Actually what a US Passport DOES get you is the rights and priviledges that people die for crossing the border, in rickety boats crossing the sea, and what millions are still waiting for in decade long immigration lines. If voting is that important to you as a Puerto Rican, it is easily solved. You can exercise yet another one of those priviledges that the US Passport affords you, a cheap flight 24/7 to the US, where you can get a a top notch education at an elite institution, employment at a major international global firm, access to the global market, and the ability to provide your family with whatever lifetsyle you or they want. But hey..let’s just concentrate on the “the glass is half full” smoke and mirrors. Feel free to give up that terrible passport for one of many other passports, and then let me know how that works out for you.

Maegen did you know that there have been 3 referndums on the subject and PRs are the ones in fact that cannot decide their own status, as they keep choosing the “commonwealth” status, which is a total farce. Until PRs grow up and make a choice for themselves, statehood or independence, why would the US make it for them? Isn’t the point for us to make the decision for ourselves? And yet…we keep choosing the non-choice of “commonwealth.” Its ridiculous…but hey its easier to blame the US for that right?

Yes of course…but whether the referendums are binding is moot, the outcomes are what matter as they show clearly that PRs are the ones that cannot make the decision for themselves, not the US! If PRs would decided for THEMSELVES once and for all whether they want to be a state or independent, then they can make a case for either. But of course, they keep choosing the non-choice of commonwealth. So what happens? The same thing that has been happening for the past 100 years..NOTHING. So long as the WILL is not there for PRs to choose for THEMSELVES, nothing will happen…and worse, the US will probably end up making the decision for them.

PR is a very political place, politics run deep, as does the love for the island, as the voting rates of upwards of 90% clearly show. To believe that the referendums do not mean anything, or not indicative of PRs desires, is false. PRs are content to keep the status quo and they continue to choose the non-choice of “commonwealth.” If you cannot choose for yourself, why do you expect the US to choose for you? If there was a clear majority that supported statehood in those referendums, or independence, or a cry for either amongst the people of PR, we would all know about it. Yet..we don’t….they are “comfortably numb” unfortunately. Until that changes, PR will remain in economic, political, and social limbo indefinitely. PR must choose for itself BEFORE the US chooses for it.