Haiti a US Commonwealth?

[wuapinmon]

If Haiti were to ask to be a US Commonwealth like Guam, Samoa, and Puerto Rico, how would/should/could Washington respond to that request?

I'm in favor of it, if it's what the majority of Haitians want. It'd be interesting. I doubt there's few people alive who remember the last time we added territory to the USA.

[Fiyero]

What would the U.S. stand to gain from such a move?

[Commando]

yeah. Wouldn't we love to inherit a clusterf*ck like Haiti.

[UtahDan]

I have to admit my ignorance as to what exactly we do for our territories.

[Commando]

I doubt there's few people alive who remember the last time we added territory to the USA.

LIke Alaska and Hawaii in 1959?

[Slim]

That would totally piss off the Dominicans. They wouldn't think it was very fair.

[falafel]

That would totally piss off the Dominicans. They wouldn't think it was very fair.

Lets take the whole island and force them to speak a spanish/haitian pidgin.

[myboynoah]

Lets take the whole island and force them to speak a spanish/haitian pidgin.

Force 'em to speak English.

[wuapinmon]

What would the U.S. stand to gain from such a move?

Well, we have many sins in Haiti that could use some atoning. Also, we'd have a population that would be willing to work! to bring themselves up out of poverty. If we made in a tax haven, perhaps some of the money currently diverted to other places could be brought home, so to speak. Mostly though, I think it's the right thing to do.

LIke Alaska and Hawaii in 1959?

Alaska and Hawaii were already USA territory. 1959 just gave them statehood.

That would totally piss off the Dominicans. They wouldn't think it was very fair.

This is true, but there'd be nothing stopping them from applying for statehood either.

I have to admit my ignorance as to what exactly we do for our territories.

US law. My cousin was a 2nd-year legal intern for the USAG in Yap. US currency. US aid. US military service.

yeah. Wouldn't we love to inherit a clusterf*ck like Haiti.

If we examine the history of Haiti, much of its suffering is blood on our hands.

[Katy Lied]

The territories that the US has acquired recently all came aboard because they offered a military advantage at a time when the US needed control of their geographic location, or their strategic minerals, etc.

Now with the ability to send a missile up the backside of a camel anywhere on earth, the US no longer needs to hold strategic pieces of land, so doesn't need territories in the Pacific, or land within the path of cold war dominoes.

Absent the strategic war need, any new states coming onboard have to pull their own weight, as far as GDP goes. I think the most likely addition to the US will happen in the wake of something more like Meech Lake and less like Midway Island.

At least, thats my uninformed opinion off the top of my head.

[Surfah]

The territories that the US has acquired recently all came aboard because they offered a military advantage at a time when the US needed control of their geographic location, or their strategic minerals, etc.

Now with the ability to send a missile up the backside of a camel anywhere on earth, the US no longer needs to hold strategic pieces of land, so doesn't need territories in the Pacific, or land within the path of cold war dominoes.

Absent the strategic war need, any new states coming onboard have to pull their own weight, as far as GDP goes. I think the most likely addition to the US will happen in the wake of something more like Meech Lake and less like Midway Island.

At least, thats my uninformed opinion off the top of my head.

Katy you have really good uninformed opinions.

I vote no. In fact give me sovereignty and Hawaii back too!

[beefytee]

The territories that the US has acquired recently all came aboard because they offered a military advantage at a time when the US needed control of their geographic location, or their strategic minerals, etc.

Now with the ability to send a missile up the backside of a camel anywhere on earth, the US no longer needs to hold strategic pieces of land, so doesn't need territories in the Pacific, or land within the path of cold war dominoes.

Absent the strategic war need, any new states coming onboard have to pull their own weight, as far as GDP goes. I think the most likely addition to the US will happen in the wake of something more like Meech Lake and less like Midway Island.

At least, thats my uninformed opinion off the top of my head.

Is there any area that Katy isn't well informed in?

My guess is that less than 1% of American have any idea what Meech Lake is, even with the reference to the body of water in the name.

And my guess is that if Canada can't get anything like Meech Lake to work, the US certainly can't. The US can't even change to a dollar coin without some heads rolling.

[Slim]

This is true, but there'd be nothing stopping them from applying for statehood either.

Hey if that whole island including the DR became a US territory or state that would be a dream come true for me. I served my mission in the DR and know many people who would be very happy about this.

[Indy Coug]

The territories that the US has acquired recently all came aboard because they offered a military advantage at a time when the US needed control of their geographic location, or their strategic minerals, etc.

Now with the ability to send a missile up the backside of a camel anywhere on earth, the US no longer needs to hold strategic pieces of land, so doesn't need territories in the Pacific, or land within the path of cold war dominoes.

Absent the strategic war need, any new states coming onboard have to pull their own weight, as far as GDP goes. I think the most likely addition to the US will happen in the wake of something more like Meech Lake and less like Midway Island.

At least, thats my uninformed opinion off the top of my head.

Particularly when so many sovereign nations allow us to have permanent military bases on their soil or at least relatively free access from which to base operations as needed.

[Commando]

If we examine the history of Haiti, much of its suffering is blood on our hands.

Yeah that's about every 3rd world country in the Western Hemisphere. We shouldn't adopt Guatemala, either.... well... no doubt we could easily make it at least a little better with fewer allocations than Iraq, Afghanistan or Colombia.