Seem the US just admitted they have a colony

[Rio Cana]

PR. would do very well since South Korea, the EU. and China would jump to invest in PR. PR. could negotiate directly with those nations. Has it is now, the US has to give approval. And you know they will prefer any new foreign investment to go to a State on the mainland and not PR.

DOES such investment have to go through the State Department? Because that's not the case for the States; foreign interests buy shit here all the time.

To be sure, we can't negotiate our own trade deals, but the States are pretty much completely open to foreign investment.

I would guess so.

I do know that once a former Governor here tried to get a deal to buy cheap oil from Venezuela but the US did not give approval so consumers here were stuck paying higher oil prices from ME. sources.

[The Silver Sentinel]

What exactly are you expecting to befall Puerto Ricans should they gain statehood? For their island to get overrun by gangs of rowdy white teenagers that liken themselves to a form of aircraft propulsion?

You want an answer then ask a Canadian why he does not want Canada to become part of the US. And Canada, except possibly for the French part, closely resembles US culture including language.

Really? The U.S. invented the English language now? And here I was lead to believe that both of us closely resemble England.

[Ifreann]

Wow, that is a thorough and comprehensive explanation of how Solicitor General Verrelli admitted that Puerto Rico is a colony of the United States.

I think we have an unbeliever here.

The following is an article from Fox Latino (you know Fox news Latino service) -

I'm going to stop you there. The brief Verrilli wrote was in English. I've already linked to it. A translation of Fox News spin of a translation of what Verrilli actually said is not a very good indication of what Verrilli actually said, which I linked to already.

If you have no sovereignty then you are a colony.

That's not true.

He was inferring that PR. was a colony .

He was not implying any such thing.

The entire article from Fox Latino - http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/espano ... e-la-isla/

From the Daily The Americas newspaper which is an old and well respected newspaper located in Miami -
http://www.diariolasamericas.com/4851_e ... -eeuu.html

From Noticel but this time an island legislator is supporting the Governor who sent a letter to the UN and US leader on this controversy. -
http://www.noticel.com/noticia/184894/c ... tatus.html

That's nice. Would you like me to get the link to the actual brief again?

[Royal Hindustan]

It's a territory which can choose to become a state. Yet, he question remains, why would it? Even if they had representation, their issues differ from those of the mainland Congress and they would be outvoted. They have a voice to raise their issues, however. If they wish to secede, then their protection would be revoked. It's a base, but there can always be another base.

[Staythefout]

So what if we have a colony...we're ritch bitch

[Uxupox]

That is a non-existent party that nobody will vote for anyway.

That party exists. And people do vote for it.

What was the percentage that it got in the last election? It only got 17,000 thousand votes in the last election out of over 1.5 Million voters. They are not going anywhere anytime soon, in fact the political party still hasn't openly discussed what kind of self-determination they would make in regarding to our political status.

[Lost heros]

So what if we have a colony...we're ritch bitch

It's hypocritical to say the least

[Alvecia]

So what if we have a colony...we're ritch bitch

It's hypocritical to say the least

The realisation of hypocrisy doesn't seem to matter to those it applies to, only to those who like to point it out.

[Camelza]

I thought Puerto Rico was on its way to become a state of the US and independence was not that much wanted by Puerto Ricans.
I guess "Amical Protectorate" would be more fitting, considering they're a state protected and in association with the US that the majority of its citizens, as well as its government, is lukewarm regarding a future with their country being another star in the Star-bangled Banner.

[Mike the Progressive]

I'd prefer if we just stop letting them freely move to the US and give them independence. See how well they do.

PR. would do very well since South Korea, the EU. and China would jump to invest in PR. PR. could negotiate directly with those nations. Has it is now, the US has to give approval. And you know they will prefer any new foreign investment to go to a State on the mainland and not PR.

Please understand Rio, unless the government of PR enslaves its people to use them as cheap, cheap to make cheap cheap shit, nobody is going to invest in Puerto Rico.

[The Silver Sentinel]

So what if we have a colony...we're ritch bitch

Uh..... No. No you are not. You are more like Donald Trump. Living on borrowed money, way beyond your means, destined for the poor house when it all comes crashing down. "Ritch" "Rich" is not the word I would be using.

[Salus Maior]

Puerto Rico isn't a colony.

Do you prefer to call it "protectorate"?

It's a territory. And one that is willingly a part of the U.S, mind you.

[Alien Space Bats]

PR. would do very well since South Korea, the EU. and China would jump to invest in PR. PR. could negotiate directly with those nations. Has it is now, the US has to give approval. And you know they will prefer any new foreign investment to go to a State on the mainland and not PR.

DOES such investment have to go through the State Department? Because that's not the case for the States; foreign interests buy shit here all the time.

To be sure, we can't negotiate our own trade deals, but the States are pretty much completely open to foreign investment.

I would guess so.

I do know that once a former Governor here tried to get a deal to buy cheap oil from Venezuela but the US did not give approval so consumers here were stuck paying higher oil prices from ME. sources.

That's trade. Trade policy is set in Washington, and applies to everyone, whether in the States or in Puerto Rico.

But you said INVESTMENT, not trade. There's a difference. Can you show me proof that foreign INVESTORS need State Department approval to INVEST in Puerto Rico?

ADDENDUM: Statehood would eliminate any problems that the Commonwealth might face relative to the rest of the United States w/re to the rights of the Puerto Rican people as a corporate entity (i.e., they'd have the same right to self-government as the rest of the Nation, within the bounds of the US Constitution). It would also guarantee Puerto Rico unlimited access to the largest consumer market in the world (i.e., America), unlimited access to the largest financial market in the world (i.e., America), automatic membership in NATFA (granting open access to Canada and Mexico as well as the US), one of the strongest and most dependable currencies in the world (i.e., the U.S. dollar), the full protection of the world's most powerful military establishment, and the guaranteed continuation of those constitutional and human rights that Puerto Ricans now enjoy (as US citizens).

Independence, OTOH, would force Puerto Rico to establish its own currency (of dubious value), result in the potential deprivation of travel and emigration rights to the United States (and possibly the rest of North America), force Puerto Ricans to provide for their own security, and require Puerto Rico to negotiate its own trade arrangements (some of which might be better, but some of which might also be worse). While a few people (such as you) might think this wonderful, I'm not surprised that most Puerto Ricans do not.

As for Commonwealth status, I think that we (i.e., the rest of the United States) should not continue to offer it to Puerto Rico as an option. It denies Puerto Rico proper Representation at the National level (i.e., 5 Congressmen, 2 Senators, and 7 Electoral Votes for President and Vice President). It also denies Puerto Rico full local sovereignty within the confines of the American Federal system, in so far as Congress can theoretically overturn any law enacted by the Commonwealth on behalf of the people of Puerto Rico (something that it cannot do in the case of States save in those cases where the Constitution grants it the power to do so). Sure, independence would give the people of Puerto Rico even more authority over their own affairs — but only at a price that is probably too high to pay (unless the people of Puerto Rico REALLY feel as though they should NOT be a part of the United States, which seems to be the case for only a very small minority of them).

Sure, RC: YOU want independence. But you're in the minority within the Commonwealth. The future for Puerto Rico lies within the US, especially as America's Latino minority grows to become a significant segment of the Nation's population.

[Rio Cana]

Snip since too long. But can be found in spoiler.

PR. would do very well since South Korea, the EU. and China would jump to invest in PR. PR. could negotiate directly with those nations. Has it is now, the US has to give approval. And you know they will prefer any new foreign investment to go to a State on the mainland and not PR.

DOES such investment have to go through the State Department? Because that's not the case for the States; foreign interests buy shit here all the time.

To be sure, we can't negotiate our own trade deals, but the States are pretty much completely open to foreign investment.

I would guess so.

I do know that once a former Governor here tried to get a deal to buy cheap oil from Venezuela but the US did not give approval so consumers here were stuck paying higher oil prices from ME. sources.

That's trade. Trade policy is set in Washington, and applies to everyone, whether in the States or in Puerto Rico.

But you said INVESTMENT, not trade. There's a difference. Can you show me proof that foreign INVESTORS need State Department approval to INVEST in Puerto Rico?

ADDENDUM: Statehood would eliminate any problems that the Commonwealth might face relative to the rest of the United States w/re to the rights of the Puerto Rican people as a corporate entity (i.e., they'd have the same right to self-government as the rest of the Nation, within the bounds of the US Constitution). It would also guarantee Puerto Rico unlimited access to the largest consumer market in the world (i.e., America), unlimited access to the largest financial market in the world (i.e., America), automatic membership in NATFA (granting open access to Canada and Mexico as well as the US), one of the strongest and most dependable currencies in the world (i.e., the U.S. dollar), the full protection of the world's most powerful military establishment, and the guaranteed continuation of those constitutional and human rights that Puerto Ricans now enjoy (as US citizens).

Independence, OTOH, would force Puerto Rico to establish its own currency (of dubious value), result in the potential deprivation of travel and emigration rights to the United States (and possibly the rest of North America), force Puerto Ricans to provide for their own security, and require Puerto Rico to negotiate its own trade arrangements (some of which might be better, but some of which might also be worse). While a few people (such as you) might think this wonderful, I'm not surprised that most Puerto Ricans do not.

As for Commonwealth status, I think that we (i.e., the rest of the United States) should not continue to offer it to Puerto Rico as an option. It denies Puerto Rico proper Representation at the National level (i.e., 5 Congressmen, 2 Senators, and 7 Electoral Votes for President and Vice President). It also denies Puerto Rico full local sovereignty within the confines of the American Federal system, in so far as Congress can theoretically overturn any law enacted by the Commonwealth on behalf of the people of Puerto Rico (something that it cannot do in the case of States save in those cases where the Constitution grants it the power to do so). Sure, independence would give the people of Puerto Rico even more authority over their own affairs — but only at a price that is probably too high to pay (unless the people of Puerto Rico REALLY feel as though they should NOT be a part of the United States, which seems to be the case for only a very small minority of them).

Sure, RC: YOU want independence. But you're in the minority within the Commonwealth. The future for Puerto Rico lies within the US, especially as America's Latino minority grows to become a significant segment of the Nation's population.

I am not an expert in these things. You need to find an expert from here who could better argue this issue with you.
And "YOU" said not me. Like they say on the radio there are only three solutions. Statehood which is a fantasy, Independence which is kind of hard since many people have this idea that they cannot survive without the US it's a type of "Cultural cringe" and a Republic in Association with the US which is sort of like what Palau and some other Pacific island nations have with the US. This third option seems good.

This on Cultural cringe - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cultural_cringe

In answering one of your comments, they were saying on local radio the other day that PRicans in the US were economically the worst off when it comes to the Hispanic population of the US.
To answer your point on Independence supporters being low, there are many small independence groups which are not involved in creating a political party but who have said that in the next election they would be supporting the PR. Independence party.

You need to read more on the history of PR. especially when it comes to finding out what happened to all those Independence supporters of decades ago.
The following really informative video from a US source which includes a US congressmen and former NY State Assemblyman explains what happened.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khkONOYSB8Q

Side Note - When it comes to the Nationalist leader the video was talking about, there are towns here which have streets named after him and statues of him. The following is a very short video of a Statue of the former Nationalist leader that was unveiled in one of PR. major cities in 2012. The street that statue is located is also named after him.
Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0s5UeXJvG4

[Rio Cana]

@Ifreann - Are you a lawyer or what! Like I have already pointed out in the post above this one, I am no expert so you need to find an expert from here who can really go into details.

Update - According to an expert that spoke on a local radio station, the US Supreme Court will be hearing the so called brief you keep mentioning on January 13. They should have there decision in by May 2016. That decision will finally once and for all spell it out for the UN to see, if PR.is a colony of the US or not in fact colony . The expert on the radio was saying that the US Supreme Court gets 8000 requests a year to hear briefs but they only hear 200. That means that this is important. The expert said that chances are Judge Breyer will make the major comment since he tends to deal with State law vs. Federal laws. So time to wait.