Pros And Cons Of Puerto Rico

Register to read the introduction… First are the pros of Statehood. PR has an exclusive opportunity to join the union and participate of the same benefits, and responsibilities if being a vital part of the United States of America. When it comes to the economics of Puerto Rico, the option of statehood has many pros. The most important is that the government of Puerto Rico will receive taxes from their citizens to help the infrastructure of the state. Puerto Rico would also benefit from the ability to hold an open market trade with any nation that is in agreement with the United States. This would open more jobs and would help to stabilize the growing deficit the island currently has. By becoming a state, Puerto Rico would also enjoy certain benefits of United States’ high per capita income and at times low unemployment rate (currently the unemployment rate in Puerto Rico is 16.9% as of April 2011, the highest in America [ (Economy at glance, Puerto Rico, 2011) ]. Some of the advantages for United States Corporations are found in the possibility of expanding their business to the island without the international clauses. For example, electric companies could look into setting different energy plants, and compete for the island’s business since currently most of the utilities on the island are provided by the government in a …show more content…
For the first time in Puerto Rico’s history, they would have a voice in Congress, with five to seven representatives and two senators. Currently, Puerto Rico has a Resident Commissioner with a “voice” but no vote. Also, becoming a State would remove the island from the Territorial claws of the United States Constitution and would grant Puerto Rico the same political importance as all other 50 states.
There are some negatives that the island has to take in consideration when making this decision. One of the reasons the idea of statehood could be argued is the rise of cost of living in the island by becoming part of the union. Secondly, statehood would mean that Puerto Ricans will have to pay federal taxes.
Culturally, the idea of statehood worries many Puerto Ricans on the island. For example, the island will no longer participate or have a representative in the Miss Universe Pageant, which they have won five times. In addition, Puerto Rico would not be acknowledged as an individual nation in the Olympic Games. These two representations are very significant for all Puerto Ricans since they are a display of national pride. As a result of statehood, all international representations would be restrained and the island would be obligated to participate in the same way that all other 50 states do; represent collectively the United States in international