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CONLEY COMMENTARY (WSAU) – Democrats dream of making Washington DC and Puerto Rico the 51st and 52nd states. Both have many more democrat voters than republicans. The donkeys hope for four more red senators in perpetuity.
Washington DC is a non-starter. Everyone knows it’s a city, and there are reasons why our government is housed in a federal district; one reason is that no state can hold sway over the federal government. Washington DC has no economy aside from mountains of federal paperwork and regulations. And, most members of congress have little interest in paying a state tax to D.C. That isn’t going to happen.
Puerto Rico is a more interesting case. It’s been a U.S. territory since 1898. There’s been debate, and even referenda in 2012, 2017, 2020 and 2024. Puerto Ricans, who are U.S. citizens, were asked if they wanted to be an independent nation, a state, or a U.S. territory. There’s been no clear majority.
Why not statehood? I’ll tell you a secret that almost no one knows. Puerto Ricans living on the island don’t pay federal income tax. Their businesses don’t pay federal tax either. They pay a much lower tax to the territory’s treasury. And they know that having to pay federal taxes, like everyone else in all the other states, would harm their economy. They would also be subject to all federal regulations, many of which are relaxed there to stimulate economic growth.
Puerto Ricans also want to preserve their culture. They’re very aware of how Hawaii and Alaska were “Americanized” after becoming states. They want no part of that.
And, being too small to be an independent nation, most Puerto Ricans prefer to be a territory – with some autonomy and a close relationship to the United States. They are free to come and go anywhere in the country without paying duties or needing a passport.
All of this is depressing for Democrats, who consider the U.S. Senate to be undemocratic. Unfortunately, they’ll have to do things the old-fashioned way – by winning at the ballot box.
Chris Conley
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