Would you accept Puerto Rico as the 51st. state?
474677
Puerto Ricons are great people.  I do not believe it would be to their advantage or best interest to become a state.
54805
I don't believe the Puerto Ricans actually want this.
546733
Puerto Ricans are US citizens
30570
I'm sure Americans don't want Puerto Rico to become a state. With a population larger than that of many other states, PR would be more powerful in Congress than those less populated states.\n\nAs to FL Boy's answer, I'd say that although it would never become a major player, as an independent nation, PR definitely wouldn't be worthless in the world's economy. it happens that PR is the world's largest producer of prescription medicines and pacemakers.\n\nMy comment on One's answer is that thousands of Puerto Ricans serve and have served in all of the military branches of the U.S. They have also fought and died in the wars fought by the US, including Iraq and Desert Storm. During the Korean War (1950-1953), the 65th Infantry Division, made up entirely of Puerto Ricans, kicked some seroius North Korean behinds. So as you can see, the Island's protection from the US Military HAS had a very high cost to Puerto Ricans.\n\nAnd please, don't get me wrong. I am totally against freeloaders on welfare, be them white Americans, African Americans or even  Puerto Ricans.
332696
Personally, I'd like to add the Philippines as a state, but I'm not in charge.  So, I'll just pray that those in charge of such big decisions make it so!
317094
No, I would not because of the electoral college system.  The electoral college system already skews democratic votes into a system that favors smaller states (the "Great" compromise).  As such, DC, Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, and the Virgin Islands would then complicate an already skews the system for electing national representatives.  Thus, you would have to come up with a way the electoral college handles US territories with representatives. \n\nMoreover, the constitutional makes clear that senators can be no fewer than 2 and must come from a state.  Thus, the only way to limit them (assuming that they become a state) to 1 senator is to amend the constitution.\n\nHowever, keep up the big thinking as it is the only way improvement happens.  As Bobby Kennedy used to say, "Some people see things as they are and say 'why'.  I dream things that never were and ask 'why not'."
596739
I live in Puerto Rico and it fits the bill almost perfectly.  It's an island in the Caribbean where it is sunny almost every day and the lowest the temperature ever gets is around 70 degrees Farenheit.  Since PR is a "commonwealth" of the United States, you do not need a passport or immigration documents or any such thing.  There are two official languages here: Spanish and English.  Almost everybody speaks Spanish and quite a few people know some English as many PRicans have lived in New York.  There are occassional hurricanes but I've weathered them and as long as you're careful about where you choose to reside (not in a valley where floods can reach you, for instance or not right on the beach) they're no big deal.  There are about 4 million people on the island, which is 100 miles long by about 40 miles wide, but most of them reside in the Metropolitan area near San Juan.  If you don't like big cities, move further away from the metro area and you'll be fine.  There's a tropical rainforest here (El Yunque) and many outdoor opportunities.  Additionally, you're ALWAYS within driving distance of a tropical beach.  Property can be cheap, depending on where you're looking to purchase at and so can the cost of living.  \n\nFR
459541
Puerto Rico is a U.S. Commonwealth with U.S. citizenship.  There are no travel restrictions to other US areas and no customs duties or quotas on shipments between Puerto Rico and the US Mainland.
216107
no, it is in their best interests to be a state; however for various reasons in a recent vote they (narrowly) voted not to apply for statehood.\n\nas it stands puerto ricans are subject to US laws (they must pay taxes, they register for the draft, etc) but cannot participate in the making of those laws.  if puerto rico were to become a state, it would have 6 or 7 representatives in congress.  on the other hand, a study showed that under statehood puerto rico would lose 10-15% of it's economy and 50,000 to 100,000 jobs.  it's not an easy trade-off to make.\n\nhere are some facts related to the question of puerto rican statehood:\n\nhttp://www.englishfirst.org/puerto/puertofacts.htm\nhttp://ri.essortment.com/puertoricansta_rdla.htm\n\noverall i think that being relegated to second-hand citizenship is not worth the economic benefit, but it is ultimately up to the people of PR to decide what matters most to them.
524464
Well, we know that one more star will probably be added to the flag.\n\nEither a complete change of the set up of stars would occur or they'll just tack it on at the end somewhere.\n\nOr...the US could wait to incorporate Puerto Rico until we have another ten or so countries and territories ready to be annexed. At least then, we'll only have to address this situation once and it'll be with an even number of ten or so stars. ;)
1062062
Most people don't know that this question comes up in PR *all the time* and Puerto Ricans consistently choose the status quo. Why? They are part of the US, they receive federal development assistance, but *they don't have to pay federal taxes*. I would say this is a pretty sweet deal for PR, and since PR represents only a tiny part of the U.S., the vast majority of other Americans don't care one way or the other.\n\nIn referendums to decide status, the vote is almost evenly decided whether to become a state, or to stay the same (the latter has won, obviously). About 5% vote for complete independence. So it's clear that the vast majority of Puerto Ricans enjoy being part of the U.S.\n\nTrips to PR from the mainland are considered "domestic" (not international), PR is served by US Mail and has US Zip codes, the phone & electrical system are the same as in the U.S. However, they have their own team in the Olympics and other international competitions (then again, England & Scotland are separate teams in the World Cup...)\n\nBut the most important takeaway is that the U.S. *DOES* allow PR to choose what it wants for itself and will abide by whatever PR chooses. The fact is that Puerto Ricans seem to want to continue the current status.
655309
If my state was to secede and the U.S. decided to try to coerce or make war upon my state I would definitely fight for my state. State sovereignty and opposition to tyranny is worth fighting for.
842217
They are statutory citizens but their nationality is Puerto Rican.\n\nPuerto Rico has a non permanent political association with the US called Commonwealth, they can be fully independent if they want to thru elections.
840707
we have fifty states. the latest state brought into the US was Hawaii in the fifties. Washington, DC, is not considered a state because it is a single city and located within Maryland (if my memory serves me right). Puerto Rico is in US territory, but is not a state. I heard rumors in the past about making PR a state, but there has never been any depth to this rumor.\n\nOh, and UNI Panther.... I remember the song, too! Fifty nifty United States, from thirteen original colonies... fifty nifty stars on the flag that wave so beautifully in the breeze! Yay me!\n\nHope this helps.
505592
I don't think so.  Puerto Rico's main issue revolves around that lack of a middle class.  Socioeconomic differences are of the hardest to resolve but I feel a political revolt is a more likely result.
606743
Philippines. The United States would obviously support it.
180714
I am puerto rican and I think is easier for us to fit in the states because PR is a US territory what makes our culture similar if not the same as in the states. The problem is that northamericans think we have a hispanic culture as Mexico and others central and South americans countries but we don't our culture is enriched with hispanic and american heritage. In NY as in many other states the biggest problem for PRicans is showing that not because we speak Spanish we are illegals or Mexicans...the problem is that have been put together with some cultures that are way to different than ours. We have the best of these two cultures...family first (latino) pride for our country (USA). wilmary69@yahoo.com