Puerto Rico to Vote . . . on What?

• Puerto Rico will die of hunger without the United states. I admire the Dominican Republic because even tho its a poor country like the rest of Latin America the people of the dominican republic work hard everyday for their country. note: im Puerto rican not Dominican

• I think that it is always easy to pose an opinion on something when you are not educated on the matter. As a matter of fact, don't you think that perhaps the United States could help Puerto Rico with their financial situation. All schools have been closed and all Government employees laid off. Puerto Rico which was once known to be a beautiful island enriched with culture and old school traditions is falling apart. I think statehood would benefit them in a way that being independant cannot.

• It is clear that the United States can do what they want with Puerto Rico. If they wanted to admit the island in to the union they could have done so a long time ago. The US has exploited Puerto Rico for many years and it hurts me to hear people who dont have a clue, say that the US gives Pueto Ricans everything they have. Listen, if you read through history books it is clear that the US does not do anything that is not in their best interest. Yeah they give, but the US takes in a lot more. Do you think the US does anything out of generosity....if you do, you must be crazy. Why do you think the US is fighting a so called "war on terrorism" right now. Im not saying that independence is the way to go or not to go, what im saying is that Puerto Rico has endured enough because of the US. The US still has done nothing about Vieques after they basically destroyed the island. The US could care less about Puerto Rico because the island is in fact a latin american nation in which its people are different and unwilling to assimilate.

• "Near junk status" doesn't cut the mustard. For all practical effects, the government is broke! Having said that, it's way too simplistic to point a finger at the present administration, as if everyone that has governed for the last 30 years, has helped us, get to were we are. The only constant is that they have all tried to steer a nation, without any political and economic powers to do so. And if you for a minute, you think that Congress will admit a state, in which the vast majority can barely get along in English, are ?mulatos?, see themselves as totally different from the gringos, and is a economic basket case, you can forget your 50%, in fact you can forget a 99%. Last time I read the Treaty of Paris, the relationship between Puerto Rico and the US, falls upon Congress, not on any percents. rafa://puerto rico desde la naci󮠢oricua, un pueblo lastimado en su derecho, burlado en su confianza, herido en su dignidad

• Ok, OK I live in Puerto Rico for nearly 10 years now and i think that the FINAL choices will come down to either Statehood or Independence and the Pro-Commonwealth party is slowly dying and in its deathbed due to their leaders' actions of the past 10-20 years(Remember Sila Marie Calderon 2001-2005?). The PDP leaders think that Puerto Rico is a country(Pais)but still want that USA money. And current gov. Anival Acevedo Vila is too busy pointing fingers at everyone instead of doing his job which to govern Puerto Rico. Our Credit Rating is near 'Junk' Status due to the PDP spending alot of money to keep us as a Commonwealth(U.S. Territory). So i see Statehood win by a wide margin(50%+ to independence 15-20%).

• James, I love it! I really love when you forget to mention the $30,000 MILLION siphoned OUT of the Puerto Rican economy to keep who knows how many gringos working. And that figure falls far short of the estimated $15 billion transferred to the Puerto Rican government. Puerto Rican independence is no more a sham, than it is for any other nation, as you very well differentiated between "Us" and "Them". So, as far as I'm concerned, it is the US that STILL owes Puerto Rico. And if you for a minute doubt these figures, just ask yourself why would the US still have a colony? rafa://puerto rico desde la naciín boricua, un pueblo lastimado en su derecho, burlado en su confianza, herido en su dignidad BTW, I live in Puerto Rico. And things that I have already forgotten about, you haven�t the faintest idea of.

• PR "Independence" is a SHAM! Basically they want to pretend they don't need the United States while still receiving funds from them. Puerto Ricans are great people. I've been there (probably more times than all the flag waving, Puerto Rican flag on my hat, bandana, shirt and shorts idiots). It's the New York PR that is a loud, low class, common thug ("PR's are low class" - Rosie Perez). You can't find a decent PR neighborhood in the city or one they haven't turned into a toilet. You can find good Jewish, Italian, Korean, Irish, Russian, Chinese, Polish, German, etc. neighborhoods, where do you go wrong? And please, if you're not waving the American flag, go back to PR and if you want to TRULY be independent, then send all those millions and billions of American dollars that keep your island afloat back here. "Arrangements for self-help subsidies provided by the United States for a period of ten years, (with probability of these being renewable later), for an amount equivalent to that currently being received under Commonwealth status. The United States has many foreign aid programs for independent nations whose citizens are not American citizens. These block grants would be used by the government to develop infrastructure, attract foreign investment, and to help bring the population into the 21st Century." http://www.geocities.com/elgranmoncho2002/engver.html#P1

• Perhaps my comments are coming in a bit late but I need to say something. It is quite simple: No country should belong to another. Every country should have the right to run their affairs as they see fit. For over 500 years Puerto Rico has never seen the light of independence. We are right now the product of exploitation and imperialism. How can anyone in their right mind want to continue the status quo or even worse be absorbed into the United States? I advise all parties interested in this topic to truly immerse themselves into Puerto Rican history and to look at the relationship our country has with the U.S. In this way, we can form solid educated opinions instead of having unfocused banter and sniping at each other. Study this topic and I have no doubt independence will be your choice.

• Cassie, If you believe there's nothing wrong in Puerto Rico becoming a state, I'm sure you can share some of these reasons with us. I might have missed something in history class, but last time I checked, the US has yet to admit a nation into the States. (Hawaii and Texas included) And don't waste your time. Your President has never uttered a word on Puerto... sorry. Let me take that back. Last thing I remembered was in Sweden, while the Navy was getting pushed out of Vieques. If memory serves me, it was something like: "They're our friends and neighbors. But they don't want us there." rafa://puerto rico desde la naci�oricua, un pueblo lastimado en su derecho, burlado en su confianza, herido en su dignidad

• okay im doing a newscasting project for my georgraphy class and i just wanted to say that lucy you really helped my research and jaun you did nothing. we all have opinions but bombing the island of Puerto Rico is the most horrible idea i have ever heard in my life. Just like Julio asked...What about Hawaii? huh? Hawaii is a part of the United States and the culture there is fine. Through the years Hawaii has taught us about their culture and more and more people are adopting their ways. In my opinion, there is nothing wrong with Peurto Rico becoming a state. The are way more reasons for it to become a state than to go independant. I wanted to find some websites on our president's opinion on this issue and i'm not finding any good websites. so if any of you have researched this issue and have good websites, please help. thank you. oh and my report is due tomarrow soo make it asap please. thank you. bye

• Juan says...nuclear test sight. Yeah, if they don't know English, bomb 'em.

• If it is true that in 3 plebiscites, within the last 40 years, Puerto Ricans have not voted to change their status, it is also true that since the first Organic Act (1900), Congress has not changed the political relationship, having full power to do so. And if nothing else was evident in these plebiscites, is that more than 50% of the voters do NOT favor the present status. (And the figure is probably higher, given the facts that not all members of the PPD are totally content, and the fact that probably more �independentistas� do not vote.) And it no less true, that plebiscites have done very little, if anything, to solve the status problem. I fail to see why the option of �none of the above� is bizarre. That option became viable, through a Puerto Rico Supreme Court decision. But above that, why should I, as a voter, be forced to choose between options, that are no more than the political party�s wishful thinking, as far as status definitions go, at the risk of NOT having my vote counted? And I am not defending the PDP�s stance in the �97 plebiscite. Neither bill has any chance of approval. As well they should not be, because of their inherent flaws. A decolonization process, if that is what we are talking about, as opposed to having my particular preference win; starts in the colony. The USA does NOT have to decolonize itself. Puerto Rico could summon a Constitutional Assembly, with the limited powers to propose a new political status for Puerto Rico, without Congress� intervention. Obviously, that would assume that we could set aside our political preferences, and involve ourselves in a proper decolonization process. That is a little far-fletched, given the fact that the process in held hostage by the political parties. Congress can not brush aside it�s responsibility in the current situation. Has Congress ever said they would be willing to admit Puerto Rico as a state of the Union? Puerto Ricans do NOT have a God-given right to statehood, just because they think they are American �citizens�. In fact, the presidential panel, went so far as to say that the powers of Congress are such, that Puerto Rico could be deposed of, as Congress saw fit. IF we take that on face value, Congress could very well propose a new associated status, in which sovereignty would ultimately reside in San Juan. Or admit Puerto Rico as a incorporated territory. Those are the only two options in which Congress would have any say. Puerto Rico could very well declare itself a independent nation tomorrow, without anyone�s permission and obviously, be prepared for whatever consequences arise. If it is true that the status debate is gridlocked in Puerto Rico, it is no less a fact, that Congress hasn�t the faintest idea of what to do with it�s colony. The sad truth is that when Puerto Rico was invaded, Congress did not celebrate any plebiscites. The USA is the root cause of the problem, and it is upon the USA�s shoulders to figure out how to solve it. I am sure that Puerto Ricans are more than prepared and willing to shoulder the burden. But Congress must start out be recognizing a few fundamental facts. First of all, Puerto Rico is a Latin American nation, with a clear defined culture, history and traditions; than that of the USA. Puerto Ricans have a right to forge their own future, as we see fit, either as a associated or independent republic. And if Congress is willing to accept Puerto Rico as a state, and since it is Congress who admits a territory into the Union, it is Congress� responsibility to say so, and what conditions might be imposed. If Congress is NOT willing to accept Puerto Rico as a state, it is also their responsibility to say so. What will be the future of the US �citizens� which remain in Puerto Rico, is a matter which can de discussed. Contrary to popular opinion, Puerto Ricans COULD keep their US �citizenship� in a independent republic or even have two citizenships. The US government should at it�s highest levels, take a hard look at Puerto Rico, and define it�s actual and foreseeable interests, and devise a new policy. And a part of this policy, there must be the recognition of the fact, that a decolonization process can, and must proceed, separately from the process of determining how to handle the results. As far as the two bills before Congress, the only winners are the airlines and hotels in Washington, and the lobbyists. rafa://puerto rico desde la nación boricua, un pueblo lastimado en su derecho, burlado en su confianza, herido en su dignidad

• I say ray is right! (JUAN: Puterto Ricans fear losing their cultural identity) Juan I ask you "what about Hawaii?

• That Juan person is an absolute idiot. Clearly, Juan, your historical knowledge of the Island is scant and you're probably just another typical bored, self-congratulatory, war-hungry, mono-lingual American. In many parts of France, they don't speak English. In many parts of Italy, they don't speak English. You poor thing. Maybe YOUR community should be bombed. You wouldn'be missed, I bet.

• After a lot of debate I've come to the conclusion that we should probably just bomb the hell out of the island. Nuclear test sight is the most realsitic option out there. There's simply no valid argument against it. Most of them can't even speak english.

• I have two questions for Juan above: 1)Have you been to Puerto Rico lately? Puerto Rican language, culture and heritage is basically American at this point. 2) Have you been to the Dominican Republic lately? This is what Puerto Rico would be if Independent. An island made up of shanties surrounded by mansions owned by foreigners.

• If Puerto Rico was to be self-governing, how would it support itself? As it stands now, independence would require Puero Ricans to go back and work the lush and fertile land, providing the revenue needed to survive. Recently, PBS aired "Mi Puerto Rico", a historical perspective on the thinking of Puerto Ricans thoughout the years. Sovereignty seems to be the majority opinion, and Puerto Ricans fear losing their cultural identity which has sustained them throughout all these years if they become a state.

• Statehood is not a good for Puerto Rico,even though alot vote for it. It will dilute our language, culture & heiritege. INDEPENDENCE IS THE BEST OPTION, NOT STATEHOOD! Independence will let us have our own economy,our own industry, our own president, our own currency, our own government, AND THE LIST GOES ON! STATEHOOD WOULD NOT PROVIDE US WITH THIS!!!

• That should actually read "New Jersey's Robert Menendez."

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