What Should the Status of Puerto Rico Be?
             Puerto Rico is located in the Caribbean Sea. Puerto Rico has been a
             Commonwealth under the United States since July 25, 1952 when Governor
             Muños proclaimed the new constitution. In the election of 1968, Governor
             Ferré favored statehood for Puerto Rico. After his election there were many
             unsuccessful attempts to make Puerto Rico into the 51st state. After more
             than 30 years the question still stands. What should the status of Puerto
             Rico be? There are three options for the status of Puerto Rico ("Puerto
             One option for the status of Puerto Rico is to become the 51st state of
             the United States of America. A lot of people disagree with this option.
             Since currently Puerto Rico doesn't pay taxes and sixty percent of Puerto
             Rico's citizens are classified as living at poverty, and then U.S. taxpayers
             or employed citizens are worried that if Puerto Rico becomes a state that
             their taxes will increase dramatically (Hamill 26). Already forty percent of
             the people on the island get federal benefits (Buchanan 35). The
             Commonwealth of Puerto Rico already costs mainland U.S. taxpayers over
             $6 billion dollars each year. The state of Puerto Rico could cost residents of
             Another option is to remain a Commonwealth. Puerto Rico, after
             being in Commonwealth for 32 years, still can't make the decision of
             become a state or taking care of its own self and becoming an independent
             nation. Governor Pedro Rossello pleaded with Puerto Rican citizens to vote
             for a final decision. Forty eight percent of the citizens voted to retain the
             commonwealth status, forty six percent chose statehood and four chose
             independence ( "Puerto Rico," See graph on page 4). The majority of
             Puerto Rican citizens want Puerto Rico to remain in Commonwealth, but
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