Here we go again!
More stars for the American flag?NEW YORK. - Can you imagine the U.S. flag with 51 stars? 52? 64? We might need to start planning for a new national symbol if Congress passes legislation that could lead to a change in the political status of Puerto Rico, a U.S. territory.
H.R. 2499, a.k.a. the Puerto Rico Democracy Act of 2009, proposes a vote in Congress to authorize a referendum on the island's status. If Congress passes H.R. 2499, the government of Puerto Rico will be authorized to conduct a plebiscite giving voters two options:
1) Puerto Rico should maintain its present form of political status, as an associated commonwealth
2) Puerto Rico should have a different status.
Voters would choose between keeping the island's commonwealth status, adopted in 1952, or to opt for something different.
In the latter case, a second plebiscite would let them decide whether they wanted statehood, independence or independence with a loose association to the United States. Although technically a non-binding plebiscite, the U.S. Congress could then choose to ratify the results by voting to enact the decision made by Puerto Rico.
Strong oppositionTwo of the island's main parties oppose the proposal, and a similar bill that was brought to Congress in October 2007 has since died. While this bid marks the 68th time that the Congress has debated Puerto Rico's status and during previous referendums in 1967, 1993 and 1998, Puerto Ricans voted to maintain the current island's status and rejected statehood, there is a sense among some political elite, that this year could be different.
Pedro Pierluisi, Puerto Rico's resident commissioner in Washington and a leader in the pro-statehood movement is spearheading the effort in Congress in the belief that a new political status is needed for Puerto Rico to regain momentum in the wake of a recession that has entered its fifth year.
His party, the New Progressive Party (NPP), expects that free of the status quo, Puerto Ricans will vote for statehood as the best possible option and opportunity for prosperity. If successful in the plebiscite and if Congress were to subsequently agree and vote to admit Puerto Rico into the United States as a fully pledged state, Puerto Rico would earn two Senate seats and at least six seats in the House of Representatives.
Again and once more...
But if this issue has been debated so many times before, why does it come up again and again?
Despite pressing economic issues, ineffectual governance, crisis in public education, rising crime and more, the question of status continues to haunt Puerto Rico.
Consider that the 3.9 million people that live in this small island, 110 miles long and 40 miles wide, experience a curious case of socio-poli-cultural limbo that is marked by citizenship limitations, questions about cultural identity and self-determination, and the notion of country. Until these are answered, perhaps nothing else can be.
Citizens without a voteBorn into U.S. citizenship, residents of Puerto Rico are barred from voting in U.S. presidential elections unless they are living in the continental U.S. The island does have Congressional representation, yet the representative cannot vote on legislation and a Puerto Rico born U.S. citizen, cannot run for President.
Puerto Ricans who live on the island do not pay federal income tax on income earned in Puerto Rico, but do pay local taxes and do pay federal income tax on income earned in the United States, such as capital gains.
Nevertheless, Puerto Ricans have been active and widely recognized for their contributions and sacrifices across all branches of the U.S. military, including currently serving in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
War and peaceIn addition, the island has the largest concentration of U.S. military bases in Latin America, serving strategic interests for all branches of the armed services and was in the crosshairs of nuclear annihilation during the Cold War when U.S. bases on the island hosted advanced weapons, systems and personnel.
As a U.S. territory, the U.S. reserves control of various key areas of government, including interstate trade, foreign relations, trade and commerce, customs, airspace and maritime affairs, immigration and emigration, currency and monetary policy, and much more.
The local government controls internal affairs that are not dictated by U.S. federal law, and is led by a freely elected Governor and the Puerto Rican Legislature.
The rule of lawThe U.S. Constitution and federal law are applicable to Puerto Rico. However, local law is rooted in the Napoleonic code used by colonial Spain when it controlled the island for hundreds of years and until the late 19th century when the U.S. gained possession of the island following the Spanish-American War.
The current government on the island is headed by the New Progressive Party (NPP), a pro-statehood party which supports the status plebiscite which could lead to Puerto Rico's formal request to be admitted into the Union, adding a new star to the American flag.
For Puerto Ricans, this would mean that their citizenship would become irrevocable, that they can vote for President of the U.S., can participate in national decision making and qualify for greater amounts of federal funds to support local budgets. However, they would also start paying federal taxes and would lose certain tax code benefits used to attract U.S. and foreign firms to operate on the island.
The defense of the status quoBut in Puerto Rico, the passion for life, music and politics run high, and the Popular Democratic Party (PDP), the current opposition party which created the associated commonwealth in the 1950's, staunchly defends the current political status of the island and its relations with the United States.
The PDP is a study in contrasts. Clearly supportive of the notion of a distinct cultural identity for Puerto Ricans, they negotiated the associated commonwealth with the United States, protecting against total assimilation while aligning the island's interests with those of the mainland.
This relationship was remarkably successful as Puerto Rico modernized rapidly in the latter half of the 20th century, enjoying the highest per capita income and quality of life among Caribbean nations.
Independence and PDPAs such, the PDP opposes the possible plebiscite as it could lead to the undoing of what it deems has been a very successful and mutually beneficial marriage between the U.S. and Puerto Rico.
What Puerto Rico has gained in terms of progress, wealth and security are equal to what the island has provided to the U.S. in terms of military service, consumption of U.S. companies' goods and services, and unwavering support for democracy and the American Dream.
A more extreme position, however, is held by the Independence Party of Puerto Rico, which advocates complete political separation from the U.S., regaining control over all aspects of the island's internal and external affairs.
However, as they have historically attracted less than 10% of the votes, the Independence party is not in a position to see it's dream turn real and so also oppose the motion before Congress to authorize a plebiscite.
But should status quo be rejected and Puerto Ricans be asked to select a preferred status, there are many who believe that followers of the PDP could follow their cultural conscience and side with independence.
Others believe that when faced with the decision, many - including pro-independence voters - would find U.S. citizenship too hard to leave behind and would reject independence in favor of a solution that guarantees continuation of U.S. citizenship.
A 52nd star?The latest scuttlebutt is that Congress seems favorable to approving H.R. 2499, authorizing the initial plebiscite.
There is some debate on whether the outcome of the plebiscite would be binding or not, but the issue remains.
The discussion of independence, free association or statehood is resonating within the other 12 territories that the United States has around the world, and also in Washington D.C. where the residents of the capital of the United States have been fighting for to have their voices heard in Congress for decades.
With all this activity, is it so crazy to think that the U.S. flag might be adding a star or two in the coming years?
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