I (somewhat) jokingly commented in another diary about physically separating California and the rest of the Democratic west coast via that major earthquake we are continually expecting.
I've been waiting for that damned earthquake since I was 7 years old (60 years). Most of us have survival kits ready to grab at a moments notice, we've bought evacuation crates for our animals, we keep updating our computer flash drives and iCloud, we have had earthquake drills in our homes and schools for decades.
Most native Californians are prepared. We check our survival kit expiration dates of dried food, drugs and batteries so they are ready to go at a moments notice. We have PSAs on television reminding us of that predicted earthquake monthly.
Still no earthquake.
Without that tardy seismic occurrence I was waiting for, (which no one actually wants), and when I didn't get any helpful information from Google, I dusted off my politically traumatized brain, dug out my old American History books (specifically my 1911 Americana Encyclopedia), and surprisingly found another possible, less deadly, option.
The Declaration of Independence states (read only the bold section if you're already bored with this diary or short of time):
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.—That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed,—That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.
Let me repeat the most pertinent part of the above declaration:
to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.
Yeah, that’s an actual loophole, put in by our good old founding fathers.
The horrifying election on Tuesday definitely destroyed both our safety and Happiness. What are currently our basic human rights will be gone shortly after tRump, the House and Senate take over the government. The moron who was elected president is an extremely dangerous and unbalanced narcissist. (Add homophobe, Chauvinist Pig, bigot, misogynist, and every other label you know should apply.) I desperately want out of our current disaster, but I don't want to move from my home. (It's almost paid off, damn it!)
Here are some facts you may or may not know:
California is the 6th largest economic power in the world. We are well able to support ourselves. We are larger than many independent countries. Our state has a larger population than any other state in the Union, 38.8 million. (In comparison Canada has only 35.16 million despite a much larger land mass.)
Not to mention (even though I'm mentioning it), California is beautiful. We have Disneyland, we have snow skiing and boarding, we have surfing, fishing, horseback riding, and a bunch of other stuff I’ve never done. We have the annual Sci Fi convention in San Diego and the Olympic Training Center (OTC) in Chula Vista. Athletes from around the world come for training. We are a tourist destination beyond compare (and receive a great deal of revenue from it). We have some of the best colleges and Universities in the world. We have Silicon Valley and Apple. Our agriculture and produce production is phenomenal. We trade our homegrown products and technical upgrades with almost every country in the world.
Unlike our elected American leaders, California has a terrific Governor (Jerry Brown) and Lieutenant Governor (Gavin Newsom). They were voted in for the right reasons. They are progressive, intelligent and have helped to create commonsense state laws. They actually listen to the citizens of their state and govern accordingly. They are not perfect, but a dammed sight better than any Republican currently in office.
California embraces:
A woman's right to choose
Gay marriage
The belief in Climate Change — and has steps to fight it.
EPA regulations — that include protecting our water and avoid air pollution. We were the first state to enact emission standards for automobiles. By building windmills, solar panels, ocean wave energy and technology, we create well paying jobs, right here in our own country state.
California embraces water conservation, working to design a process that will change seawater to fresh water (creating even more employment).
Solar tax credits. (We also help low income families get solar panels at little or no cost, using the penalty fines received from industries who have illegally ignored our pollution standards. The money from those fines does not go into the general fund, it goes directly to help fight further pollution using solar power. Are we a cool state, or what?)
Equal pay and equal rights.
Minimum wages that are higher than in most states. (California's minimum wage will increase from $10.00 per hour to $11.00 per hour on January 1, 2017. This measure increases the minimum wage to $12.00 per hour, effective January 1, 2018, and by $1.00 each of the next three years, to $15.00 per hour on January 1, 2021.)
Less complicated immigration laws. (We generally like our Mexican neighbors. If you remember your history, California actually used to be part of Mexico, they are not exactly strangers, and they boost our economy. Other immigrants are also warmly welcomed, we enjoy diversity.)
The legalization of marijuana. Which reduces drug trafficking.
Add a bunch of other commonsense regulations and freedoms that are too many to mention.
The downside? Homes are more expensive here than in other states. Our sales and property taxes are high, 7.5% (for sales) 1.3% (based on property values), yet those taxes would be easily offset if we no longer had to pay federal taxes. (Our state and local taxes were not arbitrarily levied, by the way, we voted them in to keep our state strong, productive and safe.) Oddly enough, despite stories to the contrary, large earthquakes are relatively rare. You’ll find more in Kansas.
Bear with me, I can't repeat this often enough:
... it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.
With tRump as our President elect, are you feeling safe and happy? He scares the hell out of me. The idiot has the codes for nuclear weapons, for God's sake, he kisses up to Putin, is likely to make deals with any devil who might fill his personal coffers. He has proven to be both a thief and a liar.
He is also, like it or not, now the role model for our children, as were all the presidents before him, encouraging bullies, sexual assaults and bigotry.
Happiness under tRump is not possible.
As I see it, constitutionally we already have permission to get the hell out of Dodge. I suggest we go for it. A bullet need never be fired in a civil war. (But we will have to throw out Daryl Issa, the creepy junior tRump. Obvious tRump supporters who wish to leave are free to do so, but they will need a passport to return.)
It’s ironic that Republicans have been quoting their bastardization of the constitution for every new perversion they enact, isn't it? We have an actual loophole written into the constitution itself, we need to use it.
As Californians we are ready to leave the nest, we have been for a long time. There is no reason we can't become an independent country of our own. I see no logical reason to stay a part of the new Red America. I no longer feel any patriotic duty to due so. The Federal Government has irreparably broken its contract with the states. The America we fought and died for no longer exists.
We, as Californians can, and should, secede from the union.
(And, by my interpretation of the constitution, we won't even have to pack our bags.)