Under-reported story: Puerto Rico Voted for Statehood

[Zadoc]

http://www.chron.com/news/world/article/Puerto-Rico-votes-on-US-ties-and-chooses-governor-4012422.php

The two-part referendum first asked voters if they wanted to change Puerto Rico's 114-year relationship with the United States. A second question gave voters three alternatives if they wanted a change: become a U.S. state, gain independence, or have a "sovereign free association," a designation that would give more autonomy for the territory of 4 million people.

With 243 of 1,643 precincts reporting late Tuesday, 75,188 voters, or 53 percent, said they did not want to continue under the current political status. Forty-seven percent, or 67,304 voters, supported the status quo.

On the second question, 65 percent favored statehood, followed by 31 percent for sovereign free association and 4 percent for independence.

POLL: Do you support statehood for Puerto Rico?

[Staph]

1. The first report I saw on this story

was on BBC News on my smartphone. There are very few American news outlets covering this.

Will we be redesigning the flag in the next few years? Imagine how upset the Republicans will be -- a new state with at least three more electoral votes that will most likely trend Democratic!

[Zadoc]

2. A 51 star flag has already been approved...

It was done by the Army Institute of Heraldry in the event that DC got statehood.

[img][/img]

[BanTheGOP]

3. YES!! Welcome to the the United States!

We also welcome your 7 new progressive votes in Congress!

New US flag in a couple of years (the 51-state flag)



Changes:

California, Florida, Minnesota, Texas, and Washington will all lose a representative and have to reapportion their congressional districts. It is certain that Texas will have to reapportion out a conservative district, as they cannot carve out any more liberals after the DeLay fiasco. This also has the added benefit of throwing other districts into a flux, which may even allow us to pick up an extra Democrat or two!

In addition, California just went supermajority in their legislature, which means they don't need apportionment judges and can create the districts on their own. They will most probably reapportion out a conservative district, eliminating another conservative. Finally, in Minnesota, reapportioning means they can get rid of Michele Bachmann once and for all, because while her district barely reelected her, adjoining districts are solidly in the blue column; hence reapportioning will undoubtedly make whatever district she is blue.

THIS SHOULD BE A HIGH PRIORITY FOR THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION. We must make a deal with Washington, and if necessary, Florida, for the loss of their democratic district, as well as reward California if they redistrict the conservative out. Nothing to Texas, however.

[calico1]

4. Not all Puerto Ricans are Progressive.

In fact, the pro Statehood party is the Republican Party. They love Bush, Reagan, etc. Just like here.

[temporary311]

5. They should still be welcomed into the union.

I hope congress votes it in.

[ProudProgressiveNow]

9. +1 nt

[Zadoc]

6. Who cares if they have republicans?

Maybe we can get a deal where DC gets statehood at the same time.

[calico1]

8. Just making the point that it's mostly the Republicans on the island

that want statehood and that most Democrats there like the status quo.

I lived there for 11 years and the local Republicans were very corrupt.

I'll have to check with my sister and see what she has to say about this.

[BanTheGOP]

10. They may have loved them in the past

But remember, even California inexplicably voted for Reagan at one time. Not even a decent argument, as California is about to change the paradigm of American politics to render an end to capitalist and oppressive economic strife.

Back to Puerto Rico. Economically, they are about 35% poorer than our poorest state, as well as have high unemployment due to republicanist, capitalist policies that have utterly failed. In addition, their government has shifted considerably to the left, and while they have a love of Puerto Rico, they now don't have to kowtow to US oppressionist tactics. THey can be equal with other states in promoting peaceful, progressive movements.

Finally, while the current (now outgoing) party may be "Republican" in Puerto Rico, don't mistake it for Tea Party kooks. At BEST, it's a comfortably leftist position, but the island has become considerably more progressive as of late.

[former9thward]

12. California is going to "render a end" to capitalism?

How are they going to do that?

[BanTheGOP]

13. They will ban capitalist means through their progressive supermajority

California is already ahead of the curve. They are actually going to fundamentally change the state governance to greatly expand environmental, affirmative action, mandated single-payer health care, taxation on both wealth and production, and corporate structure definitions that essentially remove the equation of corporate greed and defer productive rewards to those truly in need.

For instance, they will mandate that all businesses with more than 25 employees provide full time positions of at least 35 hours per week to 50% + 1 of their employees to ensure they are covered by the protections of government healthcare. In addition, there will be an emphasis on reducing the usage of cash, ensuring all financial transactions are monitored for "wealth abuse." This is key in being able to fund these programs to allow our citizens to get out the morass of the cesspool that the republicanist elites have beget upon our society.

That's for starters. There will be much, much more and the country, and hopefully, the planet, will follow suit.

[former9thward]

14. Do you get your predictions from a psychic?

If you do you should go to one who is higher quality.

[BanTheGOP]

11. No, they will vote progressive because their community won't let them do otherwise

Why would Puerto Rico become a state and undermine its own situation? It makes no sense. If they were a rethug party, they'd do all they damn well COULD to keep PR from BECOMING a state in the first place, as our country is going to be fundamentally transformed during the next two years to invalidate capitalism and republican politics for good.

[RosedaleGuy]

7. Bill O'Reilly won't like this

it's his worse nightmare

[Ter]

15. Only 4% were sane

n/t