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Would Calexit be a good thing?

waitbutwhy.com

11–20 of 65 posts

Re: Would Calexit be a good thing?

#11
post #5

California is almost certainly going to break off from the larger United States in our lifetime. The interests of the United States are already too heterogeneous to be effectively served by a single government, and the problem is only going to get worse. I don't believe California will be successful if it attempts to secede solo though. I'm going to go out on a limb and predict that if it is going to work, it will ne…

On what planet do you expect that the US at large is going to accept 1/7th of their economy seceding without a fight?

The EU is about to see 16% of its economy disappear so there's precedent...

Re: Would Calexit be a good thing?

#12
The very idea is insane. I think we need to do a better job of fighting the divisive forces attempting to destroy this country, led by a domestic terrorist like George Soros.

The site itself seems to be run by children[1]. This is where HN news is coming from now?

http://waitbutwhy.com/wait-but-who

Re: Would Calexit be a good thing?

#13
post #6

No. People in the current bubble forget that California is usually broke/in legislative crises, which might be about to happen again. Texas is probably the only state capable of thriving if it secedes, CA doesn't even have it's own electric grid. * https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008%E2%80%9312_California_b... * http://www.sfchronicle.com/politics/article/California-s-400...

You act as though power exports from Arizona, New Mexico, Oregon, Nevada and Utah would somehow cease overnight if California were to become its own country. This is of course false.

Re: Would Calexit be a good thing?

#14
post #11
post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

On what planet do you expect that the US at large is going to accept 1/7th of their economy seceding without a fight?

The EU is about to see 16% of its economy disappear so there's precedent...

The EU isn't a country, never has been, and the UK only joined in the early 70's. What existed before was essentially a lot of tribes who'd been at war on and off for a few thousand years.

Re: Would Calexit be a good thing?

#15
post #9
post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

On what planet do you expect that the US at large is going to accept 1/7th of their economy seceding without a fight?

I saw it here in NYC after the election - "We'll secede, and we'll fight the other states if it comes to it." OK, good luck winning when no one owns guns, trucks, generators etc. It's a pipe dream. You can't win a war with a bicycle and a baseball bat. Montana could probably win a war of secession, but this ain't Montana.

"You people of the South don't know what you are doing. This country will be drenched in blood, and God only knows how it will end. It is all folly, madness, a crime against civilization! You people speak so lightly of war; you don't know what you're talking about. War is a terrible thing! You mistake, too, the people of the North. They are a peaceable people but an earnest people, and they will fight, too. They are not going to let this country be destroyed without a mighty effort to save it… Besides, where are your men and appliances of war to contend against them? The North can make a steam engine, locomotive, or railway car; hardly a yard of cloth or pair of shoes can you make. You are rushing into war with one of the most powerful, ingeniously mechanical, and determined people on Earth — right at your doors. You are bound to fail. Only in your spirit and determination are you prepared for war. In all else you are totally unprepared, with a bad cause to start with. At first you will make headway, but as your limited resources begin to fail, shut out from the markets of Europe as you will be, your cause will begin to wane. If your people will but stop and think, they must see in the end that you will surely fail. " (Gen. Sherman)

Ironic reversal, but you're 100% correct.

Re: Would Calexit be a good thing?

#16
There is a plethora of issues that have to be addressed, to name a few:

* The U.S. Government would have to be ok w/losing a ~1/6th of it's economy.

* California has no military; funding such would be expensive.

* All existing multilateral agreements the U.S has entered into would NOT apply to an independent California. An independent California would have less bargaining power in renegotiating said agreements.

Re: Would Calexit be a good thing?

#17
post #5

California is almost certainly going to break off from the larger United States in our lifetime. The interests of the United States are already too heterogeneous to be effectively served by a single government, and the problem is only going to get worse. I don't believe California will be successful if it attempts to secede solo though. I'm going to go out on a limb and predict that if it is going to work, it will ne…

On what planet do you expect that the US at large is going to accept 1/7th of their economy seceding without a fight?

What are they going to do? Occupy the entire coast with federal armed forces?

Sure, they could do that, but it's hard to take any sort of moral high ground or project strength on the world stage when you are forced to militarily occupy your own country against its will.

That said, I doubt any states are realistically going to secede, but at least Texas won't be the only ones constantly going on about it now.

Re: Would Calexit be a good thing?

#18
post #5

California is almost certainly going to break off from the larger United States in our lifetime. The interests of the United States are already too heterogeneous to be effectively served by a single government, and the problem is only going to get worse. I don't believe California will be successful if it attempts to secede solo though. I'm going to go out on a limb and predict that if it is going to work, it will ne…

On what planet do you expect that the US at large is going to accept 1/7th of their economy seceding without a fight?

I'm not sure there would be much opposition. Without California fucking things up, conservatives would reliably win the electoral AND the popular vote. The people with the most to lose are liberals in red states who would become a permanent minority.

Personally, I would not want to live in an independent California. I love everyone's good ("bleeding heart") intentions, but our legislative system seems fatally flawed.

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