election moot. (I was stationed at Roosevelt Roads Naval Station (east end of PR) for two years.) I was informed that "statehood petition" votes were often boo'd down before they were ever put to the test. The Puerto Ricans don't mind being part of the US, but full statehood bring costs that they just don't like to think about, mostly paying full share for the benefits. I'd do the same if I could get away with it.
No taxation without representation! Except for you guys.
Honestly, I wouldn't mind not being a part of the US right now. Can we get the ball rolling on Texas' succession? lol
"Texas has seceded! What do we do?"
"Tell Florida they can't."
"Will that work?"
"Worth a shot."
Aight, i guess that makes some sense. Sources i'm reading are not going into how puerto ricans feel about this themselves, which of course, does matter greatly.
They think it's golden, lots of bennies and not so much government. Works for them, bless.