The Caribbean Statehood Act

[Harry]

Will the senate consider the following proposal, The Caribbean Statehood Act:

The Caribbean Statehood Act
1. A 51st state shall be admitted into Atlasia, called Puerto Rico.
2. The state of Puerto Rico shall consist of the current Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, and Navassa Island.
3. The state of Puerto Rico shall be part of the Southeastern Region.
4. The state of Puerto Rico shall be placed into the current District 4, though it can be moved around accordingly during redistricting.

[King]

This is just to give the Southeast more power...

[JohnFKennedy]

This is just to give the Southeast more power...

How does it give it more power?

[Harry]

This is just to give the Southeast more power...

it doesn't give the Southeast any more power.  Also, the southeast is the least populous region, and this could perhaps allievate some of that.

i officially submit this bill to the senate and ask the honorable PPT to open debate

[??????????]

I support this amendment. We need an avatar however.

[Harry]

I support this amendment. We need an avatar however.

there is a PR avatar

[JohnFKennedy]

I will open the debating upon this bill.

Would all Senators who wish to please make a statement.

I would like to hear one from the hon. Senator Harry who proposed this.

[??????????]

I support this amendment. We need an avatar however.

there is a PR avatar

Sure is!! cool.

[Harry]

well Puerto Rico mooches off the Atlasia government by taking and not giving back, yet their quality of life is quite low, compared to the states.  If PR were to become a state, then not only would it start giving back to the nation, the quality of life would be enhanced with more businesses coming into the area.  The Virgin Islands are right there and should become part of the state.

[Josh/Devilman88]

Harry so you want PR and the VI to be states?

[Harry]

Harry so you want PR and the VI to be states?

one single state

[Josh/Devilman88]

Harry so you want PR and the VI to be states?

one single state

Oh ok.. why not two states?

[KEmperor]

Um.....we have no members participating from either of those territories.  What's the point?

[Harry]

Harry so you want PR and the VI to be states?

one single state

Oh ok.. why not two states?

VI doesn't have nearly enough people

Um.....we have no members participating from either of those territories.  What's the point?

we don't have anyone from Montana either, but we don't try to destateify it.  This is a fantasy government, so here's a fantasy bill that I would propose if this were real

[© Tweed the Younger]

I oppose this, the current system is sufficent.

[Nation]

This is a useless piece of legislation, as Tweed said, the current system is fine. It'll take some convincing to get me to vote yes on this, Harry.

[Platypus]

Atlasia is a nation of many people, cultures, religons and states. from Hawaii to Maine, Alaska to Florida, Arizona to Michigan, we have a rich history of people in our country.

We also have a rich history of expasion, to meet our manifest destiny, from sea to shining sea, and beyond. We are a nation in which every man is created equal, and a land of opportunity for first-generation immigrants and Mayflower pilgrims alike.

We are also a land of choice and democracy; a republic founded on the principle that nothing can be forced upon us. And that is why I believe it is important Puerto Ricans, Navassans and Virgins () have the ability to choose on their inclusion as the 51st state of this great country, they they will certainly aid us in striving for an even better country.

This is whyu I support all current Points in the Act, and wish to add a fifth:

5. A vote shall be held in wich all citizens of Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, and Navassa Island can determine if they wish to join the union.

It will be determined by ther GM, and their will be three choices:

1. Join the United States of America in a union with the US Virgin Islands and Navassa Island (or PR and NI or PR and USVI, depending the location)
2. Remain the Status Quo, do not become a state or become Independent
3. Become an independent nation

(BAsically, the GM would determine the results; it'll be preferentail so that one option gets over 50%)

-------


Obviously, the wording isn't perfect, and that is why I present it now without alling on a vote for it.


If we accept their right to become a state, and they choose to do so, it will be of great benefit to our nation. I strongly encourage all senators to support the act in its entirety, and also this amendment.

Thank you for your time.

[JohnFKennedy]

Could I make a request that those who are not Senators please not debate in the Senatorial debating thread. I don't think it happens in the real life Senate although people may be allowed to watch from a public viewing gallery like in the UK, I am not quite sure.

If anybody who isn't a Senator wishes to debate the issues would it be possible to have it in a separate thread?

What do you think? I just think it might be a little better as normally people don't walk into the Senate and stand up and speak on a bill.

I'd like to hear other Senators opinions on this.

[JohnFKennedy]

Anyway, as I see it ladies and gentlemen, we are presented with three possible options for the case of Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands and Navassa Island. Those are:

1. Grant full statehood to the islands and integrate them fully into the United States of Atlasia, this would mean representation and also mean they pay taxation towards our federal government as I believe that territories currently do not.

2. Keep the status quo with the islands as Atlasian territories and thus are not represented and do not pay taxes to our federal government.

3. Allow them to become separate independent nations who would assumedly continue to be allies to Atlasia.

Those are our only three possibilities in dealing with Puerto Ricp, the US Virgin Islands and Navassa Island as I see it, just like the hon. Senator Hughento views it.

This Act proposed by the hon. Senator Harry obviously goes down track one with full integration into the United States of Atlasia.

So, what are the pluses of each option.

As I see it, the advantage of the first option which the Hon. Senator Harry suggests we go down has a few benefits. Firstly it provides a good strong base of action in the Caribbean Sea close to the West Indies and reasonably close to Cuba.

Having a state in that area could be useful in controlling problems which have arisen in that area, especially in Haiti and the Dominican Republic.

It would also aid if we were to ever mount an attack against Fidel Castro in Cuba as it would allow us a good base for operation not only to the North but out to the East.

Allowing them to enter the Union would also provide a new source of income as they would then be paying taxation.

It would also be beneficial for them as it could create a great source of new jobs flooding there and really bolster the economy of the islands.

Those are really the key reasons I can see for allowing these islands to enter the Union.


Now, if we were to take track two I cannot see the benefits to us mainly because we are already experiencing that. The main reason for choosing track two would be if you feel that the status quo is fine and dandy so to speak.

Now, track three. What could this provide?

As I see it, it would give us some new minor trading partners although they would probably not have much of an effect, about the same as that of the Federated States of Micronesia.

Another benefit track three could give us would be new voices in the United Nations Organization, I believe none of these islands are currently represented, however, if they were independent states they could join which would give us some more support there and could be beneficial in gaining things from the UN.

So really those are the key arguments for integration, against integration and for separation as I see it.

[Harry]

Indepedence would not be a good option, but they would simply be totally dependent on us like the Marshall Islands and the FSMicronesia.  The status quo is bad because they mooch off us without returning anything really.
So statehood is their best option.  It will help us, it will help them.  They owe it to us, we owe it to them.
Additionally, though Navassa Island is not very inhabited, having it part of the state would certainly give us a mandate to have and military activity on the island, which is not far from Cuba.
I urge all Senators to vote yes on this act.

[JohnFKennedy]

Indepedence would not be a good option, but they would simply be totally dependent on us like the Marshall Islands and the FSMicronesia.  The status quo is bad because they mooch off us without returning anything really.
So statehood is their best option.  It will help us, it will help them.  They owe it to us, we owe it to them.
Additionally, though Navassa Island is not very inhabited, having it part of the state would certainly give us a mandate to have and military activity on the island, which is not far from Cuba.
I urge all Senators to vote yes on this act.

But it could provide more support in the UN if it is independent which may help in close resolutions.

I am inclined to agree with you however.

[Nation]

*Sen. Nation takes the floor, in a frumpled suit after late-night drinking with the supreme court justices*

We already have individuals in foreign countries who must choose a state residency somewhere, in order to participate. The Atlasian territories in question are NOT  part of the 50 states, just like Sweden isn't, and just like England isn't. Any residents from these territories should do just like everyone else does -- choose an avatar.

[Josh/Devilman88]

I would Support this Act if I was in Senate.

[Harry]

*Sen. Nation takes the floor, in a frumpled suit after late-night drinking with the supreme court justices*

We already have individuals in foreign countries who must choose a state residency somewhere, in order to participate. The Atlasian territories in question are NOT  part of the 50 states, just like Sweden isn't, and just like England isn't. Any residents from these territories should do just like everyone else does -- choose an avatar.

The territories in question ARE, however, part of Atlasia, and have a totally unfair treatment, which can only be resolved with statehood.

[Nation]

Having a state in that area could be useful in controlling problems which have arisen in that area, especially in Haiti and the Dominican Republic.

It would also aid if we were to ever mount an attack against Fidel Castro in Cuba as it would allow us a good base for operation not only to the North but out to the East.

The last time I checked, we were already committing our military in other parts of the world which are currently in much more dire straits than Haiti is, and are much more of a threat. We all know Senator Harry's love for Imperialism, and the "benefits" that come out of this manuever are too few to compensate for the immense difficulty that incorporating these areas into a fully functioning, efficient state will be.