Telume
1st August 2009, 11:52 AM
What do you guys think?
My opinion:
I'm not really for it or against it. There are benefits either way, although I think the benefits of becoming a state kind of outweigh the benefits of going independent. There's also just staying the way the are which is a commonwealth.
The reality:
On the one hand, if you go independent, you enjoy sovereignty and you have nothing to do with the US. Not only that but now you get to have your own president instead of just a governor.
The downside to this is that NOW, you have to kind of fend for yourself, you lose american citizenship and any assistance you were given under the US umbrella. Not only that but you have to raise funds for yourself which kinda means you have to start taxing stuff. Not only that but Puerto Ricans would find it hard to give up US citizenship which they would have to do if they went independent.
As it is Puerto Rico is in bad shape right now.
On the other hand, gaining statehood means you don't have to worry about funding because the USA will provide it for you since you're no longer just a territory. You gain the right to vote in presidential elections AND you pretty much gain protection from outside threats because you're a US State. And last, your american citizenship is pretty much irrevocable.
Downside to this is that you lose your non-taxable status. And some opposers to this law state that Puerto Rico would lose its cultural identity if they became a state. And yes you would lose independence, but, would that really be such a bad thing considering how bad a shape Puerto Rico is in right now?
Last is remaining the way it is, which is as a commonwealth. There's nothing bad to this as a matter of fact most of the time when the issue of statehood came up most people just opted to stay a commonwealth of the US. Mostly because you could move between Puerto Rico and the mainland freely and there was no hassle because you were a US citizen.
The downside to remaining a commonwealth is that you lose certain rights US citizens have, you can't vote in the presidential election, and I'm pretty sure there are a few others they don't have but I don't remember what they are.
So there it is, TPM I pass the baton to you.
My opinion:
I'm not really for it or against it. There are benefits either way, although I think the benefits of becoming a state kind of outweigh the benefits of going independent. There's also just staying the way the are which is a commonwealth.
The reality:
On the one hand, if you go independent, you enjoy sovereignty and you have nothing to do with the US. Not only that but now you get to have your own president instead of just a governor.
The downside to this is that NOW, you have to kind of fend for yourself, you lose american citizenship and any assistance you were given under the US umbrella. Not only that but you have to raise funds for yourself which kinda means you have to start taxing stuff. Not only that but Puerto Ricans would find it hard to give up US citizenship which they would have to do if they went independent.
As it is Puerto Rico is in bad shape right now.
On the other hand, gaining statehood means you don't have to worry about funding because the USA will provide it for you since you're no longer just a territory. You gain the right to vote in presidential elections AND you pretty much gain protection from outside threats because you're a US State. And last, your american citizenship is pretty much irrevocable.
Downside to this is that you lose your non-taxable status. And some opposers to this law state that Puerto Rico would lose its cultural identity if they became a state. And yes you would lose independence, but, would that really be such a bad thing considering how bad a shape Puerto Rico is in right now?
Last is remaining the way it is, which is as a commonwealth. There's nothing bad to this as a matter of fact most of the time when the issue of statehood came up most people just opted to stay a commonwealth of the US. Mostly because you could move between Puerto Rico and the mainland freely and there was no hassle because you were a US citizen.
The downside to remaining a commonwealth is that you lose certain rights US citizens have, you can't vote in the presidential election, and I'm pretty sure there are a few others they don't have but I don't remember what they are.
So there it is, TPM I pass the baton to you.