puerto rico: I wonder how many voters will recognize the manipulation as they vote? After all, Puerto Rico has refused to become a state many times before. They are done for now, in the hands of the great manipulator.|||You would have to ask... Why would the US want PR as a state? It is the US that will have a say on this. The fact that PR is voting in the issue, does not mean that you are becoming a state. Let's start by saying that PR's government is a disaster, not just the current but all of them.. The current PR deficit is over $3.2 billion dollars in perspective that is over double the deficit of Florida. Not too long ago PR had to shut down the whole government, they did not have money to pay anyone. And to makes it worst, Puertoricans pay more (a lot more) state income tax that what the average person pays in Federal and State taxes. Yep, you have to wonder what is happening to the money? It would be by far the poorest state of the nation. By comparison, the poorest state of the Union, Mississippi, had median household income of $36,338, PR median income is $17,740. Crime is out of control, the police is not respected. They just activated the National guard to try to control crime and there has been little change. In fact, it is almost safer to live in Iraq than it is in PR. Less people get killed every day. And it's population.... Over 50% of the population does not want to be part of the US, but over 40% live off US-Sponsored welfare. About 1/3 of the population live off the government benefits (Housing & Utils) and unemployment is around 20%. Think about it, Why would the US would want PR as a state. They have way too many issues to want another one... If they would accept PR as a state, they basically will have to maintain the whole state. With that said, the US is always looking to save money, and here we have 3.3 millions of people that do not pay income tax, but collect welfare, use the WIC program, food stamps, etc, all US sponsored programs... Isn't this a savings opportunity? I bet anything, that if the US people knew the amount of BILLIONS the US spends on PR they would be outraged. Since the US get $0 (nothing) out of them. In fact, they get rewarded with things like the Vieques issue; were they forced the Marines out of there and issues like that.|||OMG I live in Puerto Rico and the crime thing....is not real We obviously have crime like any state in the US but its not an "Iraq kind of way" what so ever Please if you dont live here dont say such things. And my gosh do you know how much PR gives to the USA in $$ not to mention ahem ARMY!!!!!! Report Abuse |||Government is going after Puerto Rico because it sees a potential cash cow in the income taxes it might collect, but since the island would be the poorest state it is more likely it would become a huge cash drain. Making Puerto Rico a state would be a bad idea.|||The last numbers I saw indicated that at least half the people of Puerto Rico were opposed to being a U.S.state. I hope that P.R. retains its sovereignty.