Should Puerto Rico become the 51st state?
Historically, both the movement for Puerto Rican statehood and the movement for Puerto Rican independence have known only marginal popular support, probably because just about anyone who lives there thinks that the Commonwealth status is best for the island. Residents know they have nothing to gain by statehood or independence, and everything to lose. Statehood would be a disaster, instantly lowering Puerto Rico’s status to being the poorest of U.S. States while also costing the island’s economy many millions of dollars in Federal monies. It would make residents of Puerto Rico liable for federal income tax, from which they are now exempt. It would damage beyond repair the rich Puerto Rican cultural heritage that is currently enjoying a renaissance, partly by requiring the exclusive use of the English language in public schools, and it would bring hundreds of other unwelcome intrusions. The chief, and perhaps the only benefit of statehood is that residents of Puerto Rico could then vote
