D.C., Puerto Rico, Guam: Should they join the Union?

[Squall]

The District of Colombia, Puerto Rico, and Guam: Should they join the Union?

All three have their own organizations promoting Statehood. Puerto Rico and Guam also have their own organizations promoting independence. If you're a U.S. Citizen in one of the 50 States, what do you think? If you're a citizen of Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, or Guam, what do you think? Finally, if you're a foreigner (many Canadians and British at Toon Zone, for example), what do you think of this issue as an outsider looking in on it?

(Be sure to let us know which of those three categories you fall into on your post! ;) )

Personally, as a U.S. Citizen in one of the 50 States (Texas), I think that Washington, D.C. should remain a federal district, but be given one voting representative in the U.S. House of Representatives and one voting Senator in the U.S. Senate. And, if the people of Puerto Rico and Guam wish to join the Union one day, then as an American I'd welcome them into the Union. On the other hand, if Puerto Rico and Guam one day wish to become indpendent nations, I'd wish them well and want to be allies with them.

There are other issues of this nature, such as:

American Samoa has shown interest in re-joining its sister islands in recent years, which is the independent nation of Samoa.

There are people in the U.S. Virigin Islands and British Virgin Islands which would like to see the chain of islands reunite and become an independent nation of the Virigin Islands.

The U.S. owns the tiny Nassau Island, which Haiti claims.

(What can I say, I love history, geography, maps, flags, & constitutions... :p )

[MJC]

I'm a U.S. Citizen, and I, uh, really don't care. I mean, you couldn't pay me to care. I'm completely and utterly indifferent.

:p

[Emmanuel Cruz]

The following is an opinion from a deranged U.S. citizen from his homestate of New Jersey.

When it comes to Washington, D.C. it should be kept as a federal district. Like the aforementioned, it should have representation in Congress to make the citizens happy. I think D.C. should have 2 senators and one representative in the HOR.


Puerto Rico should become a U.S. state. Since I'm of Puerto Rican descent, and my mother is from Puerto Rico, it would be great if it and Guam were states. It would look better for PR to become a state instead of a commonwealth. Anyway, PR is the most populated and well known of the commonwealths, and a lot of Puerto Ricans are in the 50 states.

As for Samoa and the Virgin Islands: I think they should join together with their counterparts and become a nation, or they continue to stay as commonwealth.

Guam should stay as a commonwealth.

-Emmanuel:bosko:

[EinBebop]

Jamaica, mon.

[Squall]

Is Guam a Commonwealth? I thought that Puerto Rico was the only Commonwealth, and that everything else (except D.C. of course) were territories...

Technically, Commonwealth status is supposed to be a temporary status. I bet most Americans and Puerto Ricans back in 1898 expected the Commonwealth status to be short lived; however, it's been over 100 years now and Puerto Rico still hasn't decided between Statehood and Indpendence! Oh well, if they want to take their time deciding, it's their right...

:)

[Zach Logan]

It would be coool if Puerto Rico were a state but I think they are happy with Casinos, no taxes/no voting shpeal.

[Delthayre]

I think the District of Columbia should retain its status as a federal district, but be granted a voting member of the House of Representatives.

As to Puerto Rico and Guam, their fate should be whatever their people wish.

[Classic Speedy]

The no taxes thing... that hardly seems fair! I say add 'em- they should have to go through the same mess of a form that we go through. ;)

[wrenchien]

puerto rico? maybe. if they want to.

guam? probably. be pretty far a place for america to have a state in.

d.c.? sure, why not? let delaware feel it's pretty big for a change in comparison.

haiti? might as well ask them, considering their president ran out on them , aww. :evil:

[Squall]

Keep in mind that the U.S. Constitution guarantees the federal government will protect ALL the States from foreign enemies, and make sure they have and maintain a republican form of government. The addition of Alaska and Hawaii in 1959 has spread the U.S. military out over half the globe protecting all 50 States; would the addition of such a faraway place as Guam only spread the U.S. military out even thinner?

To see the daunting task the U.S. military has under the U.S. Constitution, get out a globe, and locate the following places:

-the westernmost tip of Alaska
-Miami, Florida
-the westernmost tip of Hawaii
-the northern tip of Maine

Now look at the quadrilateral those four points form. That's a lot of land, sea, and air to protect!!! (The U.S. is one of the few countries on the planet with its territory not all together in one contiguous place!)

:sweat:

[Emmanuel Cruz]

My mistake. Guam is a territory. Oops:o

I'm going to be a taxpaper in about 2 years or so, and it just makes me mad to think that my relatives in Puerto Rico don't have to pay taxes.

To heck with that! You have citizenship, so pay some taxes! Be fair!:p

-Emmanuel:bosko:

[Liger Zero]

Doesn't D.C. already technically have a single senate vote via the VP?

[Delthayre]

Doesn't D.C. already technically have a single senate vote via the VP?
Well, given that the Vice President isn't elected by the people of Washington D.C. and that the Vice President only has a senate vote in the case of a tie. I am inclined to think not.

[FredNash]

D.C. should remain just the way it is. It's like that for a very good reason, and I've never heard any talk of anyone in D.C. wanting to go state...

Puerto Rico probably should be a state, but it never will be, because the people there who make the decisions know that they have too good a deal now. They have corporations flocking to them because of their non-existant corporate taxes, and they couldn't be happier.

Guam on the other hand... well it's Guam. If there's some grassroots incorporate Guam movement of the indiginous people, I suppose it warrants discussion, but if they're happy the way they are, I don't see any need to mess with them.

[Lucky Bob]

D.C.? Probably not.

Puerto Rico? Definately. 'Bout time, too.

Guam? What's the point?

[Tanooki]

i diffenently think puerto rico should. i'm all for it. but on a side note, my moronic history teacher (i say moronic because i hate the guy) says cube will actually be the next newest state. once fidel castro dies or removes himself from power or whatever, my teacher seems to think that the cubanians want to be a part of the united states and they'll be more than happy to join the union if we invite them

Hero

[Damien]

No, no, and no.

D.C. was specifically created so that it didn't have to be part of a state. Making it it's own state would just be retarded.

The citizens of Puerto Rico keep voting against U.S. statehood. Besides, if we're going to be United States, let's stop getting these distant lands like Alaska and Hawaii and get something that's acutally united with our land. Watch out, Canada. :evil:

Guam? Where the heck did that come from?


Now look at the quadrilateral those four points form. That's a lot of land, sea, and air to protect!!! (The U.S. is one of the few countries on the planet with its territory not all together in one contiguous place!)
Better get used to it if we're gonna take over the world. :D
But seriously though, what's with this territory deal? Doesn't that seem slightly tyrannical? What are we even doing there? Vacation?

[FredNash]

What are we even doing there? Vacation?

Guam was ceded to the US by Spain in 1898. Captured by the Japanese in 1941, it was retaken by the US three years later. The military installation on the island is one of the most strategically important US bases in the Pacific.

The economy depends on US military spending, tourism, and the export of fish and handicrafts. Total US grants, wage payments, and procurement outlays amounted to $1 billion in 1998. Over the past 20 years, the tourist industry has grown rapidly, creating a construction boom for new hotels and the expansion of older ones. More than 1 million tourists visit Guam each year. The industry has recently suffered setbacks because of the continuing Japanese slowdown; the Japanese normally make up almost 90% of the tourists. Most food and industrial goods are imported. Guam faces the problem of building up the civilian economic sector to offset the impact of military downsizing.

Thank you C.I.A.!

[Griever]

If we let them in, the flag would be uneven. :shrug:

[EinBebop]

If we let them in, the flag would be uneven. :shrug:No, just requires a little mathematical thought. Currently, the flag alternates between five rows of six stars and four rows of five stars (30+20). The best possibility for 51 states would be a six-row flag, with three each of nine and eight (27+24). Granted, it lacks the perfect symmetry of the current flag.

* * * * * * * * *
_* * * * * * * *
* * * * * * * * *
_* * * * * * * *
* * * * * * * * *
_* * * * * * * *

[Jaguar]

But imagine the cost to replace all the flags! And we're already in a deficit!
*reads mail* What?! Bills?!! AAAH! *jumps out window*


...
*cough* Seriously, I think things should stay the same.

[Alex Toon]

D.C. :No! It was made to be our capital, not a state.

[EinBebop]

As far as the whole DC thing goes, the land was donated from other states for the specific purpose of not giving any one state that of a very direct influence on federal government, and I think it should stay that way.

BUT, if this is really a problem that needs to be addressed, rather than making them a state, let them vote on whether they would like to once again be a part of Virginia or Maryland.

[Hal Lee Mark]

D.C. is too small to warrant even Congresspeople. It already has a mayor, why does it need another pointless bureaucracy thrown onto it?

Puerto Rico would prefer to be a territory since it gets the benefits of being a state minus representation and federal taxes.

Guam is mainly a military staging area. No point in making it a state. Same goes for all the other territories.

[PowerZord]

No, no, and no.

D.C. was specifically created so that it didn't have to be part of a state. Making it it's own state would just be retarded.

The citizens of Puerto Rico keep voting against U.S. statehood. Besides, if we're going to be United States, let's stop getting these distant lands like Alaska and Hawaii and get something that's acutally united with our land. Watch out, Canada. :evil:

Guam? Where the heck did that come from?


Better get used to it if we're gonna take over the world. :D
But seriously though, what's with this territory deal? Doesn't that seem slightly tyrannical? What are we even doing there? Vacation?


How do you know about the voting against?

ALERT: Powerzord is here. I'm puertorrican raised and born

Let me explain.
We don't have to pay taxes as we are. well There's a lot of people who want us to be state, but there's a politicial party that wants us to stay as we are.
if you to the old sanjuan it feels like United states, so many tourists. and so many people speaking english. I entered a casino the other day and it said "Minumum 2 drinks to be in this area". I pulled back.


Anyway Puertorico is divided into three political parties:
PNP(Partido Nuevo progresita. new progressive party.) They are in favor of Puertorico as an state.
PPD-(Partido popular democratico. democrative popular party.) They want Puertorico to stay as it is.

PIP-(Partido Independentista puertoriqueño. Independent puertorrican party) They want puertorico to be an republic. Belive me they never win.




We been fighting the status for years, but still some people chose to be brainwashed and never solve anything. I want puertorico as an state

[Squall]

I think Puerto Rico would be a valuable asset as a State in the Union. Then the U.S. would have permanant bases in both the Pacific (Hawaii) and the Atlantic (Puerto Rico). And of course we'd also have a base of operations in the Arctic (Alaska) to round us out well.

Some people seem to forget in the Statehood issue that States have something to offer the U.S. (see above for example), but also the U.S. has something to offer the States. The U.S. guarantees all 50 (or more! :p ) States and D.C. military protection from foreign aggression, a republican form of government, maintaining inalienable human rights for all its citizens, and lots of federal dollars that can only come rolling in when you're a State. ;)

[Caffeine King]

D.C-No.
All of those territories-No.

I like it as it is, with 50 states. :shrug:

[Slash Tompson]

i diffenently think puerto rico should. i'm all for it. but on a side note, my moronic history teacher (i say moronic because i hate the guy) says cube will actually be the next newest state. once fidel castro dies or removes himself from power or whatever, my teacher seems to think that the cubanians want to be a part of the united states and they'll be more than happy to join the union if we invite them

HeroActually, that's probably more true, than any of the other prospecting states. Cubans have always been known for their love of America, and I would bet every Cuban I know whould think it an honor to be a part of the Union. The only problem would of course be the remaining communists in Cuba, and if and when Castro dies (I say if because I'm starting to suspect that the bastard is immortal) There is going to be a huge political vacuum, where both Castro's brother, and this guy De La Vega will moe than likely fight over the power, which, by the way, I suspect that's the way Castro wants it.

As for Puerto Rico, I believe they held a vote a while back ago where they decided that instead of Statehood they wanted independance(i think), I don't really think the Puerto Ricans would ever want to be part of the Union, since they have it so good right now.
D.C. IS, infact, only a district for a very good reason. The founding fathers wanted the capitol to be completely independant from the states, serving only to house the Congress, the President and the Supreme Court. Unfortunately, the district isn't SUPPOSED to have a say in anything. Also, only states are alowed a seat in any house of congrees, so, if we were to give DC a seat it would be unconstitutional.

Guam.... ? I don't know, that's a little far away... I suppose they must really want it. As long as they have the thirty thousand people that they its alright, I'm not to worried about thinning out the military since we're over there already anyway, being that that area is a very hostile one. And statehood might only make the North Koreans and the Chinese take a littlee more notice of them. That's all very intimidating to me.

New York City is another one of those that wanted to be its own state for a while. They had this whole plan. They were gonna make all the boroughs into actual cities. The idea was eventually tossed out because they realized that by becoming a state taxes would skyrocket. Its not easy maintaining a state as opposed to a city. But it would've been cool if they did. I wonder what they would've called themselves?

[Chris Wood]

D.C. should remain just the way it is. It's like that for a very good reason, and I've never heard any talk of anyone in D.C. wanting to go state...

You think so, huh? Why do you think everyone has a license plate like this?
http://www.crookedtimber.org/archives/images/dcplate.jpg

[Slash Tompson]

The thing with taxation without representation is that you can argue that because so many of the senators live in DC they all in a whole represent DC, despite that they weren't voted for. The people also look to the president and vice president to raise issues in congress, as the mayor tries to work with them.

Again I understand they weren't neccesarily voted in by the district but it works the kinda the same.

[Squall]

You think so, huh? Why do you think everyone has a license plate like this?
http://www.crookedtimber.org/archives/images/dcplate.jpg
No one is making anyone who lives there stay there. I used to live in Arkansas; I didn't like it there, so I moved!

[Chris Wood]

As far as the whole DC thing goes, the land was donated from other states for the specific purpose of not giving any one state that of a very direct influence on federal government, and I think it should stay that way.

BUT, if this is really a problem that needs to be addressed, rather than making them a state, let them vote on whether they would like to once again be a part of Virginia or Maryland.
Um.... no frickin' way!!!!! No state in their right mind would take on ownership of that horribly mismanaged, underfunded, crime-ridden train wreck. As a native Marylander I assure you we don't want it, and I'm pretty sure the Virginians would say the same. It's bad enough being neighbors.