We have an overzealous referendum system, but I think that would a bit of an exaggeration. We are, at this point, essentially a one part state, so the Democrats can pretty much do what they want. Prop 13 did require a 2/3 majority for raising taxes, but the Democrats now have that majority.
How many inches of rise would that take?
A rising tide lifts all ducks
Why a duck?
Because they weigh the same as witches, of course.
For a real answer … the Hetch Hetchy aqueduct crosses the Central Valley in buried pipelines. Its outlet into the Crystal Springs Reservoir is 300 feet above sea level.
The San Joaquin River enters the San Joaquin Valley at Fresno, and is pretty much tapped out from there. The Tulare basin, south of there, is almost entirely dependent on imported water.
Because I was born in Oregon, I guess.
This is telling.
Michael Lind recommends doing a lot more of this – “Break up the states! The case for the United Statelets of America.”
The California greenhouse gas cap-and-trade legislation was passed via the legislature.
That’s the first that jumps to mind. For several years, the impression was that California couldn’t even pass a budget, and we couldn’t. Democrats controlled the agenda, and Republicans had enough to prevent it from passing because it required a suprmajority. Now, the Dems have that supermajority, so bills are getting passed. For better or for worse.
I’m not saying water rights couldn’t be figured out, but the proposal as I understand it, does not even touch on that issue. It’s a critical issue. There is a constant fight between water for the endangered species in the deltas, the Central Valley Farmers, and the thirsty metro LA area. The California Aqueduct would cross 4 of the six states to get water to LA. I’m not sure how that streamlines governance in any way. Central valley farmers are already desperate for water, while some states. It might be enough for Silicon Valley. If they don’t get it, they may have to import everything My previous post was wrong regarding Silicon Valley having what they needed. They may have more precipitation than many areas, but they have no storage to speak of.)
Eh, out-state Missouri is very different from Kansas City and St. Louis. Of course, that would be an odd looking state - I guess you could put the boundary on I-70 +/- 10 miles or so, and pick up Columbia while you were at it.
Yeah, growing up in the Northeast I thought counties were about as important (and meaningful) as unicorns.
As to NE deserving to be one state, I can see that, but I say we keep Vermont as a separate entity. I don’t agree with much of that state’s politics and policies, but I like the idea of one whole, mosquito-ridden, hippie, socialist, stoner state. Kinda like when you see a loud color on a car and think (without irony) “hey, I kinda like that color- on someone else’s car”
Vermont makes good cheese. They rival Tillamook for the best cheese in the country. Oh, and Smalldog has for years been the best place to get Mac stuff.
You’re speaking historically. The evidence is that the final water crisis is on California and the west; desertification from GCC is already on the march. The minor troubles of the last decade, battling over relatively small amounts of water to enable the southern valley farms, were merely the overture. I predict the current drought will be seen as the first permanent tumble of water availability, with only decreases, on average, from here on out.
The pissant skirmishes of the last century are about to get serious.
Yes, the Six California’s initiative will fail if for no other reason than that the thirsty parts of California will never accede to a measure that separates them from the less thirsty parts.
The Sacramento Delta is what’s at stake. Northern Californians are asked to believe that enormous tunnels and canals that are proposed to siphon water around the Sacramento River Delta and carry more water south are intended to improve the health of the Delta and Bay. The argument is that the new capacity will not be used, and that large sums of money will be spread around to restore the Delta.
Apparently the Delta Smelt and other at-risk species are capable of swimming around in money rather than water.
There has long been a notion of making the Upper Peninsula of Michigan a separate state from the lower one.
Then what is the point of creating it?
You mean, “Occupied Wisconsin.”
The argument for the “Peripheral Canal” and its variants has always been that only “excess” water from northern rainfall and snowpack would be diverted. Instead of letting billions of acre-feet wash away into the Bay, that amount over a baseline needed for downstream use and ecological balance would be productively rerouted.
Of course, not one drop more would ever be taken. In, say, a rising drought scenario, they’d just close the gates and let the canal go dry along with SoCal.
Hey, let me show you this bridge I have for sale…