We Want The Statehood
April 9, 2012 - Opinion - Jose Garriga Pico, Professor of Political Science UPR-RP
Part of the series 'The New Statesman Escuelita'
AP
Dedicated to my niece Camila Negron to meet its 15 years.
Does anyone want or promote what you do not know? Is it possible that the song says that "[s] in knowing you existed I wanted you, before I met you guessed"? In general, do not necessarily have to precede the knowledge of something to the decision or feeling of wanting or desiring? Come to the point, can a Puerto Rican Statehood want without knowing what it means?
In approaching these questions we realize that the most important task we have as we promote statehood for Puerto Rico is to ensure that voters know what is and what it implies statehood. Some leading statesmen evade this educational task is complex because they think and should be left to the experts. In fact, explain what Statehood is easier than you think. Here is why.
What is Statehood?
The term 'Statehood', in the sense that we use in Puerto Rico, is the constitutional status or condition shared by 50 states that make up the nation called the United States of America. The term is also used to mean the process of reaching that status. Simple, no? Come to detail.
America was the first nation to be founded on an explicit act of political will of its people to write, approve and ratify its Constitution, instead of arising product of a geographical or cultural determinism. Since its founding, the Nation accepts the principle of pluralism (E Pluribus Unum), tolerance for diversity (recorded on civil liberties), and the concept of new territories and new populations may form part of the Union. Since 1787, when representatives of the 13 original colonies created this concept of federation, 37 other different political units have become an integral part of the nation through the process of statehood.
Through this process, are added to the new nation states formed from territories (whether they are contiguous or separated by other land, such as Alaska, or the ocean, such as Hawaii) and populations that may be most diverse by location of origin or national origin. Initially, the states included the British and other Europeans and Africans from all parts of Africa. Subsequently been included, as an example, French in Louisiana, Spanish in Florida, Hawaiian and Japanese in Hawaii, Alaska Eskimos and Russians, and Mexicans (in the original territory of Mexico who became several southwestern states, from California to Texas).
In sum, each of the 37 member states had became populations with ethnic characteristics, including languages other than English. Despite these differences, each came to participate in the federation on the same basis of equality ('on an equal footing') with all others. There are other older states, there are larger or richer than others, but there is no state better than another. All states are equal in the Union.
All also are governed by the same sovereign: the people, citizens who form the Nation. People that exercised and still exercises its sovereignty to adopt, amend and maintain, explicitly or implicitly, the Constitution, and, by choosing (or aspire to be elected) representative, senator, governor or president. The People also constantly involved through direct citizen participation mechanisms as presented in public hearings, initiate actions in court or jury service, public servant or soldier, to name a few.
To prevent tyranny in the government by consent of the governed, that sage town limits you to the national government powers to those listed in it and those that were necessary and appropriate to exercise the former. All other powers are divided between states and citizens. Each state also exercises limited powers under a state constitution adopted by its citizens. It can be given greater rights to citizens of the Constitution gives federal (but can not limit that gives this). Also create a state government that has to be of type R, that is, with separation of legislative, executive and judicial branches, with democratically elected legislators and the governor. The citizens of all states, regardless of their origin, are equal before the constitution and laws of the Nation and each of the states. They shall also enjoy complete freedom of movement, commerce, industry and employment in all states. Million Puerto Ricans born here enjoy those freedoms in the states.
Each state is entitled to elect two senators and a number of representatives proportional to its population size. For the election of president each state elects a number of electors equal to the sum of its senators and representatives to serve on the Electoral College called.
When Puerto Rico is state every four years we will have two senators and about five representatives in Congress and seven votes to the Electoral College. In addition, each person will be responsible for the same federal tax burden with people from other states under the principle of uniformity. That same principle shall be entitled to an increase in remittances and other benefits from the federal government, will dull much the new tax burden.
That, in essence, is the constitutional arrangement that brings statehood for all states. Beyond the legal and political there are many other details which I will detail in future columns. By reading the above you have felt that they knew all that. Do not get frustrated. That's my point. I wanted to show you, you already know what statehood, and have lived in Puerto Rico, in part, and the states completely, and that can explain and defend. Convince with simplicity and respect for their family and neighbors. Tell them "Statehood is simply the destination to which we go by the route already journeyed." They also find it easy to understand, if they have good will, because they too have experienced the beginning of statehood.
We can not deviate from that route. The changes would involve the independence or free association Sovereign derail us causing great upheaval and unrest in our constitutional-legal, which would impact negatively our level and lifestyle. Strengthen and improve Puerto Rico we already have with new powers and greater opportunities for development and welfare, that is we want statehood.
Comments to: GarrigaPico@Yahoo.com
Does anyone want or promote what you do not know? Is it possible that the song says that "[s] in knowing you existed I wanted you, before I met you guessed"? In general, do not necessarily have to precede the knowledge of something to the decision or feeling of wanting or desiring? Come to the point, can a Puerto Rican Statehood want without knowing what it means?
In approaching these questions we realize that the most important task we have as we promote statehood for Puerto Rico is to ensure that voters know what is and what it implies statehood. Some leading statesmen evade this educational task is complex because they think and should be left to the experts. In fact, explain what Statehood is easier than you think. Here is why.
What is Statehood?
The term 'Statehood', in the sense that we use in Puerto Rico, is the constitutional status or condition shared by 50 states that make up the nation called the United States of America. The term is also used to mean the process of reaching that status. Simple, no? Come to detail.
America was the first nation to be founded on an explicit act of political will of its people to write, approve and ratify its Constitution, instead of arising product of a geographical or cultural determinism. Since its founding, the Nation accepts the principle of pluralism (E Pluribus Unum), tolerance for diversity (recorded on civil liberties), and the concept of new territories and new populations may form part of the Union. Since 1787, when representatives of the 13 original colonies created this concept of federation, 37 other different political units have become an integral part of the nation through the process of statehood.
Through this process, are added to the new nation states formed from territories (whether they are contiguous or separated by other land, such as Alaska, or the ocean, such as Hawaii) and populations that may be most diverse by location of origin or national origin. Initially, the states included the British and other Europeans and Africans from all parts of Africa. Subsequently been included, as an example, French in Louisiana, Spanish in Florida, Hawaiian and Japanese in Hawaii, Alaska Eskimos and Russians, and Mexicans (in the original territory of Mexico who became several southwestern states, from California to Texas).
In sum, each of the 37 member states had became populations with ethnic characteristics, including languages other than English. Despite these differences, each came to participate in the federation on the same basis of equality ('on an equal footing') with all others. There are other older states, there are larger or richer than others, but there is no state better than another. All states are equal in the Union.
All also are governed by the same sovereign: the people, citizens who form the Nation. People that exercised and still exercises its sovereignty to adopt, amend and maintain, explicitly or implicitly, the Constitution, and, by choosing (or aspire to be elected) representative, senator, governor or president. The People also constantly involved through direct citizen participation mechanisms as presented in public hearings, initiate actions in court or jury service, public servant or soldier, to name a few.
To prevent tyranny in the government by consent of the governed, that sage town limits you to the national government powers to those listed in it and those that were necessary and appropriate to exercise the former. All other powers are divided between states and citizens. Each state also exercises limited powers under a state constitution adopted by its citizens. It can be given greater rights to citizens of the Constitution gives federal (but can not limit that gives this). Also create a state government that has to be of type R, that is, with separation of legislative, executive and judicial branches, with democratically elected legislators and the governor. The citizens of all states, regardless of their origin, are equal before the constitution and laws of the Nation and each of the states. They shall also enjoy complete freedom of movement, commerce, industry and employment in all states. Million Puerto Ricans born here enjoy those freedoms in the states.
Each state is entitled to elect two senators and a number of representatives proportional to its population size. For the election of president each state elects a number of electors equal to the sum of its senators and representatives to serve on the Electoral College called.
When Puerto Rico is state every four years we will have two senators and about five representatives in Congress and seven votes to the Electoral College. In addition, each person will be responsible for the same federal tax burden with people from other states under the principle of uniformity. That same principle shall be entitled to an increase in remittances and other benefits from the federal government, will dull much the new tax burden.
That, in essence, is the constitutional arrangement that brings statehood for all states. Beyond the legal and political there are many other details which I will detail in future columns. By reading the above you have felt that they knew all that. Do not get frustrated. That's my point. I wanted to show you, you already know what statehood, and have lived in Puerto Rico, in part, and the states completely, and that can explain and defend. Convince with simplicity and respect for their family and neighbors. Tell them "Statehood is simply the destination to which we go by the route already journeyed." They also find it easy to understand, if they have good will, because they too have experienced the beginning of statehood.
We can not deviate from that route. The changes would involve the independence or free association Sovereign derail us causing great upheaval and unrest in our constitutional-legal, which would impact negatively our level and lifestyle. Strengthen and improve Puerto Rico we already have with new powers and greater opportunities for development and welfare, that is we want statehood.
Comments to: GarrigaPico@Yahoo.com
Comments
4 Responses to "Statehood we want"
- Alberto - 09/04/2012leave a comment here and not know what happened but it is not.
Again I congratulate Dr. Garrica Peak for so magnificent column where he tells the people of PR as PR people beneficiaa under statehood and independence as a negative impact or free sovereign Assn iacion ue derail us and causing great uneasiness convusion our constitutional and legal, which would impact negatively our level and lifestyle. - Danny Cruz - 09/04/2012Puerto Rico is a beautiful country and corduroy, mango strawberry guava rivers and beaches ext no no no and take it off the Puerto Rican flag the berdaderos cuarquier load it into the 50 states without problems I lived in PR and in the states would be better tendri statehood veneficio best people trabbajadora and older person more and receive more federal aid people with my advice incontax federal vote [for statehood.
- Awilda Sepulveda- 09/04/2012People not only need guidance not only Statehood on Puerto Rican statehood but all we want this island. It would be of great benefit to know that involves the transformation to a republic and independence would entail that tranformacion.
- chico - 09/04/2012if you do not see Innorante conosea statehood votes not up to your ace aora lived are alive to be eaten inventing Quie not let you eat the dulses let you continue to think and not take away your home hanimales your food and your wife
Well done Dr. It cannot be better.
ReplyDelete