Puerto Rico?

[MODU]

No surprise; Guam always votes Republican.

Not really.  Guam has a reputation of predicting the election (trying to find a link for past Guam straw polls).  When I lived there, Ronnie was getting ready for his run for re-election, and reporters were there doing news stories on the "predictor."

Hafa Adai!

KUAM's election 2004 site for Guam

[MODU]

Guam can become a state for all I care. Even though their culture is probably nothing like ours.

Guam cannot become a state since they'd never have a population large enough.  As far as the culture goes, there are very few true Guamanians left on the island.  With the dominating spanish and American cultural influences on the island, it isn't much different than the Southwest US. 

[MODU]

They are like 95% military.

Actually, no.  Very few military personnel actually give up their mainland residence status and claim Guam home.  Therefore, they cannot vote in local elections (all absentee ballots).  Those reflected in the polls are the locals who make their living off of the military and commercial shipping support industries.

[MODU]

No, there's no chance that DC will become a state, and very little that Puerto Rico will.

Puerto Rico has the right to become a state if their population approves of the move, however, they would lose a lot of their current economic privalleges by becoming a state.  

DC, on the other hand, should never be given the right to become a state.  Those that complain that they aren't represented in Congress can easily pack their bags and move somewhere else.  DC is the home of our nations government, and should never be overlapped by a state government for control.  The governing council is more than adequate to control the day-to-day operations of the city.  

[MODU]

No, there's no chance that DC will become a state, and very little that Puerto Rico will.

Puerto Rico has the right to become a state if their population approves of the move, however, they would lose a lot of their current economic privalleges by becoming a state.  

DC, on the other hand, should never be given the right to become a state.  Those that complain that they aren't represented in Congress can easily pack their bags and move somewhere else.  DC is the home of our nations government, and should never be overlapped by a state government for control.  The governing council is more than adequate to control the day-to-day operations of the city.  

Well, we should give them two senators anyway.

Nope.  Senators are a right of states, not individual cities.  They are lucky that they were able to get a Representative for the House, which I am against.  It gives an individual city too much power.  The governing council is more than enough for the city.  They converse with the federal government for their financial needs, which cover the non-federal land portions of the city.  Monument care and expansion are controlled by the federal government, as well as many of the transportation infrastructure issues (bridges, highways, etc). 

[MODU]

What do you mean by "right to become a state?"

Congress must approve of any state or commonwealth that wants to be admitted into the Union.

Yes, but the population of the territory has to approve of becoming a state before it even reaches the Congress.  That is why there is so much attention on Puerto Rico each time the referrendum makes it to their local ballots.  If the island votes overwhelmingly for statehood, the territory approaches the Congress asking to be recognize as a state.  From there, the federal government and the territory begin the long process of paperwork and leg work to help the territory with the transition.

[MODU]

What do you mean by "right to become a state?"

Congress must approve of any state or commonwealth that wants to be admitted into the Union.

Yes, but the population of the territory has to approve of becoming a state before it even reaches the Congress.  That is why there is so much attention on Puerto Rico each time the referrendum makes it to their local ballots.  If the island votes overwhelmingly for statehood, the territory approaches the Congress asking to be recognize as a state.  From there, the federal government and the territory begin the long process of paperwork and leg work to help the territory with the transition.

Do you have the results of the last referrendum? I think it was defeated by substantial margins, but I'm not sure.

I'll see if I can find them when I get home.  I know it was voted down, but don't remember by what margin.

[MODU]

they have the best of all worlds:  social security benefits without being taxed.  US protection without being taxed.  the right to join the army and to travel freely in the US and to carry US passports, but without the burden of taxation. 

Could I move there and get the same deal?

If you claim your residence as Puerto Rico, yep.  I had a student who did the reverse - moved to the US and claimed VA as his residence.  He goes back a few times a year to visit his family, but he is much more happy here in VA.  He would never have received the pay he's making now back in Puerto Rico (there are always pro's and con's to every decision).