+5 Yes, Puerto Rico is widely considered a colony—or often described as the world’s oldest colony—due to its status as an unincorporated U.S. territory. While residents are U.S. citizens, they lack voting representation in Congress, cannot vote for president,

  • hector@lemmy.today
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    2 days ago

    PR would be better off as a state, something they rejected doing at least 2x in referendums. There is zero chance the us lets them be independant, as a state they would be treated better. Although with the whole fascist one party state fixing elections thing it could be s moot point.

    • selokichtli@lemmy.ml
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      1 day ago

      But not lately. They’ve been voting for becoming a state since Obama iirc, and they’ve been systematically ignored by Democrat and Republican administrations.

      I must add, independence movements are rarely allowed by the oppressor. So, they shouldn’t be bothered about what the USA will “let” them do, if they were inclined for independence, which, I repeat, is not the case with PR.

      • hector@lemmy.today
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        1 day ago

        Have they had a vote endorsing being a state? That’s news to me, I remember a vote losing, don’t remember one since. Yeah I mean PR could fight a guerrilla war to become independent if they didn’t want to concern themselves with what the US will let them do. They are stuck with the US, as we are.

        • selokichtli@lemmy.ml
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          1 day ago

          Every ~4 years. Latest vote was taken in 2024, and they voted to become a state. It’s been like this for four consecutive plebiscites, but even before, it was kind of a popular option.

          • hector@lemmy.today
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            1 day ago

            I remember one in the 00s where they said no anyway, don’t recall an exact frame of reference for the year.

    • Bytemeister@lemmy.world
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      1 day ago

      PR should get to decide if they want to join this clusterfuck or not. The bare minimum the US should do is allow PR to join if they want to, and guarantee military support if PR asks for it.

      • hector@lemmy.today
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        1 day ago

        “Should” is neither here nor there.

        1. they will not let puerto rico be independent.
        2. PR would get treated better as a State
        3. The republicans will not admit PR as a State right now, unless they could be sure their people would be elected there.

        I don’t know what you mean by military support. Are you saying if they are allowed to go independent? They won’t, there is zero chance they will be independent.