Puerto Rico opts for a change

**ROMAD1** · 11-07-2012, 12:55 PM

Puerto Rico changes course, elects Garcia Padilla as governor | Fox News Latino

I followed this with some interest. I understand that the PR voted narrowly to become a US state. This would cause a huge ripple on the US system: 2 extra senators, another star for the flag, language issues because they talk so fast

Maybe the GOP should nominate Pudge Rodriguez...although I'm not sure anyone would follow him unless out of morbid curiosity.

**Melody** · 11-07-2012, 01:01 PM

Really? I do have some friends in Puerto Rico and they were posting discussions on facebook, but in Spanish and using language that is well above my baby spanish comprehension. I could tell it was political, but pretty much ignored it.

I guess I'll have to go back and wade through all that with babelfish. LOL If I had to guess, I'd bet that they were in support of the measure since we met first when our dads served together in the U.S. military.

**DTroppens** · 11-07-2012, 01:07 PM

Unless there are two states with reasonably equal populations and one being a Republican state and the other a Democrat state, it's probably not going to happen. At least that's been my line of thinking for about three decades now.

**ROMAD1** · 11-07-2012, 01:08 PM

Originally Posted by Melody

Really? I do have some friends in Puerto Rico and they were posting discussions on facebook, but in Spanish and using language that is well above my baby spanish comprehension. I could tell it was political, but pretty much ignored it.

I guess I'll have to go back and wade through all that with babelfish. LOL If I had to guess, I'd bet that they were in support of the measure since we met first when our dads served together in the U.S. military.

important factor: the income tax boogyman wouldn't be there because of the much lower income levels in PR. It might be the best thing for the islanders, not sure what the US gets out of the deal unless military bases and other US equities are only salvageable by granting statehood.

I'm cool with this if they also break up Texas into two states to give two more GOP senators :--)

**RatkoVarda** · 11-07-2012, 01:43 PM

Originally Posted by DTroppens

Unless there are two states with reasonably equal populations and one being a Republican state and the other a Democrat state, it's probably not going to happen. At least that's been my line of thinking for about three decades now.

PR for Dems; Cuba for GOP

**ROMAD1** · 11-07-2012, 02:14 PM

Originally Posted by RatkoVarda

PR for Dems; Cuba for GOP

interesting. One historical example that I can think of though...East Germany has proven to be a boat anchor on Germany. The East Germans are 47 percent-ers.

**redshark63** · 11-07-2012, 02:29 PM

Originally Posted by RatkoVarda

PR for Dems; Cuba for GOP

Been there, done that - Missouri Compromise

**ROMAD1** · 11-07-2012, 02:41 PM

Originally Posted by ROMAD1

interesting. One historical example that I can think of though...East Germany has proven to be a boat anchor on Germany. The East Germans are 47 percent-ers.

On the other hand...Poland, and other East Europe countries who have to sort things out on their own have adapted to market economies better.

**chasfh** · 11-07-2012, 03:14 PM

Originally Posted by ROMAD1

interesting. One historical example that I can think of though...East Germany has proven to be a boat anchor on Germany. The East Germans are 47 percent-ers.

I called that one 23 years ago.

I was working at an ad agency in 1989 and our librarian -- yes, our ad agency had a library with a full-time librarian back then -- expressed alarm at the prospect of a united Germany, because she was Jewish and had Holocaust survivors and victims in the family. I'd read a good deal about everyday life in the Soviet Union back then, and knew that the planned economy system stifled work ethic and innovation, so I told her not to worry because East Germans were going to be a drag on their economy for decades.

I don't know if she bought my line of reasoning, but I do know I turned out to be right.

**hueytaxi** · 11-07-2012, 04:21 PM

Pedro Cotto for State Senator!!!

**ROMAD1** · 11-07-2012, 05:57 PM

Originally Posted by chasfh

I called that one 23 years ago.

I was working at an ad agency in 1989 and our librarian -- yes, our ad agency had a library with a full-time librarian back then -- expressed alarm at the prospect of a united Germany, because she was Jewish and had Holocaust survivors and victims in the family. I'd read a good deal about everyday life in the Soviet Union back then, and knew that the planned economy system stifled work ethic and innovation, so I told her not to worry because East Germans were going to be a drag on their economy for decades.

I don't know if she bought my line of reasoning, but I do know I turned out to be right.

In 1989 I was in Germany in the Air Force preparing for the big show with the Russians. At some point in the late Summer of '89 I asked my very good German friend Bernd if he thought Germany would ever be unified and he said "No, that would be impossible" and within two months the f'in wall was down. Never trust those krauts.

As for Cuba, there would be a considerable influx of capital from the US but for what? What does Cuba offer? Low wage/low skill workers? Nice beaches, perhaps.