As we all know, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico is currently an non-incorporated territory of the United States with a significant measure of self-government, but sovereignty is vested in Congress. The Puerto Ricans have viewed their current status as still retaining colonial trappings, but can't agree on which alternative is better. Almost half the population (represented by the Popular Democratic Party) wants a continuation of the Commonwealth or, more recently, that it be given greater powers, with Congress conceding some sovereignty to the Commonwealth of PR. Another near half of the population (with their voice in the New Progressive Party) wants the US to just fully annex the island and turn it into the 51st state of the Union. A vocal minority (expressed most prominently in the Puerto Rican Independence Party, though other movements exist) advocates the US giving complete independence to PR, though there is the issue of losing US citizenship and free access to US markets. There's also the option of free association, in the basis of the Compact of Free Association granted by the US to a few of its Pacific island territories.
So the question I'm asking SDN is which status alternative should Puerto Rico go for? Please explain why.
PS: Hello SDN, it's been a while.
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