Adding Puerto Rico as a state will drag us down

FACEBOOK FACEBOOK.COM/ USATODAYOPINION On Sunday Puerto Ricans voted on a non-binding referendum on the island’s political future. Statehood winning 97% of the vote, but the participation rate was only 23%. For the island to become a state, it would need the approval of U.S. Congress and the president.

Puerto Ricans are basically saying, “We’ve spent all of our money. And all the money anyone would lend us. Can we have more of yours?” Not a chance! We would be adding two more guaranteed Democratic seats in the Senate, unless someone wants to carve off some red counties in California to balance things out. Eric Feldkamp

So Puerto Rico spends all its money then decides it wants to be a state? I don’t think so! Why on earth would the U.S. want this burden? Asher Lev

Learn before commenting and remember the Puerto Rican youth who have given their lives in the service of this country. We are the United States, not individual states.

When people say “Puerto Ricans are not American,” their ignorance shows on more than one level. Puerto Ricans are indeed U.S. citizens. Rene Peerboom

If Puerto Rico wasn’t connected to the U.S., it would look like its neighbors Haiti or the Dominican Republic. Adding it as the 51st state will only drag down the U.S. economy, as well as make another blue state. Seanlean Chue

With only a 23% participation rate, it’s obvious that Puerto Ricans have little interest in becoming a state. Given that statehood is permanent, there should be an enthusiastic, overwhelming majority required to even be considered for statehood in order to avoid problems in the future. Sal Maggiore

Why aren’t Americans in the mainland being consulted about this important national decision? What if most Americans reject the idea of adopting this poor, dysfunctional, Spanish-speaking island as a state? Mark Green