How come they don't just declare puerto rico a state?

Question

check the link out to read. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puerto_Rico

Answer 1

The process is complex.  First, a referendum would be needed (residents would have to vote for or against it).  As things are, a bit less than half of the island would vote in favor.  The major issue in this aspect of the process is the scare tactics that the opposing parties have used since the 1950's (we would lose our cultural identity, yadda yadda).  Another scare tactics: we would have to pay more taxes.  Ironically, the islanders are now subjected to additional tax paying via added sales taxes.  The economy is literally shot in the island right now.  

On top of that, not everyone in Congress would be happy to have another state added to the mix, why? because it wouldn't be convenient for some states to have another one come in.  That would be another battle that would need to be fought.  The US would have to want us to join as a state.

It is not required to have a passport to travel there, we are a territory of the United States.  There are no customs checks.

Answer 2

My dad's been rooting for it to become a state since I was too young to remember....

It's annoying, cause most people "appear" to be either for or against it, then 'chicken out' and vote for things to stay the same.....

But US has to want us to become a State too, soo that would be another battle to be won....

I can't wait!

Answer 3

You don,t need a pass port to go to Puerto Rico since it is a US territory and therefore part of the US. Puerto Rico isn't a state because it is a long process to become a state, the economy there still doesn't quite meet that in the rest of the US, and the biggest reason is probably that Puerto Rico does not want to be a state. I lived in Puerto Rico for a year and I am 100 percent Puerto Rican. In all of my time vistiting and living in PR I have never met someone who wanted PR to become a state. They like being semi independent. The way that Puerto Rico is now they avoid becoming too Americanized and they keep their distinct culture while still getting the benefits of most US states.

Answer 4

pr is a commonwealth and we have the right to decide whether were a state or not...and apperently the majority of us dont want it to be...i know i dont want it to be...i want it to stay as just plain Puerto Rico...its good enough to be a commonwelth

Answer 5

the USA does not want to spend the money to upgrade there ecomey to meet the usa standards.

more on that topic

http://welcome.topuertorico.org/governme...

Answer 6

Well it is the choice of Puerto Rico, think about it. They get the protection of the United States government without having to pay any taxes. Of course they can't vote however.

Answer 7

Puerto Rico needs to decide if they want to become a state or not. As of now most people rather stay as a commonwealth while some want statehood & some want to be an independent country. But until there is a clear majority, nothing will change.

Also if PR says they want to become a state, then the US needs to decide if they really want PR as a state. It has advantages & disadvantages for PR & the US. Many puerto ricans feel that they will loose its culture & language becuase the US will not allow a spanish speaking state.

& yes you are correct PR does pay US taxes. They do Not pay income tax, but they do pay other federal taxes such as medicare & SSI. But in return they cannot vote for president. And No you do Not need a passport to go to PR if you are a US citizen, just a valid state ID or DL.

Answer 8

Puerto Rico is a territory of the U.S. that was acquired during the Spanish-American war in the early 1900s. I pretty sure they don't want to become a state now so they don't have to pay the same taxes we have in the U.S.(there are others reasons too!). Also, I don't think you need a passport because it's a territory.

Answer 9

democracy its a slow process. puerto rico eventually may become a state, since taxes werent part of the plan and we already pay a higher tax than some states in the US, but the money does not make up all the economical problems the island is in need off, basically because of fraud in the inner government for years. Another reason PR hasn't become an official state its because not everyone want it to become a state, ive heard people saying they do want PR to become a state but still not loose its cultural identity. for example one of the biggest events here in PR is the miss universe beauty pageants, representing PR its a big pride, if PR becomes a state, PR will be implemented in US miss universe, discarding PR from representing its beauty world wide. there are so many things involved culturally that puerto ricans and their pride has not permitted puerto rico to become an official state, its confusing, but its all about culture and pride, people just want to be a state but still maintaining their culture. some dont care and just want to become a state, and others want puerto rico to stop depending on the US and affiliate to other foreign countries.

Answer 10

because puerto ricans are lazy and they want welfare checks.

Answer 11

PR status is a big complicated issue, unfortunately PR is not prepared for a lot of things yet. The island has by far bigger problems than political status. PR has a considerably big poor population, education is a disaster, security is a mess, the government couldn't be worse and the island has no industry. Everything we get is imported, and therefore more expensive, because we can't manufacture our own stuff, its just to expensive to do, every week foreign factories close their doors and leave for cheaper countries increasing our unemployment rates. Plus most of the educated people get "abducted" by American multinationals because of the juicy salaries they pay. So that means that eventually PR will run out of the one and only natural resource it holds (the Spanish exploited PR's natural resources for 400 yrs), smart people. I call my island "mongoliod island", most people here have what a guy called "island mentality" and what that means is that people tend to close their brains to their surroundings and tend to limit themselves to their own little world. Thats a reality today, although I would love for us to become a state of the union, I rather stay realistic and say that it will never happen in a millio years, I know, I have lived here my entire life. But I can't deny, living here is ironically like living in paradise compared to living in the states, like I did for a while.

Answer 12

It's up to the people to decide, and about 70% of them wish to remain a commonwealth.  

And as they are a territory of the US, no passport is needed.

Answer 13

you don't need a passport to go there.

& i think they'll become a state in the next 15 years.

Answer 14

I believe they have to decide for themselves whether they want to be a state or not.

Answer 15

how come they don't just declare puerto rico a state? Ask them (US Congress).

Population level is not the desicion point to change a territory to state. It is economics & polithics.

I hope the efforts of supporters of statehood become reality in the future.

Passport, no if you are an US citizen.  Traveling to PR from the USA is a domestic flight.  you will need a valid state Id for example a driving liscense.  Unless homeland Security changes the rules to travel within USA territory no passport required to come to PR.

Answer 16

well many puerto rican is afraid of their language of being lost and plus it is a territory so the us can't really decide now since the election and stuff///

Answer 17

to start now we have to pay sales tax of 7%. travel from or to here is like travel to another state, you only need a photo id. do you think we are a third world?