I was thinking about this this morning. California is always butting heads with the federal government. Disaster Aid, Energy problems, drug laws, etc…
Now the Gov of California is demanding 9Billion in refunds for the state, so he obviously feels he is in a pretty powerful position if he is going to go around demanding things. What would it take for California to say “f*ck it” and start their own damn country? I can see voters getting real pissed off real quick if they start having blackouts everyday.
If they did decide to try it, would the US govt use force to stop them?
The main thing California is pissed at the rest of the US for at the moment is that the federal government won’t help it get electricity from out of state. I don’t really see secession as a way to accomplish that. Plus, I don’t see Californians being all that willing to risk war for cheaper electricity.
Yes, it’s a dumb idea. Yes, the Federal Government would probably mobilise everything in California quickly. No, California wouldn’t stand a chance. No, it wouldn’t accomplish anything, and would make things a lot worse.
I’m from the Texas, the only state that has it written into our constitution that we have the right to secede, lot of good it did.
The question is not whether or not it’s a dumb idea. The question is, what would it take for California to do it? Energy concerns alone, probably not. But maybe if they legalize a few more drugs, have some more fires or earthquakes or typhoon and not enough help… who knows?
The experience of “The Late Unpleasantness” would seem to teach us that only two things are necessary for California to secede from the United States. First, California would have to organize a State Constitutional Convention that votes to sever the States ties with the federal union. Second, the Federal Government would have to consent, either expressly or implicitly in California’s new constitution and claim of independence. Either happening is unlikely enough to turn this into a “what if” thread. In any event, past history would seem to indicate that it would be a real bad idea for the California militia to shell the San Diego naval base in order to back up any claim of independence.
It might work after the big earthquake separates California from the mainland.
Yeah, and don’t let your damn Space Shuttle land on our desert! Or else we’ll keep it and imprison the crew, like the Chinese did earlier this year.
Who will be responsible for evacuating all of the Germans who are vacationing in Death Valley? Who will defend Disneyland?
If California seceded, the first thing the state would see was that it would try to split in two since Southern and Northern California have little in common. And then Northern California would split again because the rural Northern counties wouldn’t want to be associated with the Bay Area counties.
Well, I don’t have much to add about the mechanics of the deal, but I would like to add something as a native Northern Californian. I used to think splitting from the Union was a boss idea (and still sorta do- I refuse to be in the same country as Mississippi and Alabama), but I have come to fear the idea greatly. It’s hard enough to hail from/occasionally live in the same state as Southern Californians, but having them make up the majority of the nation of California would be completely unacceptable. I shudder to think about it.
Akatsukami, you’re more than welcome to come on out laugh at us whackos any time you like. All we ask is that you enjoy yourself, spend a little cash, and once you’ve had your fill, go home
And Bumbazine, we’re already joined at the hip, so not much would change. 'Cept we’d all be rid of them southerners. Sound’s good to me. They’re all wannabe New Yorkers anyway.
How about those nice folks north of you? Heaven knows you could use some good coffee, and together we could rule the hemisphere. Hell, Gates could buy it. If he hasn’t already.
Peace,
mangeorge
That’s an interesting exacta to hate both California and Massachusetts. The states don’t have a lot in common except that both of them are predominantly Democratic. But culturally, those two places are a million miles apart.
Why should I, when I can laugh at you perfectly well from the right coast, and save some money in the bargain?
If I were going to poke you with a stick, of course, going out there would make sense; a stick that I could use without getting out of my chair is difficult to find and handle.
(I feel a joke about how I wouldn’t touch a Californian with a 3,000-mile-long pole, let alone a ten-foot one. Paragon of propriety that I am, however, :rolleyes: I wouldn’t dream of writing it here).
