The Puerto Rican Conundrum

Puerto Rico is a Commonwealth of the United States. Technically, this status gives Puerto Rico autonomy, but the United States government has true sovereignty over the island. Much like in a state, the governor is the highest Puerto Rican official. Puerto Ricans are United States citizens. They have United States passports and United States birth certificates. They serve in the United States army. They use USDs and the USPS. They pay taxes to the United States. They sound almost like your typical, every day citizen. They almost are, except for one gaping fact. The day I turn 18, I will register to vote, as will many Puerto Ricans. That year is not a Presidential election year, and so, when I am 19 years and 364 days old, I will vote for President for the first time. A Puerto Rican girl born on the same day as me will not vote for President that day. Her parents, grandparent, aunts and uncles won't vote either. No one on the 3,459-square-mile land mass will go to DC the next year to be a Senator or a Representative either. No, Puerto Rico has no representation in our government.
They have our school system (although poorly funded). They pay the same taxes we do. They can vote in primaries- I suppose it's a start- and they fly our flag. Our politics affect their island. However, they are not granted the full rights of citizens. I am well aware that Puerto Rico is not a state. I understand why they are not given full representation. Puerto Rico is not a sovereign nation, either, despite a small minority, labelled terrorists, who wish it was. The island falls under United States jurisdiction. At the very least, they are half a state. They should be granted at least one Senator, at least half as many Representatives and electoral votes as they would be allotted as a state. Whether their lack of representation is racism, ethnocentrism, or nationalism, it is wrong. Puerto Rican teenagers could be the next leaders of America, but if they do get involved in politics they still cannot represent their island where it matters. The lack of Puerto Rican representation is appalling. As a commonwealth, basically a colony, they deserve half rights, if not full rights, of representation and voting.