Six Californias?

Dissatisfaction with the current state of California continues to spread. The latest idea: Split the mega-state into six smaller states. It comes from tech investor Tim Draper:

“TechCrunch has learned about noted technology investor Tim Draper’s plan to split California into six separate states, including a Northern California slice appropriately named “Silicon Valley.”

“Draper shared his vision with TechCrunch tonight. He says he’s submitting a polished version to the state’s Attorney General in the form of a ballot proposition proposal within the next 48 hours. ‘Six Californias‘ already has a campaign website up and is eager for an army of volunteers.”

The six states would be: Jefferson (blue color in the map above), North California (purple), Central California (Red/Orange), Silicon Valley (Yellow), West California (Green), South California (gold).

It makes sense. Why should liberal Silicon Valley/San Francisco have to put up with conservative Orange County, and vice versa? California is the most diverse place in the history of the globe. Yet different people are forced to live under the same, unified political structure.

If it passed, a bigger problem would be getting it through the U.S. Congress. Most other Americans already have problems with one California and wouldn’t cotton on to having five more. The division would give ex-California 12 U.S. Senators instead of two, and increase its clout in the Electoral College.

Assuming the Draper map is what would happen, it probably would favor Republicans. The state’s most liberal areas would be situated in Silicon Valley and West California. The other four new “states” would include fairly conservative areas. So at least a couple of the new “states” might elect U.S. Senators and governors, and favor the GOP in the presidential races.

So Democrats would be against the initiative.

Politicians

Another problem is that the state’s top politicians would be against it because currently anyone who is the California governor or senator of a state of 38 million people automatically is a possible contender for president or vice president. Jerry Brown started running for president right after he was elected governor in 1974. Almost three decades later, he’s still not ruling out a run.

Arnold Schwarzenegger, even though the U.S. Constitution prohibited him from running for president because he was born in a foreign country, was maneuvering to amend the Constitution to let him run when his governorship imploded, making him a pariah.

Chop that 38 million people into six smaller portions, and the ex-state’s clout drops fast.

But you never know. The state currently is ungovernable. It isn’t “back,” as Brown contends. The national economy recovery, pathetic as it is, only has delayed the state’s financial meltdown.

When the meltdown occurs, then might be the ripe time for a multiple divorce.