One of the measures being voted on last Tuesday was a two-part question put before the citizens of Puerto Rico:

The two-part referendum first asked voters if they wanted to change Puerto Rico’s 114-year relationship with the United States.  A second question gave voters three alternatives if they wanted a change: become a US state, gain independence, or have a “sovereign free association,” a designation that would give more autonomy for the territory of 4 million people.

61 percent of those expressing an opinion chose statehood.

Typical of those who wanted this change in status is this from 25-year-old Jerome Lefebre (see the Fox News exit poll for an age break out of voting):

Puerto Rico has to be a state. There is no other option.  We’re doing OK, but we could do better. We would receive more benefits, a lot more financial help.

“We’re doing OK, but we could do better.”  Not on our own, but because government would do more for us, instead.

Puerto Ricans aren’t alone among Americans.