Current Events

Re: Puerto Rico - The 51st State

SkepticalMetal — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 18:03:43 GMT

Kokesh just came out with a video on the matter.

(Please visit the site to view this media)

Re: Puerto Rico - The 51st State

SkepticalMetal — Mon, 12 Nov 2012 19:26:37 GMT

@ Groucho

Yes. And you know, Puerto Rico has already been the site of a few U.S. military bases. They even dropped bombs on one Puerto Rican island that was inhabited. One guy was killed.

But anyone who doesn't know the atrocities that U.S. bases cause...I just tell them to look up anything about the Marshall Islands.

Re: Puerto Rico - The 51st State

SkepticalMetal — Mon, 12 Nov 2012 19:24:38 GMT

It would be interesting to see that happen. What would occur if the U.S. refused Puerto Rico it's independence?

I think Puerto Rico is a good example of how the Cuban Revolution could happen all over again.

Re: Puerto Rico - The 51st State

Groucho — Mon, 12 Nov 2012 19:23:20 GMT

Not to mention they get the privelege of becoming a conduit for blowback terrorism. I'm sure the neocons would love it.

Re: Puerto Rico - The 51st State

Bogart — Mon, 12 Nov 2012 19:22:14 GMT

Not unexpected. The island is 52 in rank of GDP per capita out of 52. So they are looking at the half full part of statehood that all of this supposedly "free" money that will head for the island. They don't know the half empty part which is that their most productive citizens will have to shell out US Federal Taxes and given that they are so poor, they will not be on the top of the list to get that largeness. Also with a population of 3.9 million they will not have the representative power in the Senate that many states that are smaller in population maintain. Furthermore, they will not have neighboring states to combine their power with in the US Congress.

The other issue is that Puerto Rico will certainly lose its somewhat exempt status for corporations manufacturing there. This would be DISASTEROUS for the island, and if they think they are poor now then just wait.

So for all of these reasons the best advice for them is to follow the example of Costa Rica, Caymans, Bahammas, etc and declare independence. Then they can issue to any corporation on the planet tax exempt status for doing business on the island.

Re: Puerto Rico - The 51st State

SkepticalMetal — Mon, 12 Nov 2012 19:20:02 GMT

Yes, I believe we can all expect 1st Baron Krugman to come out of the woodwork once more and give us a run-down on how an American assimilation of Puerto Rico will be beneficial to the economy.

Re: Puerto Rico - The 51st State

Kakugo — Mon, 12 Nov 2012 19:11:39 GMT

Just think about all the jobs the need to print new flags and textbooks will create.

Re: Puerto Rico - The 51st State

SkepticalMetal — Mon, 12 Nov 2012 19:09:20 GMT

Yeah, soon to be free paper.

Re: Puerto Rico - The 51st State

shackleford — Mon, 12 Nov 2012 19:03:27 GMT

SkepticalMetal:

Oh, but they win all of the freedom that the United States has to offer! They get FCC censorship, flight pat-downs, the much hated American identity, the wonderful public education system offered by the Federal DoE, and much, much more where that came from!

Don't forget the welfare state. They want the free money.

Re: Puerto Rico - The 51st State

shackleford — Mon, 12 Nov 2012 19:02:34 GMT

SkepticalMetal:

Are you talking about whether or not we have a right to do so, or whether or not the federal government would let us? Because if you were talking about what should be allowed to happen, then I agree with you.

Yes, every people-group has the right to self-government, especially of the size of a state. Of course, the tyrannical federal government wouldn't let us. Lincoln slaughtered 600,000 people to preserve the "Union."

Re: Puerto Rico - The 51st State

SkepticalMetal — Mon, 12 Nov 2012 18:57:12 GMT

Oh, but they win all of the freedom that the United States has to offer! They get FCC censorship, flight pat-downs, the much hated American identity, the wonderful public education system offered by the Federal DoE, and much, much more where that came from!

Re: Puerto Rico - The 51st State

Michelangelo — Mon, 12 Nov 2012 18:49:14 GMT

I for one hope they don't apply for statehood. They already receive the benefit of trading with the other states with relatively few restrictions, but are exempt from most federal taxes. What do they win from joining as a state? The right to send a few more leeches to congress?

Re: Puerto Rico - The 51st State

SkepticalMetal — Mon, 12 Nov 2012 18:34:08 GMT

Are you talking about whether or not we have a right to do so, or whether or not the federal government would let us? Because if you were talking about what should be allowed to happen, then I agree with you.

Re: Puerto Rico - The 51st State

shackleford — Mon, 12 Nov 2012 18:32:26 GMT

SkepticalMetal:

Not necessarily. The U.S. obtained Alaska before the Civil War.

That's irrelevant. The point is if they can willfully enter, then we can willfully leave.

Re: Puerto Rico - The 51st State

SkepticalMetal — Mon, 12 Nov 2012 18:30:49 GMT

Not necessarily. The U.S. obtained Alaska before the Civil War.