A proposal to split the current state of California into three smaller states is set to be on the ballot this November after an intensive campaign by venture capitalist Tim Draper.
The idea is to divide one of the largest states in the union into smaller areas that would be easier to govern and better able to cater to the needs of the people. While it remains to be seen how people in the state would vote on this proposal, it does have widespread support. Splitting the state of California would have a drastic impact not just on the state itself but also the entire nation.
The proposal listed on the ballot would create a state of North California in the top half of the state, a state of Southern California in most of the bottom half of the state, and a separate state of California that would include a small yet densely populated area from Monterey to Los Angeles. However, even a ‘yes’ vote on the issue won’t be enough to divide the current state of California.
While backers of the new bill note that a referendum on its own should be decisive, California lawmakers say that they would have the final word on dividing the state. The issue, as well as other legal issues surrounding the division, would face legal challenges both at the state and federal level.
Even if it were to pass, there would still be plenty of disagreements to iron out. Water would likely be a very contentious point, as the southern half faces ongoing water shortages and the northern half of the state would likely want to hold onto the water under its jurisdiction. Companies that have branches throughout the state could be faced with having to deal with new tax laws should one or more new Californian states opt to change their laws. Students studying in one of California’s many universities may be faced with higher tuition rates depending on the location of the university in question.
At the same time, the proposal is sure to face fierce opposition from Congress as the measure puts both parties at a disadvantage in some ways. If the current state of California were three separate states, it would have six representatives in a 104-seat senate instead of two representatives in a 100-seat senate. While it is very likely that at least one of these senators would be a Republican, past voting trends indicate that Democrats would gain valuable Senate seats should California be split up.
At the same time, the measure does pose problems for the Democratic party as it seeks to not only gain control of both Houses of Congress but also retake the presidency. California’s existing electoral votes would be split between three states with roughly the same population, and there is a very good chance that at least one of these states would be won by a Republican presidential candidate. Instead of having 55 electoral votes that it could count on, the DNC would only be able to count on about 36 electoral votes from the region. Given the current state of the nation’s Houses of Congress, it would seem unlikely that the bill would gain the support needed to make it to the president’s desk for a signature.
The idea of splitting California into three separate states is not one without merits. The state would likely become easier to govern than it currently is, and those who live there would have more options. It’s not hard to see how the measure got well over 600,000 signatures to make it onto the November ballot.
At the same time, it’s a long shot proposal that, even if it does pass, doesn’t have a high chance of survival. It’s interesting to note that there have been over two hundred proposals to split the state of California but none have been successful. For all its flaws, most people prefer the status quo rather.
~ Liberty Planet