• Tylerdurdon@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    34
    ·
    2 days ago

    On a positive note, making Venezuela a 51st state would mean DC and Puerto Rico would finally get a better shot.

    Simultaneously, it would tarnish the entire concept of statehood, introducing the specter of imperialism into it’s definition.

    • unconfirmedsourcesDOTgov@lemmy.sdf.org
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      12
      ·
      2 days ago

      Agree on increasing the odds that Puerto Rico and DC have for statehood, but don’t think it tips the balance.

      I’m not so sure that the entire concept of statehood would be tarnished though; Vermont, Texas, and Hawaii were all independent countries before they became states, and that’s even before you start discussing whether North America was ruled by Native Americans before the Europeans and later Americans pushed them aside and declared their own sovereignty.

      • morriscox@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        9
        ·
        2 days ago

        Don’t forget New Mexico. From Wikipedia:

        “Upon Mexican independence in 1821, New Mexico became an autonomous territory that saw an 1837 Rebellion against the central government, with increasing economic ties to the United States. After the Mexican–American War in 1848, the U.S. annexed New Mexico as part of the larger New Mexico Territory, which was central to U.S. westward expansion. New Mexico was a territory for 64 years before it was admitted to the Union as the 47th state on January 6, 1912.”