Californian (well, ex-Californian, now Washingtonian here):
Or a long-running sentiment on part of the West Coast?
Very long running sentiment. I first started hearing it about the time Regan decided to eliminate our military basis as punishment back in the 80s for not voting for him.
Have they felt so disenfranchised by the policies of the rest of the country that they'd want out?
I mean, there's the sentiment that the West Coast has had money, business and agriculture siphoned away from them in order to fund the dysfunctional policies of the rest of the country, and moreover, places like Oregon, California and Washington state have a remarkable difference in terms of values from the other states. How true is that, from an insider's perspective (I hope our Californian friends could share some insights here).
To be fair, it's true when it comes down to which states pay the most in federal taxes + receive the least. Throw in that the federal government did essentially squat to help in our housing crises (where multiple California cities - from Vallejo to Stockton) went bankrupt, and there definitely is a sense that we're expected to chip in when other states need it, but when we do, tough luck, California, you're on your own.
The trouble is that even bluest-of-blue California is still too 'purple' for a secession to really solve it's political problems. All we would really be doing is cutting off the connective federal tissue that binds us with the other big shots like New York, Florida, and Texas. It would also drastically impact our presence on the world stage. Why do what America wants, when you can play California against New York?
Oh, I agree. I think it's a terrible idea and my guess is will be rejected in a vote. (Rather like the proposal to split California into six states.)
With that said, the rage has existed well prior to this election (to a lesser extent, there's also the Cascadia movement - right now, I believe Calexit doesn't include incorporation of Cascadia, although that could be an interesting twist). And while yes, Trump willing and taking congress with him was, if you will, the tinder, it's not a new concept. It's just one that hasn't gone anywhere and, I suspect, never will.
Or a long-running sentiment on part of the West Coast?
Very long running sentiment. I first started hearing it about the time Regan decided to eliminate our military basis as punishment back in the 80s for not voting for him.
Have they felt so disenfranchised by the policies of the rest of the country that they'd want out?
I don't think it'll pass but yes, some people certainly feel this way and, thanks to California's bizarre initiative system, it will almost certainly end up on the ballot. (California also has a long history of arguing with the federal government that it should be treated like its own country, from using their national guard to prevent other Americans from immigrating to tangles with other states over international trade.
I mean, there's the sentiment that the West Coast has had money, business and agriculture siphoned away from them in order to fund the dysfunctional policies of the rest of the country, and moreover, places like Oregon, California and Washington state have a remarkable difference in terms of values from the other states. How true is that, from an insider's perspective (I hope our Californian friends could share some insights here).
To be fair, it's true when it comes down to which states pay the most in federal taxes + receive the least. Throw in that the federal government did essentially squat to help in our housing crises (where multiple California cities - from Vallejo to Stockton) went bankrupt, and there definitely is a sense that we're expected to chip in when other states need it, but when we do, tough luck, California, you're on your own.
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With that said, the rage has existed well prior to this election (to a lesser extent, there's also the Cascadia movement - right now, I believe Calexit doesn't include incorporation of Cascadia, although that could be an interesting twist). And while yes, Trump willing and taking congress with him was, if you will, the tinder, it's not a new concept. It's just one that hasn't gone anywhere and, I suspect, never will.
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