I support the Puerto Rico Democracy Act, Nevermind
Apr 30th, 2010 by Timothy Pancoast
(Summary of main points at the bottom.)
For a brief moment I was actually considering the Puerto Rico Democracy Act. I was willing to give it a shot as long as certain conditions were met. Then I called Congressman Castle’s office and had a nice conversation with one of his staffers, and that all changed. I asked his office to reconsider his sponsorship of this act, to hold off on a yes vote. I also requested that they post on his website a way for concerned and confused citizens to learn more of the background information on the bill and the situation in Puerto Rico before the legislation is passed.
The staffer did a great job of listening and answering my questions. She expressed that the intention of this Act would be to give the American citizens in Puerto Rico the opportunity to democratically voice their opinion and to exercise self determination with regard to the future of their homeland for the first time. Wonderful sentiment and a great conversation, I enjoyed it. However, it got me thinking, and I started remembering things from high school. I did some research cursory research, and my mind changed about the bill. I still support Puerto Rico becoming a state if that is what it wants and if the Congress agrees to statehood. I just can’t bring myself to support this bill.
So what was my initial position and what were those conditions?
I supported, and still do, Puerto Ricans being able to voice their self determination regarding the future of that land. However, I am all for uniform treatment. I don’t like the federal government creating laws that only apply to one and not others. Therefore I’d like to see the law changed to grant all US territories, not just Puerto Rico the same right. As a matter of fact if they feel this law is needed to stress Puerto Rico’s opportunity to exercise democratic self determination than I’d like to see it specifically codified for not just all territories, but all of the states as well. Rep. Castle voted for the Puerto Rico Democracy Act, but would he support a Delaware Democracy Act. Why shouldn’t Delawareans have the same opportunity to self determine the future of our state?
Some of the other conditions I’d like to have worked out before this Act goes into effect are the same that Rep. Pence expressed earlier on the floor of the House. They include hammering out the issues of taxation, official language, and representation before any new state is considered.
What did my phone conversation get me thinking about?
Well in my quick search I reviewed some of Puerto Rico’s history and it confirmed what I though I had learned in high school. Puerto Rico held its first vote, or plebiscite to be precise, back in the 60’s in order to let the people of the nation voice their desires for the future of Puerto Rico. The choices on the ballot were very similar to what is in the Act that was just passed by our House of Representatives (commonwealth, statehood, or independence). Both versions of the plebiscite are non-binding, but I confirmed that Puerto Rico has been doing this for decades, and they didn’t need and Act of Congress to put together a vote. Obviously the results of these plebiscites have yet to favor statehood. In fact the one in 1998 had 50.3% of the vote cast for none of the above.
What exactly is in HR. 2499? Follow the link and check it out for yourself. It essentially sets up a two step voting process or plebiscite for the Puerto Ricans. Step one vote on change or to maintain their current status. If the majority favors their current status the bill gives the Puerto Rican legislature the authority to conduct the same plebiscite every 8 years. If the majority favors the option to change then they conduct a second vote. This time the options are complete independence, sovereignty in association with the United States, and statehood. In the amendment process I understand that a fourth option was added so that citizens would not be forced to either not vote or vote for an option they did not favor. The new option is to allow them to vote to maintain the current commonwealth status. The bill concludes by specifying how the plebiscites are to be conducted, who can vote, and how it will be funded.
Okay, so now for the final straw that leads me to decide against this legislation. While talking to the staffer, in looking at the title of the Act, and in listening to and reading what people have to say about this legislation the concept of giving the Puerto Rican’s democracy keeps coming up. This is ironic to me. You see Article IV Section 4 of the US Constitution states that, “The United States shall guarantee to every state in this Union a republican form of government”. Our congress wants this so bad that it is trying to legislate the by-passing of Puerto Rico’s existing republican form of government, with a piece of democratic government, in order to bring the territory into statehood which status would Constitutionally bind congress to protect Puerto Rico’s republican form of government.
Did I make a jumble out of that or what? At any rate the scenario, when viewed in that light takes on a shade of the ridiculous. Congress isn’t required to give anyone a democratic government, but it is required to ensure states a republican government, and by golly it will side-step the republican form of government if that is what it takes to do it. I am not opposed to the Puerto Rican’s voting on their destiny. They have already been doing that, and I support their efforts. I just don’t think the Federal Government is acting properly when they attempt legislate the plebiscite.
So my four arguments against this legislation are:
1. The Puerto Rican’s have been voting and exercising their right to self determination for decades, no act of congress needed.
2. The legislation is not applied uniformly. If it goes into effect, or anything like it, than I want it to be applied to every US territory, and even every state.
3. There are some pesky details that need to be worked out before we move along with making Puerto Rico a state in order to ensure that US laws that apply to the existing states will be applied equally to Puerto Rico.
4. The irony of our Congress superseding part of a republican form of government with a democratic form of government in order to arrive at a point where it is required to guarantee a republican form. There is just something that isn’t right about that picture.
Now for an alternative that I would have less reservations over. Take the specific out of the picture. The Puerto Rican’s know how to hold a plebiscite, they have done it several times before. Just write a bill authorizing U.S. territories (and if you really want to throw me a bone, states) to petition the federal government concerning their political status every 8 years, or on some other timetable that is deemed reasonable. Leave it up to the territory to decide if it will choose a democratic or republican method to determine their future course.
Agree or disagree, that is where I currently stand on the matter.
Why would anyone support this sham? Will PR have to make its official language English? Conversely, will the entire Federal government be required to go bilingual? Will PR, as a state within our nation, place its flag beneath the US flag? Will any laws unique to PR and are deemed un-Constitutional be stricken from their books? Given the relative poverty of that island (like a typical Latin American nation, there’s a very wealthy oligarchy and a very poor underclass, I went to college with many of the former) how much will it cost the rest of us to bring PR up to snuff? Will the people of PR see themselves as Americans, who respect the history and traditions? Will they willingly except mainlanders moving there permenently, as fellow Americans?
The answer to your first question is no. That is ok. I don’t care if PR makes both Spanish and English their official language. My issue is why doesn’t Delaware have even one official language. Why should we expect them to do what we won’t?
You already have the right to move there.
I am more in line with Tim. I do not think the system should be gamed so that statehood is forced down the throats of the majority if they don’t want it. Have an up or down vote. Not try to play games.
There is only one reason why the Socialist-Democrats want Puerto Rican statehood- the addition of two new senators and three or four congressmen, most of which, and probably all of which, will be Socialist-Democrats.
I believe there have been at least four referenda over the years re; statehood. They were all rejected by Puerto Rican voters, I believe, because statehood would mean income taxes- why would they vote to tax themselves when they already get the ‘social benefits?’
Now, however, the bottom 47% of income-earners in America pay no income tax. Hence, with heavy Socialist-Democrat campaigning and propagandizing (and, $-promising-$), Puerto Ricans might figure ‘why not?’
Only 20% of PR’s speak English. Does that not seem like a problem? Why don’t we go and petition Quebec…heck, Haiti needs help, why not them as well?
Regardless, the system is obviously being gamed to dilute Conservative, traditional America and our 40% level of identification, that is wrong and those attempting to do so should be reviled. Where is all the fanfare in this, public discourse, reporting? Nada. It was brought up under a near media blackout. WHY?
I was merely pointing to the other aspects of PR’s unworthiness to become a state in our union. How the vast majority of PR’s, culturally, historically, linguistically and patriotically, do not see themselves as Americans. That is not e pluribus unum…that is Al Gore’s idiotic misinterpretation of “out of one, many”. Furthermore, the mere fact that they are not petitioning us and certain members of Congress are petitioning them, smacks of something sinister afoot. First PR then DC, perhaps even Guam or the Virgin Islands. When will it end, that these splits of sand, get equal or more say than some of the smaller states, like DE. Perhaps the goal is to get to Obama’s mythological 57 states, with the addition of 7 reliable havens of Blue, replete with their 14 Senators.
Only 20% of PR’s speak English. Does that not seem like a problem?
Not at all. Hispanics (Cubans excluded) to what they’re told- vote for the Socialist-Democrat candidate.