Cut back to just 49 states from 57?

[Statistikhengst]

51......puerto rico deserves statehood.

Lmfao

PR can get statehood when they vote for it. I suspect the opposition realizes that with statehood come state taxes, and a lot of other taxes that they don't pay now.

The statehood referendum idea has come up a number of times in PR, with little movement.

Agreed, but I predict that eventually they well pass the referendum.

It is usually a referendum that gives THREE options:

1.) Statehood
2.) Revocation of status as US Protectorat
3.) Status Quo

Most don't realize this, but Puerto Ricans who serve in the US military are eligible for US passports. It has been this way since 1917.

My room mate in the USAF was a PR from NYC and was in the USAF because a judge gave him the option of jail or enlisting. Good guy, and smart Electronics Tech, but after two years in the service he got what was called an 'early out', and reenlisted for 4 more years. The day after he got several thousand dollars reenlistment bonus he went AWOL.
About 6 months later me and a MSGT from the squadron were sent to El Paso, Tx to escort him back to Travis AFB, Ca where he got a court martial and discharge. They tore off his insignia and rank and escorted him out the main gate. I picked him up and drove him to town where he was immediately employed as a TV repairman by a retired MSGT who owned a TV shop and he got him a room.
Boring!
I think I remember him telling me this, but I may have mis-remembered. (is that a word?)

"Because their home is a U.S. commonwealth nation, Puerto Ricans are U.S. citizens and can travel freely from their island to the U.S. mainland. U.S. citizens from the mainland can travel to Puerto Rico without a passport or visa."

Corrrect.

Tell me, did the body-snatchers get you , or something?

You are so, so, so, peaceful today...

 

[SwimExpert]

PR can get statehood when they vote for it. I suspect the opposition realizes that with statehood come state taxes, and a lot of other taxes that they don't pay now.

Nothing about statehood requires any new taxation, nor does Puerto Rico lack its own taxation already. The Commonwealth has authority to levy it's own taxes, including income and sales taxes. I think the reason Puerto Rico has repeatedly rejected statehood is because Puerto Rican culture contains a very large dose of national identity pride. Rightfully so, might I add. Puerto Ricans prefer to retain their national identity, and that is their right.

 

[HenryBHough]

Where Alaska went wrong was in petitioning Congress for statehood when they should have petitioned The United Nations for independence.

 

[PaintMyHouse]

Where Alaska went wrong was in petitioning Congress for statehood when they should have petitioned The United Nations for independence.

Yeah, and who would have paid their bills then since we are still paying the bills of that fucking welfare state?

 

[SwimExpert]

Where Alaska went wrong was in petitioning Congress for statehood when they should have petitioned The United Nations for independence.

Why do you hate the United States so much?

 

[TooTall]

PR can get statehood when they vote for it. I suspect the opposition realizes that with statehood come state taxes, and a lot of other taxes that they don't pay now.

The statehood referendum idea has come up a number of times in PR, with little movement.

Agreed, but I predict that eventually they well pass the referendum.

It is usually a referendum that gives THREE options:

1.) Statehood
2.) Revocation of status as US Protectorat
3.) Status Quo

Most don't realize this, but Puerto Ricans who serve in the US military are eligible for US passports. It has been this way since 1917.

My room mate in the USAF was a PR from NYC and was in the USAF because a judge gave him the option of jail or enlisting. Good guy, and smart Electronics Tech, but after two years in the service he got what was called an 'early out', and reenlisted for 4 more years. The day after he got several thousand dollars reenlistment bonus he went AWOL.
About 6 months later me and a MSGT from the squadron were sent to El Paso, Tx to escort him back to Travis AFB, Ca where he got a court martial and discharge. They tore off his insignia and rank and escorted him out the main gate. I picked him up and drove him to town where he was immediately employed as a TV repairman by a retired MSGT who owned a TV shop and he got him a room.
Boring!
I think I remember him telling me this, but I may have mis-remembered. (is that a word?)

"Because their home is a U.S. commonwealth nation, Puerto Ricans are U.S. citizens and can travel freely from their island to the U.S. mainland. U.S. citizens from the mainland can travel to Puerto Rico without a passport or visa."

Corrrect.

Tell me, did the body-snatchers get you , or something?

You are so, so, so, peaceful today...

I got the flu and it sure isn't any fun.

 

[TooTall]

PR can get statehood when they vote for it. I suspect the opposition realizes that with statehood come state taxes, and a lot of other taxes that they don't pay now.

Nothing about statehood requires any new taxation, nor does Puerto Rico lack its own taxation already. The Commonwealth has authority to levy it's own taxes, including income and sales taxes. I think the reason Puerto Rico has repeatedly rejected statehood is because Puerto Rican culture contains a very large dose of national identity pride. Rightfully so, might I add. Puerto Ricans prefer to retain their national identity, and that is their right.

That would change if they become a state and had to meet all of the federal mandates, funded and unfunded.

 

[HenryBHough]

Don't anyone compare loathing of Obamerica with even mild dislike of The (former) United States of America.

 

[TooTall]

Where Alaska went wrong was in petitioning Congress for statehood when they should have petitioned The United Nations for independence.

Yeah, and who would have paid their bills then since we are still paying the bills of that fucking welfare state?

Here is the reason Alaska costs the feds so much.

"Here’s a pop quiz. Who owns Alaska and why does it matter? Unlike most states, where the majority of land is privately owned, less than one percent of Alaska is held in conventional private ownership. Of the 365.5 million acres that make up Alaska, federal agencies currently claim 222 million acres – 61 percent of the state. To put Uncle Sam’s share in perspective: • One-third of all federal lands in the U.S. are in Alaska. • Federal lands in Alaska alone are larger than the entire state of Texas or bigger than the combination of 15 eastern states stretching from Maine to South Carolina. • Alaska’s federal lands are larger than Oregon, Washington and California combined."