Moving the Question on Puerto Rico. I sent the following message by feedback form today to Republican Congressman Don Young of Alaska, who had been the key sponsor of the last legislation to address Puerto Rico's status. If this is something you care about, either because you feel a connection to Puerto Rico or because you are concerned about equal treatment under law for all citizens, and the right and responsibility of all citizens to vote, you may want to write to him yourself. You can find his feedback form at www.house.gov/donyoung under "State Your Opinion" on the upper right of the opening screen. If you do write, I'd be interested in seeing a copy of what you say: XPUS@aol.com.
>>[heading]Puerto Rico status
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SEVEN years ago, you were actively trying to resolve to statehood or independence the status of the world's oldest colony, but the measure you backed failed. I wonder if there is anything going on in Congress today to end the disgrace of colonialism on the part of a Nation that arose in indignation at colonialism.
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NOTHING will end Puerto Rico's endless clinging to dependence except a swift kick in the pants: Congress must UNILATERALLY END "COMMONWEALTH" and force Puerto Rico to choose statehood or independence, with NO THIRD OPTION.
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Please introduce legislation ending "Commonwealth" and making clear that no "improved Commonwealth" nor "Free Associated State" arrangement will be tolerated by Congress; so that if Puerto Rico rejects statehood, it automatically chooses independence and loses all connection to the United States, including all eligibility for any form of aid restricted to states or territories. Any Puerto Rican resident who then runs for office or votes in an election for independent Puerto Rico's own government, at any level, thereby renounces U.S. citizenship and all its entitlements, including the right of free movement to the United States, a U.S. passport, etc.
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Tell your colleagues on both sides of the aisle that it is just plain wrong for the U.S. to have colonies; that no one can know how Puerto Ricans will vote for Congress or President, and if the Republican Party makes Puerto Rico a state, it is certain to win a grateful fair hearing for Republican candidates, even as Puerto Ricans consider what the Democrats have to offer; and that in any case, how people might vote cannot in good conscience be a consideration in whether they are allowed to vote, because all citizens are entitled to vote as of right.
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The current President's father made nice noises about Puerto Rico statehood but did nothing. Your own proposal was doomed to failure, because it permitted a vote for "Commonwealth". ONLY ending "Commonwealth" will force Puerto Rico to make the choice between the only mature statuses open to it: statehood or independence - fish or cut bait! Cordially, L. Craig Schoonmaker, Chairman, Expansionist Party of the United States (URL at http://members.aol.com/XPUS)
- posted by L. Craig Schoonmaker @ 12:04 PM