Why doesn't Puerto Rico not just become a state?

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Javy

The taxes are no problem for us, actually we are paying taxes already, the problem is that all referendums celebrated here were local, the USA Senate never had submitted any project to celebrate a referendum supported by the Senate of the USA. Something else is that many of us are afraid of losing our identity as Puerto Ricans, as happened in Texas, New Mexico, California, etc. Even when we are American citizens we think and behave in a different way we are Latins, we love to see our flag undulating in the Olympic Games ,in the Centro Basket, in the Miss Universe ,etc. If we become a state we can't represent our island in the same way we are doing right now. We can't enjoy Carlos Arroyo as we did a few years ago. The language is another matter, even when English is our second official language due our relation with the USA, not everyone here is bilingual, here are people who can't speak English and they won't start from one day to the other. Is also a lack of proud, we love to be Puerto Ricans, we love Spanish and we love our culture. As you can see my friend here are many things involved.

woqui

If there's a referendum tonight, Puerto Rico will vote for statehood, the question is, Do you think the US congress will accept Puerto Rico as a State?

Sophia

A lot of people don't want to pay taxes, and afraid they're going to lose a lot of the culture.

(Having lived there, I personally think it'd be a lot better becoming a state)

drummerkid06

While many PuertorriqueÃ±os would prefer statehood to partial sovereignty, the territory enjoys freedom from most taxes while still retaining most of the rights of American citizens. Why would anyone want to give up those freedoms that they don't have to pay for?

matrushka2525

I don't know why people are saying we don't pay taxes, not true, we do pay taxes, and still we get 2nd class treatment, we can't vote for president which really sucks, because we depend on the US government for everything. Its like we are nobodies. We can't call ourselves a country because we are not, nor a state. But this is stupid anyways, there's no way that the US will grant us with statehood, I bet most Americans don't even know where is PR at, so statehood its a remote possibility.

hot923

This is not new. When it was a colony of Spain it was just the same. Some wanted independence, like in September 23, 1868 when El Grito de Lares occurred. Many wanted to stay the same. And others wanted a permanent relation with Spain. That never occurred. Puerto Rico was invaded by the US in july 25, 1898. And things, politically, are the same since then. Some wants independence, others want to stay the same. And others wants a more permanent relation with the US. In the 60's those who wanted independence and statehood were minorities. And in recent years statehood has gained terrain. And if the trend continues in less than 20 years PR might become a state.

Darth Eugene Vader

In Puerto Rico:
* Supporters of statehood are : 42 to 45 % of the voters
* Supportters of the current status are: 42 to 45% of the voters
* Supporters of independance are : 5 to 2 %

whatever % is left is undecided and change their support from one side to the other, from time to time.

In USA:
* In the Senate we would have 2 senators as every other place, not big deal.
* But in the House, due to our population density (near 4 millions in a tiny 100 x 35 miles area) we would have right to 7 Representatives. More than almost the half of current states.
*** Will the US constitution be changed to add 7 more representatives to the Congress?
*** Or states like California, Texas, New york would accept to lose a seat or two to provide the space for the 7 Representatives of the new state of PR?

lady dee

because we puerto ricans dont want to be 100% US, we want our own culture and positions in olympics and pageants.

Maria

How would it benefit Puerto Rico to become a state?

LA PULGA EL #9

Puerto Ricans dont want to become white and puerto ricans dont wanna lose their culture and heritage.