I was unmotivated about Puerto Rico statehood until Hurricane Mara.

[Renew Deal]

Then it became clear that it needs to happen because they were abandoned by a president during a crisis.

I was unmotivated by DC statehood until Generalisimo Trump decided to put active duty troops on the streets. Then it became clear that a modern American city can be used for a GI Joe spectacle.

I wasn’t for or against it. But now I am for it. These two territories have a large amount of people and require full representation.

[Lars39]

1. Puerto Rico has to vote on this.

Self-determination

[Renew Deal]

2. No they don't, but they already have more than once.

97% for statehood in 2017

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/2017_Puerto_Rican_status_referendum

[Lars39]

5. So they've already voted for statehood.

Multiple times apparently. After the trump hurricane response I wouldn't blame them if they went country shopping.

[delisen]

6. Great. We need to take the Senate for this?

[Renew Deal]

8. Yes

The statehood process is surprisingly simple. It’s a majority vote in the house and senate. And I expect Democrats to press their advantage if they win in 2020.

[AllaN01Bear]

3. what about guam , us vergian islands ?

[Renew Deal]

4. Unmotivated

[mackdaddy]

13. Both have a population of 120 to 170 thousand.

Might be too small for individual statehood.

[FM123]

7. Yes, I agree!

[mercuryblues]

9. I am for the territories deciding for themselves

PR has decided.

The reason the Republicans are against it, PR is majority Democratic. Their votes will topple the republican power structure.

[moose65]

12. Have the Virgin Islands ever voted for statehood?

IIRC, the US Virgin Islands are only about 50 miles from Puerto Rico. Could they be included in the state of Puerto Rico?

[Igel]

14. They've "decided."

Either in non-binding referenda or in referenda where a small number of people voted. What do most think? Gee, dunno, but I know what 20% think. When there was a boycott by most of the other parties for various reasons.

Before we call for "fair" elections, the first order of business must be defining "fair" in operational terms. It is, however, the thing most deeply buried and least open to discussion at any point.

Putin called elections in which pretty much every opposition candidate was disqualified "fair". It's the same game, whoever does it.

[colsohlibgal]

10. It Is Time

Not only for Puerto Rico but also the District Of Columbia. We went from 48 to 50 with Alaska and Hawaii in 1959, now it’s time to go to 52.

[Igel]

15. I prefer returning DC to its former territory.

Make it part of MD, except for a very small area that's under Congressional authority.

When it's part of MD, suddenly the constitutional amendment giving its residents the franchise also becomes null.

That's what happened to the other half of DC, fair's fair.

[mackdaddy]

11. PR has a greater population than 17 of the current states.

And has the same population as the six bottom states population COMBINED!

DC has about the same population as each of the 4 bottom states.

https://worldpopulationreview.com/states/