Will Puerto Rico become the 51st State?

[James48843]

As you may have heard- another result of Tuesday's voting was a referendum on the future of Puerto Rico.
(Population about 3.7 million)

Voters there were asked a two part question-

First, if they wanted to stay as a United States "Commonwealth", or change ot something else, and then, secondly, if they changed to something else, what would it be.

(See story at: http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Amer...-Rico-really-want-to-become-the-51st-US-state or this one- very good: http://www.cnn.com/2012/11/07/politics/election-puerto-rico/index.html )

For the first time, a majority of voters said they wanted to change to something else. (54%).

-and-
for the first time, a majority of those who wanted to change, declared a desire to pursue U.S. Statehood (61%) for Puerto Rico.


So....what do you think?

PR would formally have to ask, and the U.S. Congress would have to formally approve it.

Should Puerto Rico become our 51st state?


(one possible flag design for 51 states: )

 

[OBGibby]

No. Puerto Ricans have not shown a long, clear and convincing argument that they actually want statehood.

 

[wavecoder]

come on man

 

[nnuut]

I like Puerto Ricans, good hard working folks, why not they can vote now!

 

[OBGibby]

I like Puerto Ricans, good hard working folks, why not they can vote now!

They cannot vote in presidential elections and have no voting representation in Congress.

 

[nnuut]

They cannot vote in presidential elections have no voting representation in Congress.

That's right, brain fart! But they are citizens.

 

[nnuut]

Federal voting rights in Puerto Rico

Puerto Ricans are citizens of the United States by virtue of the Jones–Shafroth Act, Pub.L. 64-368, 39 Stat. 951, enacted March 2, 1917, also known as the Jones Act of Puerto Rico or Jones Law of Puerto Rico, was an Act of the United States Congress and President Woodrow Wilson that replaced the Foraker Act of 1900 and established civilian government on the island of Puerto Rico. It was authored by Howard Lewis Kern Attorney General and Acting Governor of Puerto Rico (1917-1924) The people of Puerto Rico were empowered to have a popularly-elected Senate, established a bill of rights, Puerto Ricans were collectively made U.S. citizens, and authorized the election of a Resident Commissioner to a four year term. This law gave the people native to the U.S. Territory of Puerto Rico the rights as citizens under the protectorate of the U. S. Congress and Government. They were taxed and had the benefits and freedoms thereof.
The lack of voting representation in Congress for residents of the territory has been an issue since the U.S. Congress granted U.S. citizenship to Puerto Rico citizens in 1917. All judicial claims have been met with political or constitutional challenges; therefore, there has been no change in Puerto Rico's representation in the Congress or representation on the electoral college for the U.S. citizens residing in Puerto Rico.
Federal voting rights in Puerto Rico - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia