Puerto Rico Votes To Become 51st USA State

[RAMROD 118,062]

Congrats. But also, our flag gonna be so messed up now lel

[Born To Slay 10,996]

27 minutes ago, Rumours1977 said:

 

Why do you say that? The democrats have a real opportunity to exploit Puerto Rico for partisan gain.

[rumours 45,521]

2 minutes ago, Born To Slay said:

Why do you say that? The democrats have a real opportunity to exploit Puerto Rico for partisan gain.

Dealing with the national debt (actually cutting spending, redefining what is considered discretionary/mandatory spending, etc.) is far more important than strategic plays for a corrupt political party (Democrat or Republican). I don't consider spending hundreds of billions of dollars to get Puerto Rico out of a multi-decade long economic spiral (assuming one believes in the actual effectiveness of Keynesianism) a good thing when the US is already close to 20 trillion dollars in debt. 

 

http://www.usdebtclock.org/

 

[Born To Slay 10,996]

12 minutes ago, Rumours1977 said:

Dealing with the national debt (actually cutting spending, redefining what is considered discretionary/mandatory spending, etc.) is far more important than strategic plays for a corrupt political party (Democrat or Republican). I don't consider spending hundreds of billions of dollars to get Puerto Rico out of a multi-decade long economic spiral (assuming one believes in the actual effectiveness of Keynesianism) a good thing when the US is already close to 20 trillion dollars in debt. 

 

http://www.usdebtclock.org/

 

Considering we aren't gonna pay off the debt anyway, we might as well do something for partisan gains. 

The national debt isn't gonna go down until America figures out that the Military Indsutrial Complex is a waste of money, regardless of whether we bail out Puerto Rico or not.

[GypsyBabe 22,836]

Who needs a vote or appeal to congress. They should just make it the 51st state, as it's not like anyone would even notice. 

Us Americans can't remember all the original 50 states to begin with. Even with that stupid song. 

[rumours 45,521]

5 minutes ago, Born To Slay said:

Considering we aren't gonna pay off the debt anyway, we might as well do something for partisan gains. 

The national debt isn't gonna go down until America figures out that the Military Indsutrial Complex is a waste of money, regardless of whether we bail out Puerto Rico or not.

See, I don't think that way. Paying off debt should be the #1 concern for the country bar none (no matter what political party you affiliate yourself with). I also consider the entire country to be far more important than a political party. It's also worth noting that the ramifications for not paying off that debt are colossal.....Think of all the countries that will be affected negatively (to say the least) by our economy collapsing due to said spending. I don't want our frivolous spending to then destroy the economies of other nations as well. 

 

Also, I fully agree that too much money is spent feeding the bloated military industrial complex. However, significant cuts need to be made everywhere (including the precious social programs that Democrats love so much). It's also worth noting that I don't affiliate with either of the two main parties (voted third party this last election cycle), so I could care less about those two main parties gaining any power/leverage whatsoever. 

 

[pink sushi 4,351]

Nooooo we'd have to replace all the flags.  

[Born To Slay 10,996]

17 minutes ago, Rumours1977 said:

See, I don't think that way. Paying off debt should be the #1 concern for the country bar none (no matter what political party you affiliate yourself with). I also consider the entire country to be far more important than a political party. It's also worth noting that the ramifications for not paying off that debt are colossal.....Think of all the countries that will be affected negatively (to say the least) by our economy collapsing due to said spending. I don't want our frivolous spending to then destroy the economies of other nations as well. 

 

Also, I fully agree that too much money is spent feeding the bloated military industrial complex. However, significant cuts need to be made everywhere (including the precious social programs that Democrats love so much). It's also worth noting that I don't affiliate with either of the two main parties (voted third party this last election cycle), so I could care less about those two main parties gaining any power/leverage whatsoever. 

 

The military budget is worth 54% of discretionary spending, it's about 600 billion a year. Social programs don't come anywhere close. We can afford to leave them alone. 

[rumours 45,521]

8 minutes ago, Born To Slay said:

The military budget is worth 54% of discretionary spending, it's about 600 billion a year. Social programs don't come anywhere close. We can afford to leave them alone. 

You can't simply eliminate military spending. Let's say best case scenario you can cut it in half (unrealistic, but let's just say it's doable).... that's $300 billion and some change. We need to cut a hell of a lot more than that in order to offset spending. But yes, I do agree military spending is the easiest thing to cut first. Then, you have to cut some from social programs and then begin to pass legislation to reduce spending/costs from mandatory spending (i.e. Raising age before social security benefits are collected, cutting Medicaid/Medicare, etc.). Mandatory spending is expected to surpass $3.5 trillion dollars by 2023 (numbers vary depending on which source one references), and that simply can't happen. 

[Born To Slay 10,996]

16 minutes ago, Rumours1977 said:

You can't simply eliminate military spending. Let's say best case scenario you can cut it in half (unrealistic, but let's just say it's doable).... that's $300 billion and some change. We need to cut a hell of a lot more than that in order to offset spending. But yes, I do agree military spending is the easiest thing to cut first. Then, you have to cut some from social programs and then begin to pass legislation to reduce spending/costs from mandatory spending (i.e. Raising age before social security benefits are collected, cutting Medicaid/Medicare, etc.). Mandatory spending is expected to surpass $3.5 trillion dollars by 2023 (numbers vary depending on which source one references), and that simply can't happen. 

I know we can't eliminate it but it should be cut by half as you said. I agree the age of social security needs to be raised. 

[PartySick 174,599]

4 hours ago, OBEY said:

"97 percent voted for statehood, though turnout was only about 23 percent."

mess

I'm pretty sure the majority of the population doesn't want statehood because taxes will rise there  I'd love to see it become a state though

4 hours ago, FATCAT said:

Congress won't approve. PR votes democrat, so republicans would never let them vote while they hold power.

Oh for sure. Then Trump will rile up his hoard of deplorables and say that PR is only trying to use statehood to save their failing economy and that we're going to build a wall on the Florida Keys

[PartySick 174,599]

1 hour ago, GypsyBabe said:

Who needs a vote or appeal to congress. They should just make it the 51st state, as it's not like anyone would even notice. 

Us Americans can't remember all the original 50 states to begin with. Even with that stupid song. 

I can...I can even label them on a blank map and tell you what order most of them were officially added to the States in 

I memorized a lot of useless stuff in school

[GypsyBabe 22,836]

Just now, PartySick said:

I can...I can even label them on a blank map and tell you what order most of them were officially added to the States in 

I memorized a lot of useless stuff in school

Ooh I'm impressed by you. 

[PartySick 174,599]

2 hours ago, RAMROD said:

Congrats. But also, our flag gonna be so messed up now lel

Not really

This is what it'd most likely look like

Just now, GypsyBabe said:

Ooh I'm impressed by you. 

Useless trivia is my strong suit

[RAMROD 118,062]

Just now, PartySick said:

Not really

This is what it'd most likely look like

Useless trivia is my strong suit

 

 that looks OK to me