Puerto Rico

Even since Hawaii became a state in 1959, the idea of a 51st state had always perplex us. While there are many options for a 51st state, one viable option would be Puerto Rico. Ever since the Spanish American war, Puerto Rico lays in a state between a territory and a state. This state, otherwise know as a commonwealth. A commonwealth gives residences U.S. Citizenship to the people who live there but with no representation in congress. Many people came forth in a recent election in 2012 to decide the fate of the island. For the first time, more people voted to become a state. While some people object to becoming a state, Puerto Rico should become a state as it gives it citizens voting representation, fix the enormous debt crisis the island is
According to Pedro R.Pierluisi “The main cause is inequality. Residents cannot vote for president or senators, and have one nonvoting delegate in the House. It is disheartening to see many self-styled progressives, who otherwise speak eloquently about the importance of voting rights, go silent on this subject when it comes to Puerto Rico.”. Ever since 1941, anyone born on the island would be U.S. citizens at birth. However, by living in a commonwealth, they don’t have the same voting rights as in the states while they are entitled to a non-voting representative, there is very little they can do in order to promote Puerto Rico interests. By making Puerto Rico a state, it would finally give Puerto Rico power to their voice they have been asking and with it, gives them an ability to promote their state in which they hadn’t been able to do before. The people of Puerto Rico should be able to represent themselves as representation is one of our founding principle and for us not to share it would be
However, it is not possible for Puerto Rico to adopt austerity measures that will offset what it has borrowed.”. The problem with Puerto Rico is that due to its status as a commonwealth, certain taxes codes apply to it that are not apical to anywhere else, due to this, the state had enter into a recession and an easy way to fix it would be to declare Chapter 9 bankruptcies, Puerto Rico can’t do that. Since its a commonwealth, it doesn’t have the same ficial rights as the rest of the United States. Puerto Rico pay the same taxes as we do and they receive none of the benefits that we have. To put Puerto Rico in this ever springing nightmare is wrong of us to do to the 3.2 million people who live on the