Should Puerto-Rico become the 51st state?

Prescott Valley Correspondent-Puerto Rico should not become the 51st state for a number of reasons. Puerto Rico currently owes $74 billion to creditors that hold its tax-exempt bonds along with $40 billion in unfunded pension liabilities. Bankruptcy proceedings are currently underway. Puerto Rico’s difficulties have been occurring over a period of time and are the … Continue reading Should Puerto-Rico become the 51st state?

Symposium 2016: Should we cut our territories and possessions loose and let them be independent nations?

Gastonia, NC Correspondent- Let’s look at Puerto Rico as an example for the purposes of this question.  Not only do the vast majority of people there not want to be independent, support for statehood is nearing all-time highs.  Rather than cutting them loose, I say we make PR a state and stop letting the country … Continue reading Symposium 2016: Should we cut our territories and possessions loose and let them be independent nations?

Should the United States re-write laws to allow Puerto Rico to go through the bankruptcy process and should the taxpayers fund a bailout of Puerto Rico? Does this create a precedent for other cities, states, and municipalities that want taxpayer funded bailouts?

Prescott Valley, AZ Correspondent-As Puerto Rico is an island territory of the United States as opposed to a city or town, neither should laws be re-written to allow Puerto Rico to go through the bankruptcy process nor should taxpayers fund a bailout of Puerto Rico. Though Puerto Rico is under American law and the Constitution … Continue reading Should the United States re-write laws to allow Puerto Rico to go through the bankruptcy process and should the taxpayers fund a bailout of Puerto Rico? Does this create a precedent for other cities, states, and municipalities that want taxpayer funded bailouts?