General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsI think we need DC and Puerto Rico statehood NOW
I know we have Sinema and Manchin to deal with, but I don't think we can afford to wait. If we can't get these senators on board with this, then it could be years before we ever again have the opportunity.
I am a little hopeful about our chances next year and 2024 (maybe Biden can still win), but due to gerrymandering and voter suppression and the Electoral College (among other things) , Republicans have an inordinate amount of power and thus they could still prevail. Neil Buchanan is even more pessimistic: https://verdict.justia.com/2021/09/02/a-strange-type-of-federalism-awaits-us-in-republicans-upcoming-one-party-autocracy If he is correct, then Republicans will have all 3 branches of government in 2024, and we will lose control of Congress next year. Hence we need DC and Puerto Rico statehood now, while we can still get them.
Buchanan makes good points: Republicans know that they can repeal Roe v. Wade and do other unpopular things but they don't care, as they know they can still win. McConnell's popularity could go down to the 30's several months before any election, but in the end enough Kentuckians still vote for him for him to continue to inflict damage on our country. Even when Republicans lose they know they will be back, so they just bide their time with their obstructionism. Then once they do win, it's another round of tax cuts for the super wealthy, and perhaps spending cuts to social welfare programs too. It's really fucked up, the power they have.
FoxNewsSucks
(10,378 posts)hurple
(1,304 posts)Puerto Rico does not want statehood. They seem happy being a territory.
former9thward
(31,805 posts)thucythucy
(7,986 posts)On the poorer side: crappy federal infrastructure spending and the appalling response to recent hurricanes (remember Trump tossing rolls of paper towels?) play a role.
TreasonousBastard
(43,049 posts)thucythucy
(7,986 posts)52.34% voted yes to statehood, 47.66% voted no.
https://ballotpedia.org/Puerto_Rico_Statehood_Referendum_(2020).
I think the abyssmal response to recent hurricanes and natural disasters have played a part in a shift in public opinion.
tritsofme
(17,325 posts)Statehood is forever, the opportunity for self determination is permanently removed.
Absent a strong consensus on the island, I dont think statehood is a good idea.
LanternWaste
(37,748 posts)And precisely what percentage of the electorate is needed to meet that measure?
tritsofme
(17,325 posts)I dont have a specific answer, but it just doesnt seem that admitting a state where such a significant minority is opposed to joining would be a recipe for success.
thucythucy
(7,986 posts)And what kind of failure would the majority of voters on Puerto Rico be risking?
A bigger failure than a hurricane response so inadequate that we still don't have an accurate count of dead, years after the event?
UTUSN
(70,497 posts)TreasonousBastard
(43,049 posts)chair of the PR Republican party. Now she's with the New Progressive Party, which is pro statehood. The Governor is also NPP.
NPP is fairly conservative, although maybe not batshit like our Repubicans, but the PR Democratic Party isn't all that progressive, either.
Last shot at statehood was passed by the House, but stalled in the Senate.
It may happen next election, but as you imply, Puerto Rico is not under any circumstances a bastion of liberalism.
It could mean another R or two in the House and, worse, two R's in the Senate.
tritsofme
(17,325 posts)Im not sure what you think we can do, NOW?
Stargleamer
(1,979 posts)and perhaps be open to some kind of compromise/future tit-for-tat or be open to being able to be persuaded how necessary this is. I realize this could be mistaken, but being uncertain, it seemed worth a try.
treestar
(82,383 posts)Hortensis
(58,785 posts)Puerto Rican nationalist terrorism?" "Now?!" Pretty sure an era of surging RW civil unrest and domestic terrorism isn't the right time. Only roughly half of PRans say they want statehood, and even in many of them it's weak, while some of those who oppose are very hostile.
As for DC, please remember that 2 new senators could be elected by either party. And, of course, the Republicans would make electing 2 additional Republican senators a top, top, TOP priority. Roughly half of people anywhere are conservative, even if a majority in DC currently tends to vote Democratic,
Experience suggests many could be turned fairly easily into useful idiots with Republican and far-left Kool-Aid.
And that's without the obvious move of changing the demographic balance of this relatively small population by moving in more conservative residents. We're not talking California here.
Not saying DC shouldn't have senators, only saying be very careful what you wish for. The RW powers are extremely ruthless and determined, and this would provide two very reachable grenades to blow up our democracy with.