Negative Outline
Answer to Inherency
Claim: Puerto Rican citizens do not have the same rights as people living in the US, they have better
rights.
Source: The Social Contract
Evidence: Puerto Ricans are not at a disadvantage to US citizens living in the US because Puerto Ricans
have better privileges. Puerto Ricans do not have to pay federal income taxes and they do not have to
abide by federal laws.
Claim: Puerto Ricans are not the only group of US citizens living in unsuitable environments.
Source: Census.Gov
Evidence: There are over 46 million people living in poverty in the US and over 600 thousand people are
homeless in the US. There are many other US citizens that are living in an unfit environment that are the
same or worse than citizens living in Puerto Rico.
Answer to Harms:
Claim: Puerto Rican citizens do have a say in our government.
Source: The Social Contract
Evidence: Puerto Rican citizens are allowed to vote in US presidential primary elections and are allowed
to send delegates to National Conventions.
Claim: Puerto Ricans are not fighting for nothing if they choose to fight in the Army.
Source: Puerto Rico Report
Evidence: Puerto Rican citizens are not required to fight in the US Army, they do have a choice to fight in
the US Army though. Puerto Ricans choose to fight in American wars because they want to fight
alongside the country that provides so much for Puerto Rico and also to promote the spread of
democracy throughout the world.
Disadvantage 1:
Brink: The US and Puerto Rico are on the brink of recession.
Source: Economist.com
Evidence: Both countries are in a great amount of debt and if Puerto Rico wasn't a territory, most of its
cities would have already had to file for bankruptcy.
Link: Bringing Puerto Rico into the US as its own state is just setting it up for failure.
Source: Washington Post
Evidence: Puerto Rico has over $70 billion of debt. The only reason that the territory has not already had
cities file for bankruptcy is because as a territory of the US it is unable to. Making Puerto Rico the 51st
state will cause many of its cities to immediately have to file for bankruptcy and cause the new state to
start out in the hole and add more debt to the US.
Impacts:
A. Claim: If the US goes into a recession, unemployment rates increase.
Source: Washington Post
Evidence: A recession will cause many people to be laid off from their jobs as there is no longer money
to pay all the workers.
Disadvantage 2:
Brink: The United States is on the brink of a civil war.
Source: 1776 Again Worldwide
Evidence: The United States is on the verge of a civil war because so many people are becoming
unhappy with the government.
Link: Making Puerto Rico the 51st state will make other states even more unhappy with the government.
Source: The Social Contract
Evidence: Making Puerto Rico the 51st state would cause some states to have to lose some of their seats
in the House of Representatives since it is highly unlikely that the number of seats would increase due to
the addition of a state. It has been worked out that if Puerto Rico does become a state then Florida,
Washington, Texas, California, and Minnesota would each lose representatives. This loss will then cause
these states to lash out against the government.
Impacts: Lives will be lost.
Source: Civil War trust
Evidence: If a civil war breaks out it would cause many people to die.
Counter Plan:
Plank 1: The United States Federal Government
Plank 2: The USFG will now recognize the territory of Puerto Rico as a part of the state of Florida. Puerto
Rico will then be included in the 50 states of America and therefore will abide by state and US Federal
laws and all income taxes will then go to Florida and the USFG.
Plank 3: Normal
Plank 4: Normal
Plank 5: Our plan is mutually exclusive because Puerto Rico cannot be its own state and apart of Florida
at the same time. Our plan offers a new way for Puerto Rico to become a state that hasn't been offered
before. Since Puerto Rico has voted no on every other time they've voted to become a state, our plan
will offer a way for them to become a state and it will be more accepted because they will not be forced
to fend for themselves, but they will be joining a state that has been around for 169 years already, which
takes some of the pressure and fear that most Puerto Ricans have about becoming their own state.
Advantage 1:
Claim: Increase tax Revenue
Source: NBC News
Evidence: Making Puerto Rico apart of Florida will raise the amount of money going towards the state
and federal governments. Puerto Rico offers around $20 million in individual income taxes, this amount
of money going to the USFG and the state of Florida will significantly help out the financial situation of
each.
Advantage 2:
Claim: Voice to Minorities
Source: Hispanic PR
Evidence: Latinos and Hispanic minority groups make up the dominant minority group in the nation, but
only occupy 8% of the federal personnel positions. Making Puerto Rico apart of Florida will increase the
number of Latinos and Hispanics living in the US and will cause more Latino and Hispanic
Representatives to be sent from Florida to Congress, therefore giving minorities a greater voice.
Advantage 3:
Claim: Under our plan we will not have to change the current American flag.
Source: USA Flag Site
Evidence: Making Puerto Rico apart of Florida instead of adding it as the 51st state will ensure that the
current American flag remains how it has been since 1959.