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Plan To Split California Into Six States Gets OK To Gather Signatures

sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com

21–30 of 54 posts

Re: Plan To Split California Into Six States Gets OK To Gather Signatures

#21
post #14

This is a good thing. If bigger states break up then there will be better representation in congress.

Except you know... they won't be the same state anymore. It won't be too many years before they act like six competing states because of competing interests.

By staying one state, California has the benefit of being one of the most powerful economies on the planet which, even without having things pass at the federal government, allows significant world power.

California's car efficiency standards over the years for instance basically forced every car company that sells a car in the US to up their efficiency. There is no chance that would happen if it was just 1/6th of California.

Re: Plan To Split California Into Six States Gets OK To Gather Signatures

#23
post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I would think the question is the other way around. It's a step (possibly a small one) to diluting the DEM monolith that his California. Today CA can be depended to field a DEM slate of senators, and send DEM electors to the electoral college [1]. If broken up, then some of the new senators would presumably go GOP, as would some of the electoral votes. It would be fascinating to see the outcome of such a plan. The re…

There is no way the other states would allow california to get 12 senators. Right?

Playing the long game, if the split was right, yep they would because then California could not pull some of the stunts it has in the past[1]. Textbook companies are another area that would change because of split CA.

1) latest one http://www.kansascity.com/2014/02/04/4798111/missouris-koste...

Re: Plan To Split California Into Six States Gets OK To Gather Signatures

#24
I actually think that a lot of good could come from splitting up California. This would allow the intense stupidity of its politics to be less monolithic, and would permit more experimentation with policy, which might have a good outcome.

That said, as a former San Luis Obispan, the notion of being an adjunct of Los Angeles (see http://www.sixcalifornias.info/) makes me shudder. And having Los Angeles and Orange County in separate states makes no sense. If you were going to carve up California along lines of economic and cultural interest, then I'd adjust the Six Californias as follows:

Jefferson (blue, in the far north) -- looks about right (and has a great history, worth reading about).

Northern California -- I'd swap Alpine, Mono, and Inyo counties into this state (from Central Valley), as this creates a state which is dominated by wilderness, tourism, and natural resources.

Central Valley (red) -- I'd take San Benito from Silicon Valley, to create a state which is unified by agriculture.

Silicon Valley (yellow) -- I'd shift San Benito to Central Valley and Monterrey to Central Coast (green), creating a more technology-centric state.

Central Coast (green) -- take Monterrey, but send Ventura and Los Angeles to Southern California. This is a rural area dominated by nature and tourism, and shouldn't be swallowed by Los Angeles politics.

Southern California (orange) -- take Ventura and Los Angeles from Central Coast, so as not to split up the overall conurbation.

Chances of this (or any version thereof) actually happening? Nil -- but it's kind of fun to think about.

Re: Plan To Split California Into Six States Gets OK To Gather Signatures

#25
these proposals pop up every season - interesting that it looks like it could be reasonably balanced (from a senate perspective - central, west, and another could vote more 'red'), that means Democrats would lose a part of the gigantic electoral votes CA brings. All in all, probably not going to happen.

Re: Plan To Split California Into Six States Gets OK To Gather Signatures

#26
post #4

Yay! More DMV franchises!

Would this mean everyone in CA would need to get new licenses?

Yes for all licenses with the possibility of different rules. The redone letterhead will be a major cost (no, I'm not joking).

Re: Plan To Split California Into Six States Gets OK To Gather Signatures

#27
post #3

How do you convince a Republican to vote for this?

I would think the question is the other way around. It's a step (possibly a small one) to diluting the DEM monolith that his California. Today CA can be depended to field a DEM slate of senators, and send DEM electors to the electoral college [1]. If broken up, then some of the new senators would presumably go GOP, as would some of the electoral votes. It would be fascinating to see the outcome of such a plan. The re…

Here are the results from the 2012 Senate election by county: http://www.politico.com/2012-election/map/#/Senate/2012/CA

I'd venture a guess that 2 maybe 3 (if also looking at the numbers for the house elections) of the 6 new states may go republican.

Re: Plan To Split California Into Six States Gets OK To Gather Signatures

#28

The problem with the United States is that there are too many states rather than not enough of them. The states are too small and weak to solve their own problems (e.g, health care, high speed rail) so they have to rely on a dysfunctional federal government that can't solve any real problems these days (e.g., education, immigration, and of course health care).

Agreed. You should not be able to drive across a state in less than two hours.

Re: Plan To Split California Into Six States Gets OK To Gather Signatures

#29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Would this mean everyone in CA would need to get new licenses?

Yes for all licenses with the possibility of different rules. The redone letterhead will be a major cost (no, I'm not joking).

Think about all the flags that the whole nation would have to replace.

Re: Plan To Split California Into Six States Gets OK To Gather Signatures

#30

The problem with the United States is that there are too many states rather than not enough of them. The states are too small and weak to solve their own problems (e.g, health care, high speed rail) so they have to rely on a dysfunctional federal government that can't solve any real problems these days (e.g., education, immigration, and of course health care).

California isn't exactly a shining beacon of problem solving.
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