> Wish they hadn’t pushed for independence. Why? They are their own people/nation? They deserve independence. > As an American state they would have prospered

> Wish they hadn’t pushed for independence. Why? They are their own people/nation? They deserve independence. > As an American state they would have prospered so much more. There was a racial requirement for statehood ( majority white ). It was one of the sad reasons for the extermination of the native americans. If the philippines were to become a US state, it would probably mean that most filipinos would have been killed off or pushed out of the philippines. Do you really think the filipinos would have prospered in that environment? Not to mention, they are catholics and the US historically didn't treat catholics too well. You might want to read up on the history of the US and the US history in the philippines/pacific. It isn't pretty. You do realize that their first attempt at independence was crushed by the US right? And for 60 years, philippines was a poor colony of the US? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine%E2%80%93American_War https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine%E2%80%93American_Wa...