Puerto Rico Statehood Referendum

[Crazy_Ivan80]

What's the joy in being a secret state?

you get an invisible star and a secret handshake

[celedhring]

Is it referendum day? Our regional government has called (yet another) independence referendum today. October 1st.

What's the likely outcome?

It's unilateral, so the Spanish gov will prevent it from ever taking place.

If it was for reals? I'd say a similar result to the Scottish one ("no" with 55-ish share).

[Monoriu]

So if Catalonia goes independent, does it mean that Barcelona will get to play in a league of its own 

[Josquius]

Didn't they do this already?
Taking their time.

[Crazy_Ivan80]

Is it referendum day? Our regional government has called (yet another) independence referendum today. October 1st.

What's the likely outcome?

It's unilateral, so the Spanish gov will prevent it from ever taking place.

which may very will be the act that loses them the region.

[celedhring]

Thing is that the separatists have painted themselves into a corner - support for separatism is fading but at the same time they have gone too far to give up. Their only bet is for the Spanish gov to overreact - but Madrid has shown to know better than that.  The referendum will be nominally banned, and its organizers prosecuted, but I doubt we'll see the Spanish police closing down polls on October 1st. Heck, it's even doubtful that the Catalan regional government has the capacity to organize a "proper" referendum (they did one in 2014 but it was a joke). I think Madrid will call the bluff and let the thing peter out.

[jimmy olsen]

Well sure why not? It is not like this year could get weirder for the US.

If the tactic has succeeded 7 out 8 times, is it really that weird?

Winners - Tennessee, Michigan, Iowa, California, Oregon, Kansas, and Alaska
Losers - New Mexico

Of course, out of those 8, Puerto Rico has more in common with New Mexico...

[Duque de Bragança]

So if Catalonia goes independent, does it mean that Barcelona will get to play in a league of its own 

Actually, there was a joke by the then French prime minister, a Catalan, to have Barça join the French League. 

[Josquius]

Doesn't Barcelona (or their D team at least) already regularly win a catalunya Cup?

[celedhring]

Doesn't Barcelona (or their D team at least) already regularly win a catalunya Cup?

No, actually Espanyol usually wins that one, we never give much of a shit.

[jimmy olsen]

18 minute interview with Ricardo Rossello, the governor of Puerto Rico

http://www.cnbc.com/2017/06/09/statehood-sovereignty-bankrupt-puerto-rico-heads-to-ballot-box-for-status-vote.html

[HisMajestyBOB]

Aren't the anti-Statehood parties boycotting the referendum?

[jimmy olsen]

Aren't the anti-Statehood parties boycotting the referendum?

Independence party is small and status quo is withered. Polls are in the 60-70% range for statehood. If the opposition boycotts, the outcome will be higher than that.

[dps]

Well sure why not? It is not like this year could get weirder for the US.

If the tactic has succeeded 7 out 8 times, is it really that weird?

Winners - Tennessee, Michigan, Iowa, California, Oregon, Kansas, and Alaska
Losers - New Mexico

Of course, out of those 8, Puerto Rico has more in common with New Mexico...

New Mexico isn't an island, Timmay.

[Eddie Teach]

That sounds like a good recipe to turn the US public against PR statehood and it's not like Trump could force a bill through anyway.

You obviously do it in secret.

Because if there's one thing Trump is good at, it's keeping secrets.