Will Puerto Rico ever become a state and if so, will it adopt English as it's chief language?

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Tito

I'm very passionate about Puerto Rico's political status. First of all, you should understand that there are 3 major political parties in Puerto Rico. The New Progressive Party(NPP) which is pro-statehood, the Popular Democratic Party(PDP) which is pro-commonwealth, and the Puerto Rico Independence Party (PIP). The Island is generally divided into a sector of people that want to move towards Statehood, and another sector that wants to remain a Commonwealth. There is a sector of individuals that want to reach Independence for Puerto Rico, but it's a minority.

I am a supporter of statehood for Puerto Rico and affiliate myself with the New Progressive Party. Why? Puerto Rico is a miserable Colony of the United States with several restrictions. Puerto Ricans do serve in the US Military, fight in American wars to defend the concept of democracy, and die in the attempt, however... they do not have the right to vote in the national elections, and do not have appropriate representation in Congress. This means that although the laws that are established in Congress are applicable to Puerto Rico, we have no vote. We do have a Resident Commissioner who participates in the debates, but we don't have a vote. This is precisely why we aren't taxed federally. No taxation without representation.

It's a very unfair status for both parties. Aside from the reasons that I outlined above, Puerto Rico's "territorial" status was never established in a permanent manner. It was established as a transitional phase in which we could decide on integration via statehood or separation via independence. Since we've been a "territory" of the United States since they invaded the Island in 1898, I firmly believe that Puerto Rico is a Colony of the United States, and that isn't fair at all. Aside from that, it isn't fair to the United States. Puerto Rico gets so many funds, yet they don't have to pay any taxes to the United States. Sure, some people do pay medic-aid and we do serve in American wars, but on a balance scale, there's no comparison between the contributions that the US makes to Puerto Rico and the contributions that Puerto Rico makes to the US. It should be a two-way street, and I believe that this will only be achieved via Statehood for Puerto Rico.

Now, as far as racism goes, I have only one thing to say to the individuals who brought this up as a potential factor.... verify the results of the Presidential elections of 2008. I'm sure that you understand that the US will have it's first BLACK President ever. Folks, if racism was such a big problem in the United States, he wouldn't have won the elections. Does this mean that racism doesn't exist? Of course not. It does exist, there's no denying that fact, but you can't attribute racism to the entire nation. Racism is a concept that unfortunately exists everywhere, not only in the United States. Racism and discrimination even exists in Puerto Rico! It's an ideology and it'll never be eliminated in it's entirety.

Yes, Puerto Rico has always voted statehood down, which is why I say that it's not entirely the United State's fault that Puerto Rico hasn't become a state. People are afraid of Puerto Rico losing it's culture as a result of reaching Statehood, but that'll never happen. I present as examples Hawaii and Alaska. Have they lost their culture? Of course not. Will they? Of course not. Each State has it's own culture and it's own customs. New York is nothing like Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania is nothing like Michigan. Michigan is nothing like Florida. Florida is nothing like Texas. Texas is nothing like Hawaii. Hawaii is nothing like Alaska, and the list can go on. All States are different. Sure, there are some similarities, but as you move from state to state, you will have to make some adjustments because you'll be living a different lifestyle wherever you go which requires adaptation.

As far as the language goes, I don't understand why that'd be a problem. How many Hispanics are in the United States these days? How many government agencies help them by providing assistance in Spanish? Why should this be any different in Puerto Rico, because one of our two official languages is Spanish? That's absurd. Puerto Rico doesn't need to eliminate Spanish as an official language. New Mexico's State Constitution was originally written in Spanish and then translated into English. Why the sudden hostility towards Spanish? It shouldn't be any different with Puerto Rico.

Statehood supporters have increased majorly since the last plebiscite a decade ago, so I have a feeling that it could be the favorable decision here in Puerto Rico. The problem is that people don't think that the US Congress will admit us into the Union, so they aren't motivated to go out to vote because they don't feel that their votes matter anyway. Nonetheless, my opinion is that if Statehood is the favorable option in Puerto Rico, Congress would allow us to join. If they were to deny us Statehood, depending on the reasons provided, I would certainly be a supporter of reaching Independence. I want to see the end of the colony. I prefer Statehood, but Independence is better than a continuation of this absurd colonial status.

It's That Guy

They have elections from time to time in PR and the people choose to remain a territory. And I can see that, since they get the benefits of belonging to the US but they don't pay federal income tax.

English is one of PR's 'official' languages. It won't be it's -chief- language until a majority of people speak it as their main language, and I don't think that's even a good idea. You can't -impose- a language on people.

see_ya

In a few years PR might become an official state, but not too soon now, for PR has been a common wealth status for 50 somethin years and people will fight in order to stay the way it is. Remeber that the democrats and independent will reunite if they see that PR might have the change of becoming a states, so this will make up a high precentage of votes and knock out the repulicans. Even tought independent party will die regreting they will reunite with demoracts to save PR status, they will do anything to save PR from becoming a state. These are called "los melones" green pride in the outside and red in the inside to keep PR from becoming an official state. And no, PR will never change their primary language. I can never imagine people changing English as the first language, not even in Bush's dreams.

SoÃ±adora

The first answerer is wrong. We do NOT vote for the American president.

I doubt that Puerto Rico will ever become a state. First of all, why would the US want that? I mean, they will have to do all the flags again to add an extra star, and flags cost money!! Hmm, being serious now, making Puerto Rico a state is not convenient to the US, and now is even less convenient with the "depression" and all. Plus, Joel R is right, the Congress wouldn't like Puerto Rico having that many chairs.

Second, Puerto Rican don't want to be a state. Well, about half of us do. But about half of us doesn't. For Puerto Rico to become a state, the people will have to vote and the majority will have to say they want to be a state. People will unite to prevent that from happening. Many will vote against that, because if Puerto Rico becomes a state, it will lose its culture and become just another part of the US. We like who we are. We don't want to disappear. We want our culture to prevail. The people who want to be a state, it's only because of the money. They think the US is perfect...

In the hypothetical situation that Puerto Rico did became a state, I think English will be its chief language, yes. That is another reason why some people don't want to be a state. Not everyone likes talking English. Some love Spanish too much.

lasm97

Unfortunately this decision is no longer in Puerto Rican hands....not even if a plebiscite will reflect a majority vote pro statehood. This decision relies on the US Congress's hands. Will they want to incorporate PR as an official state? Unfortunately they do not want to explore this idea in the near future.

As for the language, I couldn't tell you. Only 17% of the population in the island is truly bilingual, so that will be a very hard task to accomplish.

zully2125

First... due to the fact that USA is racist that will never happen... to a "state" to become state.. The majority of the 50 state has to vote YES to it.. and lets be real... there will never be a Hispanic state..

Second.. our economy (ALONE) without the aid from USA has to be equal to the poorest state. That will never happen.

Third... the 5-year-old girl from Jayuya (look for it on the PR map) has to say to the other 5-year-old girl : "pasame la crayola.. (pass me the crayon) in English. Something that will not happen because their mom and dad and granny and cousins dont speak english.

And Forth.. The 51% of the puertorricans has to vote YES in the plebecite to IT to happen..

To Resume.. PR most likely will not be a state.

Do not.. underestimate me I LOVE my Island, my people and my culture.. but I have to be realist. and yes Im a Puertorrican and I live in Trujillo Alto....

~Peace

Joel R

Well if they voted in favor of statehood i think that the congress would allow them as a state in maybe 9-20 years from now but there is too much racism in the us and the people would organize huge protests against PR for many reasons,the flag,the economy that is sinking and the bigger problem:there is only a limited amount of chairs in congress and PR has a population of 4 million people so it would need like 6 chairs and other states had to lose a chair AND THAT IS VERY,VERY UNLIKELY TO HAPPEN.

Malcolm Equis

Every time it comes up for a vote, they vote it down and hard. The votes for application for statehood fail and miserably so.

It may one day become a state, but they don't seem particularly interested in doing it anytime soon.

prgirla_69

I think PR will become a state, why because people know we will not be able to make it on our own without US help and US does not want to give up PR unless PR says they want to be giving independence. You guys really need to research your facts.

This is how a commonwealth becomes a state.

Various routes have been taken in the long history of the United States for colonies and territories to become a state. Normally, the area must muster local political support and petition the U.S. Congress for admittance to the Union. The approval process is relatively straightforward. A bill, called an "enabling act," must gain a majority vote in both houses of the U.S. Congress, the House of Representatives and the Senate. When approved, it is signed by the President. Normally there will be provisions in the bill spelling out any transitional measures that must be taken to become a state by either the petitioning entity or the U.S. government. Admission of a state does not change the Constitution. It requires no super majority; nor does it require ratification by the individual states.

PR needs to petition the Congress to let them become a state. It is not a state by state vote. Plus they are not going to make everyone speak English that is not a requirement to become a state. What is a requirement that they teach it in schools and English is already being used here in sooo many ways. Also if people had a choice between independence and statehood only, they would choose statehood not independence because PR would become Cuba, DR or Haiti, it would be a true third world country. We would lose sooo many benefits, like financial aid for college students, food aid, unemployment, public insurance and sooo much more. A lot of people would be without jobs because companies would close it would not be good.

I really don't think PR will be a commonwealth much longer, commonwealth status was not meant to be a permanent situation. It might take 5 yrs or longer, but PR will be a state eventually. So people need to be prepared.

Also how was it when Hawaii and Alaska became a state those are states with strong cultures and minorities have they lost their culture, did racist stop that?

Darth Eugene Vader

1. Corrections:
* We do not vote at presidential elections (November).
* We do vote in parties primaries (for example: Obama vs Hillary).
* We are an US organized territory with a commonwealth form of government. We are also an US nonincorpored territory, which the US Supreme Court has said is not a "part" of USA but a "property". If you compare yourself to USA your hand is part of you, your watch is not. A state is part of USA, but we are not, just like a precious watch or computer, not a hand or finger.

Will Puerto Rico ever become a state?
I think yes. Support for statehood has always increased since the 1st plebiscite in 1967. Currently the numbers are around 42% to 45% matching the votes for maintaining the status quo (commonwealth). Votes for Independence have decreased to less than 5%. Whatever % left is undecided and shifting from one side to the other from time to time.

will it adopt English as it's chief language?
I see that difficult. I see english remaining as one of the two official languages.

Ashley

Actually milk man is wrong. They cannot vote for president in Puerto Rico. They vote in the primaries, but in the general election-since they are not a state they cannot vote.

I really can't see Puerto Rico becoming a state anytime soon. There is too much opposition and too many of the older people don't speak any english. So I think they would be against changing their offical language to ONLY english.

Barracuda

I hope not, I hate people from Puerto Rico. 90% of them are pricks. Lots of them are gorgeous, but too many are trash. Let me correct myself, the guys are pretty cool, but the women are the biggest bitches around.

If I became president, I'd drop that country in a heartbeat.

milk man

it's been a part of america for years..it even votes for our president..its like a commonwealth..and they speak real good english..its taught in their schools..they fly both the puerto rican and american flags

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