The final and most important reason why Puerto Rico should become a state is the disadvantages Puerto Ricans have remaining as a Commonwealth of the United States. Ever since Puerto Ricans have become citizens in 1917, their right to vote has been repeatedly rejected by Congress (Roman 1). This type of rule can be easily compared to the monarchy that ruled Britain in 1776, Puerto Ricans representing the exploited Colonists. The Federal District Court of Puerto Rico had ruled that Puerto Ricans “had a fundamental right to vote in presidential elections based on their American citizenship” (Roman 1); however, “the Constitution of the United States does not expressly grant United States citizens the right to vote,” only states have the right to vote (Janicker 3). The apparent dilemma of Puerto Rican presidential voting can be solved by making Puerto Rico a part of the United States. Additionally, even though Puerto Ricans cannot vote for presidential Elections, the males of their society are subject to the military draft (Chavez 1). The manipulation the United States is putting Puerto Ricans through is particularly disturbing considering the advanced society we supposedly have.
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Puerto Rico does have a Congressman that can “make the voice of Puerto Ricans be heard,” but the resident commissioner “cannot vote on any matters[,] not even those that affect the island” (Badillo 3). This type of injustice can be compared to the taxed colonists that revolted against “no taxation without representation”. According to the United Nations General Assembly Resolution 1514, “Immediate steps shall be taken, in Trust and Non-Self-Governing Territories or all other territories which have not yet attained independence ... with their freely expressed will and desire, without any distinction as to race, creed or colour, in order to enable them to enjoy ... freedom” (67). With that fact in mind, the most recent study showed that over half of Puerto Ricans favored the statehood parties (Barreto 98). This type of behaviour towards Puerto Rico is not a new situation; in regards to Puerto Rico, “the residents of these new territories [Puerto Rico] enjoyed even fewer constitutional protections than had the inhabitants of earlier, ‘incorporated’ territories. For instance, the Sixth Amendment’s guarantee of a right to a criminal trial by jury did not apply to the former Spanish colonies, though it had applied in the territories acquired prior to 1898” (Burnett 436). The abuse that Puerto Ricans have been put through has been passed down the generations, including the current generation. According to the General Assembly document, “their freely expressed will and desire” appears to be for statehood. Another revealing statistic shows that “today, over 95 percent of Puerto Rico’s voters place the utmost priority on ‘permanent’ union with the United States and ‘guaranteed’ U.S. citizenship” (Burnett 434). The smoothest route to comply with Puerto Ricans is expressed by Jose D. Roman of Fordham University School of Law, who said that “Puerto Rico will never be an equal part of the United States unless it decides to make the transition to statehood” (6). The obvious rule breaking the United States is forging through must end urgently. The quickest and most effective route would to grant Puerto Rico statehood. The island of Puerto Rico has been a colony for almost the entire time since its creation.
Puerto Rico does have a Congressman that can “make the voice of Puerto Ricans be heard,” but the resident commissioner “cannot vote on any matters[,] not even those that affect the island” (Badillo 3). This type of injustice can be compared to the taxed colonists that revolted against “no taxation without representation”. According to the United Nations General Assembly Resolution 1514, “Immediate steps shall be taken, in Trust and Non-Self-Governing Territories or all other territories which have not yet attained independence ... with their freely expressed will and desire, without any distinction as to race, creed or colour, in order to enable them to enjoy ... freedom” (67). With that fact in mind, the most recent study showed that over half of Puerto Ricans favored the statehood parties (Barreto 98). This type of behaviour towards Puerto Rico is not a new situation; in regards to Puerto Rico, “the residents of these new territories [Puerto Rico] enjoyed even fewer constitutional protections than had the inhabitants of earlier, ‘incorporated’ territories. For instance, the Sixth Amendment’s guarantee of a right to a criminal trial by jury did not apply to the former Spanish colonies, though it had applied in the territories acquired prior to 1898” (Burnett 436). The abuse that Puerto Ricans have been put through has been passed down the generations, including the current generation. According to the General Assembly document, “their freely expressed will and desire” appears to be for statehood. Another revealing statistic shows that “today, over 95 percent of Puerto Rico’s voters place the utmost priority on ‘permanent’ union with the United States and ‘guaranteed’ U.S. citizenship” (Burnett 434). The smoothest route to comply with Puerto Ricans is expressed by Jose D. Roman of Fordham University School of Law, who said that “Puerto Rico will never be an equal part of the United States unless it decides to make the transition to statehood” (6). The obvious rule breaking the United States is forging through must end urgently. The quickest and most effective route would to grant Puerto Rico statehood. The island of Puerto Rico has been a colony for almost the entire time since its creation.