Who wants Puerto Rico to be the 51st State?

[lcramos]

The US would be priveleged to have the Puerto Rico the 51st state. The status quo is to have us continue to be a teritory and continue to get military volunteers to fight for US interest but keep the teritory at bay when it comes to rights. We're just a small pawn in the big picture, with little rights other than being able to use the almighty dollar without the right to vote. They have us where they want us and we should not bow down to the arrogance. The reality is somewhere in the internet thier capturing this very information and making thier political chess moves and if they lose a pawn, so be it, it was a pawn and insignificant.

Just another Brooklyn Puerto Rican kid with US ties making it big somewhere else other than the US.

[ABEJORRO]

Icramos:

THERE IS NO PLACE FOR IGNORANCE IN THIS PAGE.
1ST GET YOUR FACTS TOGETHER AND THEN REPLY, BECAUSE I CAN TELL THAT YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF PUERTO RICO'S POSITION WITH IN THE US IS TYPICAL OF A MELON!!!

[This message has been edited by ABEJORRO (edited 30 September 1999).]

[BCOMGRNCTS]

Say, to you all, I am very proud of being PUERTORRICAN. I have lived all over including in countries behind the iron curtain, believe, the only way to go is to become the 51st. state. Culture?, NOBODY, NOBODY, can take that away from us. that is simply a fantasy. I agree with Monica, the best is 51st..all the way.

[BCOMGRNCTS]

Hola SANDRITA: Just to answer your question about the pro's and con's, there is only one, you hear me, one disanvantage of becoming the 51st. state: PAYING TAXES. THATS IT. a lot of ignorant people do not believe that we pay taxes right now. But we do, we do. I for one has to file two forms, one for the US and one for Puerto Rico taxes. Taxes in PR are a hell of lot higher than in the US. Sales tax, people think we dont pay sales tax, but what they dont know, is that unlike in the US, out here it is tagged to the price you and I pay in any store. No the PRO's..... to many to mention.

bye to you...

[Gladys_Tirado]

Hello everyone! Now question, which one of you was born and raised in PR until adulthood and then moved to the States? PRicans in the Island think that every good thing they have there is the same in the States and it is not. Each States have their own laws, each city theirs and each village or incorporate town.I lived in CA and move to ILL, and the laws are completely different and the city ordenances, too. Do you know, that a big percent of the HS Grads in PR goes to the University. Welive there with the best of everything, good cars, good homes, etc. how about the clothing? Just look around were you live and compared. But any way, we don't have anything to give to the States, like Alaska and Hawaii. Our agriculture is gone. All what we have is the big Pharmaceutical and other Companies, the condition with the States is not to pay taxes. Everything is made there then have to come to the USA and then back to PR so we can buy it. At a high cost. I don't know how PR is going to pay to the USA all the money they have given to PR. Most of the high pay jobs are paid with Federal Grants. To qualify for some things PR has to have certain quota, that's why there is so many under the umbrella of Welfare. PR has the famous Medical Plan that was not approved in USA, by the President, remember? PR's voting system is to old, it will take a lot of $$$ to make like the one in USA. Do you know that Federal Employees in PR have to pay US taxes and PR taxes? That's why the pay is as in the States. Who in PR gets pay as in US few, my sister work for the GOV. and only makes 700.00 a mo. before all the deductions. Thanks to the good credit a lot of people can like very well, and to the Financieras. So I wonder, what we are going to do if PR become a State? Are we going to live the same way? It will take time, we are waiting since 68, when Don Luis Ferre, won. I forgot to tell you, during the last elections in Ca I was working in a Voting Poll, it was 7pm and people were still voting, when someone came and said that Mr. Clinton has won, so my vote don't count? But I have to vote anyway, am a Rep. How can PRicans vote for a Pres? Really, it will take a lot of years, before PR will become the 51 State. There is more to say but it will be to long. Pleeease don't even thing about the Independence, we will have to make the choise to be American Citizens or PuertoRican Citizens. Do you know, that yrs. back the GOv. Hdez Colon thought about the Rep of PR, that will be the culmination of Estado Libre Asoc, a lot of PRicans, got Passport in case they have to leave the Island? After the Plebicito in '91, my nephew visit the USA Congress and got the Pros and Cons of the 3 Pol. Parties in PR, you will be surprise what I read. It is not that easy. Just a little bit, after declaring PR a State ( that will be after appeals of the other Parties, I will take some years, the Usa will send lawyers to see if our laws comply with the Federal Laws of USA. they will have the decision to approve them, still seven yrs., yes seven yrs. for the USA to finally declare Puerto Rico, 51 State. So its not that tomorrow Puerto Rican vote for Statehood and next day they are a State. God Bless you, all.

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[El_Jibaro]

Dear Sandrita Giggles:

Keep away from guys right now (you are 14), study hard and go to College, have a life before settling down to have a family (for sex sooner or later ends up in producing one).

Having said that, I will talke about some good and bad things of Puerto Rico if it becomes a State.

Pro: We will be able to vote for the President and have more congressmen than half of the 50 states. With those many congressmen and women (maybe seven or more), we will be able to have a vote and a say into what affects Puerto Rico; right now we don't have any vote and say in what they do to us.

Pro: We keep all the laws we have, everthing good in the Puerto Rican government will remain the same. Our laws already conform to the U.S. Constitution (even the Puerto Rican Constitution). Our laws will not change, neither will our legal system (our Courts).

Pro: Our culture and language will remain the same [nobody can force us to speak English in Puerto Rico, hey they can't tell me that I cannot speak Spanish at work here in New Jersey or at my own home]. For those of you who doubt, go to Miami, Orlando, New York City, and everywhere there are many Hispanics in the U.S., we still speak our language and follow our customs. Who cares about the people with an inferiority complex who do not like us to speak Spanish.

Pro: Some extra Federal money for roads and other projects will be available, which now are not available.

Pro: Puerto Ricans will be recognized as U.S. Citizens in every way, not just on paper.

Pro: Companies with factories in Puerto Rico will not feel that the Puerto Rican government can change overnight (like it happened in Cuba), thus there will be more economic stability in the Island.

Cons: The people in Puerto Rico will have to pay Federal Taxes. However, Puerto Rico already has many State Taxes for everything, so it is not as though there were no taxes in Puerto Rico. People in Puerto Rico already pay 35% of their income in State Income Taxes. This will have to change, otherwise Puerto Ricans will be paying 60% of their income in Income Taxes (Federal and State) alone. It is probable that to reduce State Income Taxes, the Puerto Rican government puts a sales tax on everything (right now is only paid on cars and electronic goods), perhaps as high as the one in Seattle (8 to 12%).

Con: We will lose our Olymipic Team [not that we win any major medals at the Olympics you know].

That is it! Ther are no more Cons. I know that someone may say that there are, but in all honesty, there will not.

You know Sandrita, before I got married I was scared. I was scared of any problem that may happen. But what scared me the most was the prospect of MONEY. I thought that if I could barely make it on my own, how could I make it financially with a wife. But I discovered that when you take that big step [and not by force or fraud], there is a God in Heaven that blesses you, so that the money that before was not enough for me, now was enough for two, and then three. It takes just a step of courage and of faith!

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Manuel Alonso

[lcramos]

ABEJORRO,

Your response of my ignorance is not a good argument. State your position/opinion make a case and viewpoint with one factual point and I'll respond. Just because I have a different opinion than your doesn't make me ignorant. Ignorant is attacking my opinion without substantiating your position.

You don't have to belong to the almighty US to be almighty. Protectionism is good but I don't see forces outside of the US getting ready to invade Puerto Rico. Cuba may have an opportunity here but it would have move to the Dominican Repulic first. Anyway state your case with one sound factual stance against an opinion and I'll be happy to demonstrate my ignorance.

Carlos