100% of our politics surround this very question. The 3 mayor political parties are one pro statehood, one pro staying with the current status, one pro independence. The first two have always dominated, and only these past elections we had a candidate without a party make a dent in elections.
I'm saying all this to say, that the statehood (or lack of) is a very complex subject for Puerto Rico, both for real logical reasons and also for equally valid emotional ones.
To keep it simple though, statehood is a possibility, in as far as there may be a time where a majority may desire it. However, Puerto Rico doesn't really have much say on, other than voting to say if PR as a whole are in favor of it or not. So far, past votes, the results are no. But even if it's ever a "yes", we don't control it that happens or not. The US does.
Technically the 2012 vote was 'yes' but all of the votes so far have been framed poorly. And that includes the upcoming one, which is likely going to make it a waste of time; Puerto Rico needs a simple and clear referedum on 'Statehood Yes or No'.
"Are you okay with the current status or do you want a change?"
Because we ALL want a change. First, we want to know what the actual current status is. Then we want to know our options.
PR has more debt that California, and zero industry except for Bacardi rum.
Name one thing made in PR?
Assuming you were born in the USA, why were you born there rather than in Puerto Rico? Was this a matter of skill and judgment on your part, or just luck? If so, what basis do you have for denying the rights you enjoy to others who live in a territory rather than a state?
U.S.A was also once owned by another country and it managed to figure something out.
I lived in PR for a few months in 2014, every week I would learn more and more about how much of a disaster that island is.
I wish them luck cause it's going to be hard to get things going again.
This is the 21st century - any self-respecting democracy should respect the right to self-determination.
Wasn't the USA founded on the principle of no taxation without representation? On a principle of enfranchisement? On a principle of self-determination?
The tax/benefits situation is complicated.
First, not all states pay income tax.
On the other side, you have people with federal jobs that are taxed federally.
Then you have other people with registered companies in the US which pay federal taxes in the US, the state it's registered in, then also pay taxes locally.
-- It's complicated.
Are you talking about states of Puerto Rico?
In the US, no states pay income tax, but residents of every state pay federal income tax.
The reasons for the civil war demonstrate why state / territory autonomy are subservient to the will of the majority.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tyranny_of_the_majority
This is also why the Electoral College exists, as annoying as it can be, it makes sense.
Wiki had data up until ~2013 and things haven't exactly improved since then. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_Puerto_Rico