The current 50 star United States flag has been in use for about 47 years (562 months to be exact). On July 4th, it will surpass the record held by the 48 star flag (July 4, 1912–July 3, 1959). After reading about this, it got me to thinking about the expansion of the country beyond 50 states, and where the most likely places might be. And no, Iraq doesn't count.
Add into this issue a host of bills in Congress right now, that would either give the equivalent of functional statehood to the District of Columbia (at least in the House of Representatives), or require a new two-part plebiscite that makes a statehood vote in Puerto Rico more likely.....
Among the areas considered real possibilities.....
[District of Columbia]
If I remember correctly, advocates of D.C. statehood would call the resulting state "New Columbia", if Washington, D.C. entered the Union as a state. The District has a population larger than Wyoming, however it has no vote in Congress. Its residents are taxed, serve in the military and have neither representation or voice in government other than its three electoral votes in Presidential elections.
Congress is currently debating legislation to give D.C. voting rights in the House of Represenative, where the District of Columbia would receive one vote in the House of Representatives, and in return Utah would gain an extra seat in the House as well. However, it's been argued that giving D.C. voting rights is unfair to other American Territories who share a status similar to the District's, and also that it violates Section 2 of the 14th Amendment.....
Representatives shall be apportioned among the several States according to their respective numbers, counting the whole number of persons in each State.....
Instead of making D.C. a state, the solution that seemed to make the most sense to me was condensing the District to the area around the National Mall, including government buildings in & around Capitol Hill & the White House. Give the rest of the city back to Maryland (the original provider of the land for what is now Washington D.C.). This allows the District to still be neutral ground, while allowing residents to incorporate as a new city within Maryland. But hey, I'm not a D.C. resident so who am I to say....
[Puerto Rico]
Congressman Jose Serrano (D-NY) has bipartisan legislation pending (H.R. 900) which would turn Puerto Rico's plebiscite vote into a two step process. The first plebiscite, which would occur in or before 2009, would ask for an up or down vote on keeping the current Commonwealth status. If the vote is "no", then a second plebiscite is held where the choice is statehood or independence. Many believe it might finally push the vote for statehood over the top.....
Those who support maintaining some version of a commonwealth, established when Puerto Rico drew up its Constitution in 1952, argue it allows them to preserve their culture while maintaining the advantages of their connection to the United States, which include U.S. citizenship.
"Statehooders," those who seek to fold Puerto Rico into the Union as the 51st state, argue that the commonwealth system is unjust and a vestige of imperialism — Spain ceded the island to the United States in 1898 as a result of the Spanish-American War — that leaves Puerto Ricans with no political clout.
If Puerto Rico became a state it would have 6 House members. Puerto Rico also faces some of the same realities D.C. does when it comes to representation. Around 250,000 Puerto Rican veterans of the United States military have never voted for a Commander-In-Chief. I remember seeing estimates that Puerto Rico would receive about $5 billion more in Federal outlays per year than it would pay in taxes if it gained statehood.
Other less likely possibilities......
[Pacific Islands]
American territories like American Samoa, Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands probably aren't big enough in terms of population or area in & of themselves to be considered for statehood. However, there has been ideas & concepts where these territories would be hypothetically combined & entered together (or with other Pacific island nations) as one state in the Union.
One interesting tidbit about American Samoa. It along with Swains Island, are the only pieces of American territory where American citizenship is not a birthright. American Samoans are "United States Nationals", not United States Citizens. They can travel freely to & from the United States mainland, and have all the rights & privileges of citizens once here, except the right to vote or run for office.
[U.S. Virgin Islands]
Again, probably not enough population or area to become a state. On the other hand, there is nothing in the constitution saying a state has to be a certain size, although it helps in being fair to the size of each Congressional Districts between different states.
[New York City]
In the past, some have argued NYC should secede from New York state since the city contributes far more tax dollars than it receives from the state. This also comes up from time to time, when the residents of the city have to deal with the "red" areas of upstate New York having power in Albany (like with Governor Pataki). However, that isn't as much of a problem now that all statewide offices are held by Democrats.
But if New York City seceded from New York state, what would be its name?
In 1969, writer Norman Mailer and columnist Jimmy Breslin ran together on an independent ticket seeking the mayoralty and City Council President, challenging Mayor John Lindsay with an agenda to make New York City the 51st state. When questioned as to the name of the new state, they said the city deserved to keep "New York" and that upstate should be renamed "Buffalo", after its largest city.
[Alberta, Canada]
A western province of Canada, and on the northern border of Montana, it's probably one of the most conservative areas of Canada. It's also been called "Canada's Texas". In a 2005 poll, more than 40% of Alberta residents were willing to consider options outside the Canadian Confederation. Also, in some of the Jesusland Maps, Alberta is part of "Jesusland" & not the "United States of Canada".
Alberta, you're welcome anytime you want to come over to our side.....as long as you bring your oil. :)