this post was submitted on 30 Oct 2024
1321 points (98.7% liked)

Progressive Politics

1112 readers
598 users here now

Welcome to Progressive Politics! A place for news updates and political discussion from a left perspective. Conservatives and centrists are welcome just try and keep it civil :)

(Sidebar still a work in progress post recommendations if you have them such as reading lists)

founded 1 year ago
MODERATORS
 
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] brucethemoose@lemmy.world 1 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

Of course, there are advantages to statehood as well. Having your citizens fully eligible for all forms of federal assistance, when your population’s average wealth and income is well below national averages? That has some advantages.

Especially since Puerto Rico is right in hurricane alley. This is going to become increasinly relevant, fast.

Also, it seems like such a huge issue to force unless there's a giant majority one way or another, which would only happen if there was some MASSIVE benefit or detriment to becoming a state (which is totally possible). If they marginally decide to go one way, and the next years the population realizes it was a huge mistake due to changes, they're screwed.

Just as an example, the U.S. could actually go mad, and Peurto Rico would want nothing to do with them. If they were already a state... that would suck. Alternatively, maybe we hit some climate tipping point sooner than expected, and hurricanes become such an existential threat that they need federal help to deal with them. If they became independant, well, that's not an option anymore. Both very possible scenarios.