Should a new referendum be held in Puerto Rico

**Farnan** · March 27, 2009, 12:16 PM

The last one was 11 year ago with these results: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Politic...2C_and_1998.29

However, there has been changes in attitudes, so should another referendum be held to see what the Puerto Ricans want?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_o...of_Puerto_Rico Looking at this, if there is it seems statehood would win (the party with a super majority is pro-statehood)

**Viking Prince** · March 27, 2009, 01:12 PM

Polling and attitudes have not really changed that much. The focus is on getting the benefits of statehood. The actual polls then show fewer wanting statehood when the costs are brought up. The commonwealth status gives them citizenship and freedom to move stateside without the income tax. Those who like the current status have a pure pocketbook issue that will never change. Once stateside, they lose the opportunity to vote in the next poll. So those most in favor of statehood leave to the states. Those who want independance remain in PR.

If PR wants an election on the topic, they are certainly free to do so, but I doubt there is sufficient support to change the status quo.

**Icefrisco** · March 28, 2009, 10:56 PM

I hope there is another referendum because polls indicate a huge shift in attitudes towards statehood. In addition, pro-statehood groups now are well financed and can launch powerful and convincing advertising campaigns. I'm sure the DNC would love to shift money to get Puerto Rican statehood. It would add another 2 Democratic Senators and would be a garaunteed Democratic win in any election.

**Fluttershy** · March 29, 2009, 12:09 AM

I wouldnt mind 1, if the people of a US terrritory want to become a state go for it

.

Could someone with a better knowledge of the subject tell me why theres a been a shift towards pro statehood?

**Farnan** · March 30, 2009, 10:34 AM

Originally Posted by Icefrisco

I hope there is another referendum because polls indicate a huge shift in attitudes towards statehood. In addition, pro-statehood groups now are well financed and can launch powerful and convincing advertising campaigns. I'm sure the DNC would love to shift money to get Puerto Rican statehood. It would add another 2 Democratic Senators and would be a garaunteed Democratic win in any election.

Actually their current governor is a Republican (Federal Party, state party in PNP).

What do you think should happen to PR JNS?

**Icefrisco** · March 30, 2009, 08:24 PM

Originally Posted by Farnan

Actually their current governor is a Republican (Federal Party, state party in PNP).

That's true but he's only the 2nd Republican to ever hold the position. Nearly all other major Puerto Rican officials are moderate Democrats.

**Soulghast** · March 29, 2009, 03:19 AM

A second referendum should only be held in the case the Puerto Ricans' view has considerably changed. This doesn't seem to be exactly the case here, so I don't believe it would be necessary at this point.

**JNS** · March 29, 2009, 08:20 AM

I think a referendum would be a complete waste of time. The country is split in half on the issue (even if the PNP, the pro statehood party has now a very slight majority). I would say you would need at least around 65% for washington to even consider it. Also we could vote all we want, but if the goverment of the USA doesn't want to admit us into the union,we would retain the sttuas quo.

The shift towards pro- statehood in the past few years is due to many factors. The PNP has the best propaganda machine of all the political parties. Also to help that is the fact that the last 8 years we have been under the PPD (pro commonweallth) administration, which proved to be ridiculously incompetent. Also due to the economic crisis (which in PR started around 2005) most of the middle class has seen the failiure of the commonwealth to protect their interests.
Of course this could all be a temporary edge for the pro-statehood camp, as since i've been alive every time one party seems to be growing in popularity they manage to screw things up.

**Admiral Piett** · March 29, 2009, 08:24 AM

That's basically all parties though. They always screw something up.

I think it'd be interesting if Puerto Rico became a state. It'd make tourism go up that's for sure.

**Viking Prince** · March 30, 2009, 11:52 PM

Whether PR will tend to support Democrats or Republicans at the national level is really not an issue. The only tests are local clear cut support for statehood or independance. Anything other than clear cut and definative means status quo as Commonwealth. I personally think the Commonwealth status to be the best for PR at this point in time. The economic support is better than independance would bring. The political meddling is less than statehood. They have federal social safety net support, social security benefits, and citizenship. Yet they are not taxed federally. Access to nearly all state colleges at in state tuition rates is another perk. Like any island in the Carribean -- poverty is a terrible issue compared to mainland economies. This poverty will drive any decision that is made.

**JNS** · March 31, 2009, 08:48 AM

VP, nice, well informed post post, it sums up pretty much our situation.

I used to be pro independence when I was in my teens, but right now I really don't care if we become independent or a state . But we aren't really in the economic state right now that we could become a stable independent country, so i'd rather stay like we are right now or become a state. Also most people wouldn't be happy with becoming independent, we will have a mass exodus of what's left of the educated middle class ( they have already started to migrate to the US, particullarly florida (orlando is quickly becoming our own little version of miami) which will leave an army of people that are poor, or on welfare. Also most of the rich locals will probably flee, especially because many are cuban descendants and they alreday have that fear of "becoming like Cuba" installed in their minds.

Statehood hasn't happened until now mainly because of culture. We have an inherent fear of being culturally erased by america (which i think is not going to happen, the US has been 110 years at it and we still speak spanish, dance salsa and reggueton and we still follow the catholic faith).

I'll write about the ELA (commonwealth) later as i have class now

**Icefrisco** · March 31, 2009, 07:01 PM

Originally Posted by Viking Prince

Whether PR will tend to support Democrats or Republicans at the national level is really not an issue. The only tests are local clear cut support for statehood or independance. Anything other than clear cut and definative means status quo as Commonwealth. I personally think the Commonwealth status to be the best for PR at this point in time. The economic support is better than independance would bring. The political meddling is less than statehood. They have federal social safety net support, social security benefits, and citizenship. Yet they are not taxed federally. Access to nearly all state colleges at in state tuition rates is another perk. Like any island in the Carribean -- poverty is a terrible issue compared to mainland economies. This poverty will drive any decision that is made.

Good post. However, I think one fact we have all overlooked about Puerto Rican statehood is the political power it will bring. Currently no one in politics cares about Puerto Rico. However, if Puerto Rico were to become a state its senators and presentatives would be able to secure earmarks which might finally bring the funds needed to fix the country up. These funds could be used to increase the police force which would put more young Puerto Rican males to work and if the pay was good enough, could draw better educated mainland Americans to the island. These effects would provide a minor boost in the economy and most importantly, give faith in it. In addition, an increased police force is bound to decrease the large amount of petty theft. With lower crime rates, more Americans are bound to travel to Puerto Rico rather than other Caribbean islands.

Also, the publicity from statehood will also help Puerto Rico. For some reason, Americans like to feel like they are in America when they travel. However, as long as Puerto Rico is politically and culturally foreign, Americans will be less inclined to travel there. Instead, they go to the Virgin Islands which feel like America except tropical. Currently, the Virgin Islands is seeing a boom in tourism and immigration from mainland America which are two things Puerto Rico desperately needs. If Puerto Rico were to become a state, Americans looking to move to the Caribbean or looking to travel there might go to Puerto Rico instead.