Puerto Ricans just issued their mandate for statehood

[TexasTowelie]

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico -- On Nov. 3, the U.S. citizens of the territory of Puerto Rico answered a simple but momentous question: “Should Puerto Rico be admitted immediately as a state of the union? Yes or No.” This straightforward query produced a powerful result: Voters demanded statehood.

The significance of this historic moment should not be lost. Puerto Rico has been a U.S. territory since 1898 and Puerto Ricans have been deeply divided over the islands’ political status for generations, a debate that the more than 100,000 Puerto Ricans living in Ohio know well. After six consultations, with statehood winning in 2012 and 2017, this was the first referendum in which statehood was judged through an up-or-down vote.

Results were conclusive. An absolute majority of 52% voted for statehood, garnering far more votes than any party or any candidate elected to islandwide office. Statehood even tallied more votes than the elected pro-statehood governor, showing that statehood received support from diverse swaths of the electorate.

In voting “yes,” voters debunked the myths propagated against previous statehood victories.

Read more: https://www.cleveland.com/opinion/2020/12/puerto-ricans-just-issued-their-mandate-for-statehood-jose-a-cabrera.html

[Funtatlaguy]

1. Two more Dem Senators. Oh hell yes. Add DC to make it 4.

[mitch96]

7. +++ Agree.. it's about time... Hopefully more Dem politicians... McTurtle will try to stop it... nt

[Hekate]

2. They will gain more rights as a State than they have as a Territory. I know it's been contentious...

...but the world is what it is, with a lot of enormous competing powers waiting to swallow up little fish. Beyond that, I think Uncle Sam owes them a debt in so many ways.

So good luck to Puerto Rico, and to the aspiring state of DC as well.

[LittleGirl]

3. I'd be happy to move there

And help make it happen.

[Mike Nelson]

4. I hope...

... PR becomes a state! However, Republicans won't let it happen, for obvious reasons.

[pecosbob]

5. All sorts of corporate benefits are derived by locating in Puerto Rico when compared to the U.S.

Some of the more heinous exploitation would go away with statehood so the one percent is bound to oppose it.

[VA_Jill]

6. Maria did it.

She was the absolute last straw. I know. My Nuyorican SIL works cell towers and was in the first bunch of volunteer workers to go there after she went through. He still has family there and he will be happy to tell you all about it.