• Saprophyte@lemmy.world
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    12 days ago

    No, this is what we do. 51=17x3. 52=26x2. 53, however is a prime number so it can’t be divided.

    We make PR a state, Guam, and DC.

    AND WE BECOME… One nation, indivisible.

    • Mouselemming@sh.itjust.works
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      12 days ago

      No silly, we COMBINE some of the 18 low-population states so we can go back to 48! One nation 6x8, with a better balance in representation! Or 45 could be nice as well.

      • Slab_Bulkhead@lemmy.world
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        11 days ago

        overly positive elementary school teacher voice* “okay low pop states find your buddy.” “to make it easier for some of you if your state starts with a cardinal direction congrats you’ve already got a preassigned merge buddy and new name!”… “ah no Kansas, ‘Ar’ is not a direction, you and Arkansas wont work you don’t even share a border hun” “…unless” Kansouri-Oklasas

      • PyroNeurosis
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        12 days ago

        Why combine extant states? Just pull a colonial Europe and draw a whole new map over it! Nuts to “natural boundaries” or “cultural similarities”, everyone on the east coast from DC to King’s Bay is now part of the State of Midlantic.

      • AA5B@lemmy.world
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        11 days ago

        We need to copy Canada: just give up and assign that unpopulated blob as “Northwest Territories “. All done in one move

          • AA5B@lemmy.world
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            11 days ago

            I was actually intending to phrase it like that since I thought one replaced the other but looked at a map and apparently both currently exist. Either I m looking at a bad map or haven’t paid enough attention to the news from our neighbor to the north

            • mitchty@lemmy.sdf.org
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              10 days ago

              Heh i love making Nunavut jokes around Canadians. They split it off a while back forget the reason it’s recent ish ~25 years ago.

  • WaxedWookie@lemmy.world
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    11 days ago

    But that would shift the election in favour of the Democrats…

    Yes - if the GOP can’t survive more proportional representation, they shouldn’t.

      • nieminen@lemmy.world
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        11 days ago

        Religious doesn’t MEAN republican, just so happens to be one of the things that usually indicates a Republican.

        I know plenty of smart religious people who are democrats. Most of the draw for the US is Christian nationalism (aka white supremacy) that I think won’t work on most in PR.

      • Jiggle_Physics@lemmy.world
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        11 days ago

        Most latinos are religious, or from religious areas, and, I would wager, most are pretty conservative in a lot of ways. However they, as a majority, go for the democratic party.

    • NormalPerson@lemmy.world
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      10 days ago

      If it wasn’t for gerrymandering and voter suspension they would’ve been extinct a while back. We might’ve even had something other than a 2 party system and ranked choice voting. People would be surprised by what could be if we didn’t have a greedy minority in a big ass coat pretending we want to see them make all the money while they keep squeezing us for our pennies.

      But hey, I should be thankful for my 30k a yr and paying for insurance that’ll tell you to forget about surgery just slap a bandaid on it

      • WaxedWookie@lemmy.world
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        10 days ago

        Don’t forget the electoral college…

        Broken-ass excuse for a democracy that’ll be shattered if Trump wins.

  • Drusas@fedia.io
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    12 days ago

    They can become a state if they want to. They have voted against it in the past.

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      12 days ago

      Their most recent vote in 2020 results in favor of statehood (not by much). However, Congress has to make it happen, not Puerto Rico.

      • NJSpradlin@lemmy.world
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        12 days ago

        The last vote had a very huge abstention ‘vote’, which was the only reason the ‘for’ vote out performed the ‘against’.

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            11 days ago

            This is an oversimplification from someone who has only heard it from his Puerto Rican wife.

            She said that there’s a large population of Puerto Ricans that distrust both the US government itself and PR’s. Some of that stems from deep seated anger and pain from the tourism industry, foreign investors buying properties, and a lack of support and representation from the US itself. The corruption within PR’s own government and how they’ll do anything they can for ‘support’ from the US, at the expense of their own identity and culture, while further burying themselves in debt to the US, led to the protest abstain vote movement among a significant portion of what would have been ‘no’ voters.

            There’s probably someone out there who’s written a research paper/news article or two about it, but the biggest take away is that the majority of Puerto Ricans are not in support of Statehood. There’re large populations seeking independence, the status quo staying the same, and Statehood, all separately without a clear majority in any direction.

            • AA5B@lemmy.world
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              11 days ago

              All those reasons sound entirely plausible, but perhaps statehood is one path toward fixing them. Clearly statehood would result in better representation. I don’t see how you get that any other way.

              • If PR were a state, would the FEMA response to that hurricane a few years back, be so bad?
              • Would they get more infrastructure spending to keep rebuilding their electrical grid: heck turn the island into 100% renewables, with mini-grids for resilience?
              • Would there be more trade, tourism, commercial development, leading to more well paying jobs?
              • would their local government get more oversight, higher standards (I’m assuming but maybe not)

              What’s the objection to tourism? A bunch of people travelling there, spending tons of money, chances for Puerto Ricans to make much more money than they typically would …. How can I visit there and not be part of the problem?

              • NJSpradlin@lemmy.world
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                11 days ago

                Have you looked into how native Hawaiians feel about being a US state?

                I don’t want to presume to tell a population with mixed feelings about the future of their island, culture, identity, and government what they should choose or how they should feel.

                Also, I’d be careful to praise the tourism industry, without properly reviewing the impacts on the local community and culture (again, see Hawaii)

                The fact of the matter is that an outsider’s opinion, especially a mainlander’s, doesn’t matter and doesn’t matter to them. The wording for the last referendum didn’t permit a more clear picture of the populations’ feelings, just a simple yes or no without reflecting other options and the nuances that go into every choice.

                I might have agreed, and with similar arguments. But, then I married into the culture and also saw some articles or references to the native Hawaiians’ similar complaints.

                • AA5B@lemmy.world
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                  11 days ago

                  For sure it’s not up to us whether they should pursue statehood, but understanding the objection to tourism is important to being a successful tourist

                  • as a tourist I expect to go somewhere and spend way too much money getting at least some exposure to a different culture or spectacle. I expect to be respectful and open minded. I hope to have an authentic experience rather than an Americanized or fast food experience. I expect some locals to earn quite a bit of money off my travels, even if I can’t afford it
                  • as someone living in a city that does attract a lot of tourists, I see that it makes a huge contribution our local economy. Some thing’s are tourist traps but local culture thrives and those of us living here are not unduly impacted
                  • cruise ships seem like a nightmare in many ways. In this context perhaps it’s a sudden overwhelming flood of tourists that has most impact, plus they wouldn’t be staying so the local benefit is minimized
                  • I’ve encountered the occasional rude or disrespectful tourist but not very often

                  Actually, no, understanding objections to statehood is also important. I mean it’s their choice but the highest form of patriotism is self-criticism, learning to be better. Regardless of their choice, I want to understand how we can make the US better

                • AA5B@lemmy.world
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                  11 days ago

                  Have you looked into how native Hawaiians feel about being a US state?

                  I’m not sure that’s a good analogy. Given the history of Hawaii with corporate control, natives being pushed off their land and now a minority on their own islands, that more like asking the Sioux how it’s going. Clearly an era we did poorly.

              • Twista713@lemmy.world
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                11 days ago

                I really enjoyed visiting there a few years ago and definitely want to go back! I’ve since paid more attention and at least from what I’ve seen, statehood seems like the best path forward. My wife and I also visited Iceland last year, but that island is in a completely different situation in multiple ways. Their geothermal power is awesome though. PR could certainly benefit from renewables but more local control and growth. You’re asking some good questions though.

                • AA5B@lemmy.world
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                  11 days ago

                  What are some of your best experiences in Iceland?

                  Both have been on my list for a while, but out of the blue, one of my kids asked about visiting Iceland. I have no idea where his interest is from, but I’m excited about the idea. Just need to get the kid a passport and wait for an opportune school break

    • Furball@sh.itjust.works
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      12 days ago

      About 50-60% want statehood, it’s the majority opinion, but a lot of people like not having income taxes