BBC: Early returns suggest Puerto Ricio may vote for US statehood

[Winehole23]

So far only 31% of the votes have been counted in a two-question, non-binding referendum.


And the man elected to be the new governor of the island, Alejandro Garcia Padilla, has campaigned in favour of maintaining the status quo.


It is the fourth time in 45 years that Puerto Rico has voted on its national status.


The island is currently a US territory, with US currency and passports.


It has ceded control of its foreign and defence policies to Washington, but governs itself and does not return senators to the US Congress. Puerto Rico is represented in Washington by a non-voting delegate.
On Tuesday voters were asked two questions in a referendum. The first was whether they wanted to change Puerto Rico's relationship with the US. Of the votes counted, 53% were in favour of change.
The second question asked whether islanders wanted to become a US state, gain independence or have a "sovereign free association" that would grant Puerto Rico more autonomy.

Those in favour of becoming the 51st US state hold a clear lead in that ballot, with more than 60% of the votehttp://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-20238272

[Winehole23]

Puerto Rico

In 1898 the Spanish lost the Caribbean Island at the end of the Spanish-American war and it came under US control
In 1917 its people became US citizens - they are allowed to serve in the military but still do not have the right to vote in US presidential elections
The country is a self-governing territory of the US but the US Congress and the president have ultimate control providing social services, foreign policy and defence
They have a congressional representative but do not have voting rights there
Becoming a state would see the Puerto Ricans having to pay federal taxes - currently they are exempt - but they would have the same rights as those on the mainland



Puerto Rico profile (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-17139243)

[MannyIsGod]

So here does the situation go from here? Congress would have to approve it, correct? That strikes me as incredibly unlikely but obviously the status quo is changing and I'm not sure the implications of that.

[scott]

Sorry, 51 just a weird number. Come back to us when you get 9 other folks and we'll see how that looks on a flag.

PS: Thanks for that tax revenue

[LnGrrrR]

Sorry, 51 just a weird number. Come back to us when you get 9 other folks and we'll see how that looks on a flag.

PS: Thanks for that tax revenue

Not to ruin your joke Scott, but you could make 51 on a flag without too much of a problem. 51 divided by 3 is 17, and you can stagger the 17 by doing lines of 9 and 8, so it would look like this.

*********
********
*********
********
*********
********

[CosmicCowboy]

They must be nuts to vote for paying US taxes. Right now they get the best of both worlds.

[ElNono]

^ It's the handouts that matter to them...

On a serious note, US taxes are pretty low compared to the rest of the world, in general. They might actually be getting a discount.

[bus driver]

fuck this free loading island. we should make it a prison

[Spurminator]

Sorry, 51 just a weird number. Come back to us when you get 9 other folks and we'll see how that looks on a flag.

PS: Thanks for that tax revenue


We should really just combine the Dakotas anyway.

[Ashy Larry]

Puerto Rico should be a state just because of the great boxers and big asses they produce .........

[Spurminator]

Via Reddit:

http://i.imgur.com/BNTvI.png

Not bad...

[Wild Cobra]

Sorry, 51 just a weird number. Come back to us when you get 9 other folks and we'll see how that looks on a flag.

PS: Thanks for that tax revenue
Maybe it's time to have a "Design a Flag" thread?

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x262/Wild_Cobra/Misc/51stateflag50pct.jpg

Anyone else? Does look a bit off. i think I'll try something else.

[Wild Cobra]

Not to ruin your joke Scott, but you could make 51 on a flag without too much of a problem. 51 divided by 3 is 17, and you can stagger the 17 by doing lines of 9 and 8, so it would look like this.

*********
********
*********
********
*********
********
Two added states works better. Maybe we can just add DC?

13 x 4

7/6/7/6/7/6/7/6

[Wild Cobra]

Via Reddit:

http://i.imgur.com/BNTvI.png

Not bad...
I like this. Works for me.