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From: eder@ssc-vax.UUCP (Dani Eder)
Newsgroups: net.flame
Subject: Re: Number Fifty-one
Message-ID: <639@ssc-vax.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 29-Nov-83 21:56:37 EST
Article-I.D.: ssc-vax.639
Posted: Tue Nov 29 21:56:37 1983
Date-Received: Thu, 1-Dec-83 23:45:59 EST
References: <527@ihuxp.UUCP>
Organization: Boeing Aerospace, Seattle
Lines: 29


     How many of you remember that Puerto Rico has commonwealth status
with the United States, and is in the Carribbean.  While it is not quite
like being a state, it is close enough to look at the effects on the
people relative to the rest of the Carribean.  The results are that while
the per capita income in Puerto Rico is half the US average, it is far
higher than any of its neighbors, and furthermore, the gap has been
increasing over time.
   
     One of the reasons the income in Puerto Rico has been increasing
is that companies can have the advantages of a cheap labor force without
most of the hassles of importing from a foreign country (language being
one problem still present).

     How about offering similar status to El Salvador?  i.e. offer the
INDIVIDUALS the opportunity to become citizens.  Next, when about 5000
citizens are naturalized in the area, they can apply for territory
status.  When about 50000 are naturalized or move there (from other
cent. Amer. countries), they can apply for statehood.  This is exactly
the process used in our westward expansion towards the Pacific.
  
     The fact that there were nations (of Indians) already existing
in the regions when the various States of the U.S. were created did
not stop our forebears, so why should it stop us now?

                                            Dani Eder
                                            Boeing Aerospace
                                            ssc-vax!eder