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Any Downside to Puerto Rico becoming independent (preemptive move to avoid statehood)
Posted on 11/8/25 at 5:35 pm
Posted on 11/8/25 at 5:35 pm
Part of the discussion on abolishing the Senate filibuster rule included what the Democrats would do when they are in the majority. One of the items would be statehood for Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C. resulting in 4 additional Democrat Senators.
Why not give independence to Puerto Rico now which would eliminate the option for future statehood.
What does the rest of the US get from Puerto Rico? Why keep it as a US territory? I'm sure many Puerto Ricans enjoy their US citizenship, I had plenty of Puerto Rican classmates when I was at LSU. Let the current generation keep the US citizenship and future generations would have their own citizenship on their island-nation with their own national flag.
Why not give independence to Puerto Rico now which would eliminate the option for future statehood.
What does the rest of the US get from Puerto Rico? Why keep it as a US territory? I'm sure many Puerto Ricans enjoy their US citizenship, I had plenty of Puerto Rican classmates when I was at LSU. Let the current generation keep the US citizenship and future generations would have their own citizenship on their island-nation with their own national flag.
21
Posted on 11/8/25 at 5:38 pm to FlyingPelican
quote:
Why not give independence to Puerto Rico now
Every time the PRs vote on it, they say no to independence. They don't want true independence.
Posted on 11/8/25 at 5:39 pm to FlyingPelican
PR is a money drain for the US. If I understand it correctly, they pay no US taxes, but are eligible for all kinds of government monies. LET THEM GO.
Posted on 11/8/25 at 5:40 pm to SallysHuman
They have also said "no" to statehood, but the vote has been close.
Posted on 11/8/25 at 5:42 pm to Demonbengal
I've been to PR a few times for work when the Pharma companies were booming there. There are some nice places and some nice people, but for the most part it is a shithole populated by shitty people.
Posted on 11/8/25 at 5:54 pm to FlyingPelican
This could be an option for PR. As for DC perhaps all non-federal land should be added to surrounding states there are no DC residents other than the President and VP.
Posted on 11/8/25 at 6:06 pm to FlyingPelican
puerto rico doesnt want the head aches, they get the milk for free, why buy into the cow??????
Posted on 11/8/25 at 6:47 pm to FlyingPelican
Democrats would never allow independence. PR has to become a state with 2 Dem Senators and Dem Rep(s)
Posted on 11/8/25 at 6:50 pm to Reagan80
quote:
Democrats would never allow independence. PR has to become a state with 2 Dem Senators and Dem Rep(s)
No room on the flag for any more stars.
Posted on 11/8/25 at 6:59 pm to FlyingPelican
They couldn't support themselves as a country. At this point we probably just keep it so China or Russia doesn't move in
Posted on 11/8/25 at 7:45 pm to Demonbengal
quote:Sell the island. A reverse Louisiana Purchase. PR is a complete, corrupt drain on the taxpayer. They offer nothing of substance to this country. Hell, donate that place to Cuba. Let all those socialist there live under some communism.
PR is a money drain for the US. If I understand it correctly, they pay no US taxes, but are eligible for all kinds of government monies. LET THEM GO.
Posted on 11/8/25 at 7:56 pm to FlyingPelican
PR doesn’t want independence nor statehood. They are American citizens and get a huge influx of free dollars.
Posted on 11/8/25 at 8:03 pm to SallysHuman
Posted on 11/8/25 at 8:11 pm to FlyingPelican
quote:
What does the rest of the US get from Puerto Rico?
Strategic location for guarding the Yucatan and Florida Straits from outside maritime powers. The Mississippi River system is the primary source of our wealth and power.
Posted on 11/8/25 at 8:15 pm to uziyourillusion
quote:
I was under the impression multiple recent referendums show them voting in favor of statehood.
My post was concerning them not voting in favor of independence..
Here's the breakdown from your link
quote:
The option for statehood achieved a majority of the valid vote with 620,782 votes,
followed by free association with 313,259 votes,
and independence with 125,171 votes.
An additional 204,341 ballots were either blank or invalid.
Basically... 642,771 did not vote in favor for statehood. So the reporting is a little misleading- an option was left off the ballot that previously was on ballots like these: maintaining status quo. Likely the reason for blank or spoiled ballots, at least according to wiki.
Whatever the breakdown, independence is last on the list. Even so, of 1,263,553 votes cast, roughly 49%, a plurality not a majority, voted for statehood.
Posted on 11/8/25 at 8:40 pm to FlyingPelican
Only for PR. They can’t survive without sucking the US tit.
Posted on 11/8/25 at 8:45 pm to jmarto1
quote:
. At this point we probably just keep it so China or Russia doesn't move in
This is the reason and it's entirely valid. We're not going to allow a Chinese naval base on our doorstep but what's the legal basis for telling an independent PR they're not allowed to determine their own affairs and alliances? (FWIW, we would still tell them no; it just wouldn't be grounded in any semblance of law.)
Posted on 11/8/25 at 8:57 pm to Tantal
quote:
Strategic location for guarding the Yucatan and Florida Straits from outside maritime powers. The Mississippi River system is the primary source of our wealth and power.
Also, it’s a great base, both militarily and strategically, to promote America’s presence in the Caribbean and South America…….
Posted on 11/8/25 at 10:11 pm to FlyingPelican
Well their citizens would likely be taxed more, not fall under the protection of the U.S. directly, be less likely to receive help due to natural disasters, not be able to visit their families here as often, not be able to travel to the U.S. for work easily, and many other reasons.
This post was edited on 11/8/25 at 10:15 pm
Posted on 11/8/25 at 10:29 pm to FlyingPelican
quote:
Any Downside to Puerto Rico becoming independent
How do you think the men at Valley Forge would have felt.
The men who charged San Juan Hill, stormed the beaches at Normandy.
What would they think of someone so afraid of two Democratic Senators that they would give away US territory.
No, its ours, our nation, do you want to give Maine to Canada as well?
Every single person born in Puerto Rico is an American, over 120 years of them.
So anyone wanting to give up one inch of US territory can expect a fight like hell, the same level of fight we need to be giving the left.
This cowardly little oooh lets give up Puerto Rico is worthy of Benedict Arnold.
We have the last vibrant nation left in the west.
We arent the British and Canadians who are sorry that their ancestors were once great.
So to anyone wanting to take US soil, come and try.
This post was edited on 11/8/25 at 10:31 pm
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