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The idea of dividing CA into 3 states is genius. Who came up with it?

(CNN) An initiative that would divide California into three separate states qualified Tuesday to appear on the ballot in November's general election.

Californians will vote whether to separate into three states: California, Northern California and Southern California -- subject to approval by US Congress.
The proposal by venture capitalist, Tim Draper to break up California in a campaign called "Cal 3," received more than 402,468 valid signatures -- surpassing the amount required by state law.
California Secretary of State Alex Padilla will certify the initiative as qualified for the November 6th ballot on June 28.

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Oceanside CA – Secretary of State Debra Bowen announced, on Tuesday, the proponent of an initiative to split California into six separate states, may begin collecting petition signatures for the measure.
The plan, known as ‘Six Californias’, is being pushed by venture capitalist Tim Draper. “California is ungovernable, as it is.” Draper said in a Fox Business News interview. “One group trying to manage the agrarian people in the central valley, the military groups down in LA, then Hollywood and up North, the people in Jefferson are trying to pull out not just from the state but from the country.”
The plan would split California into six new states which would then compete for counties. Draper said his plan would “give all of us sort of a refresh in government.” Draper continued “The refresh is desperately needed in a state that has the highest costs for the worst service.”
Draper believes the state’s poorest regions are the areas that want to split from the state, the most. Water rights have always been a big issue for the central valley and, with the current drought, those issues are magnified. Draper said the people of the central valley wonder why the people up North decide where all the water goes.
Dissatisfaction of government, and people feeling they were not being represented, led to a similar action in Colorado. An initiative to split Colorado, led by rural counties in Northern Colorado, failed last November on a 56% to 43% vote in Weld County.
The initiative faces opposition from Congress because the split would affect the Electoral College and the balance in the Senate. The U.S. Constitution requires that Legislatures must first approve any state that is to be created within its jurisdiction. The proponents of the plan will need to collect over 807,615 registered voters, eight percent of the total votes cast for governor in the 2010 gubernatorial election, in order to qualify it for the ballot. The proponent has 150 days to circulate petitions for the measure, meaning the signatures must be submitted to county elections officials by July 18, 2014.

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Infoman · 36-40, M
It makes a lot of sense actually.
Lizabee · F
@Infoman how so?
Infoman · 36-40, M
@Lizabee Well, compare the size of California to the average state. Californians are under represented in the Senate because of this disparity. Also, the various areas of California vary from industrial to agricultural to high-tech to military and more. It must be extremely difficult for the state government to fairly represent such diverse interests. I'm on the opposite side of the country so I don't have an opinion that "counts," but it certainly seems like it would make sense.
Lizabee · F
@Infoman alright. In that line of thinking let’s have Texas (bigger) go first and see how it goes.
Infoman · 36-40, M
@Lizabee Actually, California is bigger (in political terms -- no idea about square miles). It is the population that drives this.

But now that you mention it, splitting up Texas at the same time might make the politics of it more palatable for each side. A 21st century version of the Missouri Compromise!
Northwest · M
@Infoman Washington, Arizona and Oregon, have the same issue, with cross state diversity.

If you split California, you're not going to eliminate economic diversity, as each piece, still has its own Tech/Agri zones. The resulting states, will be (if split into 2 or 3), politically the mirror image of what you have today, which would not be fair to the ass backward smaller conservative states, or Texas.

Constitutionally speaking, that is :-)
Infoman · 36-40, M
@Northwest Interesting.

But doesn't California's unique size provide a compelling argument by itself for division?

Or would you rather erase state lines and convert our republic into a democracy?
Northwest · M
@Infoman I do not favor a Democracy, over our Constitutional (democratic) Republic. It's not for us, despite the setbacks (Bush and Trump, for instance).

I believe it's our obligation, to preserve the diversity we have, and not absorb minorities. Down the line, that's what keeps us "safe" from forced universalism.
Infoman · 36-40, M
@Northwest Well that's an entirely new topic. But glad to hear you support our Constitutional Republic, and yes of course it is by design democratic in nature.
jackjjackson · 61-69, M
The additional potential electoral college votes and senators would backdoor gut the constitution. @Northwest
Infoman · 36-40, M
@jackjjackson Depends on how the split is done, right? There are many conservative areas of California.
Northwest · M
@jackjjackson Right. Montana may have a voice today. It will be insignificant with 3 or 6 Californias
Northwest · M
@Infoman fancy splicing May produce 1 conservative State out of 6. If it’s 2 or 3, then no.
Lizabee · F
Lizabee · F
@Northwest how the fuck do you have diversity without immigrants?
Northwest · M
@Lizabee Where the fuck do I talk about having no immigrants?
Lizabee · F
@Northwest

“I believe it's our obligation, to preserve the diversity we have, and not absorb minorities”

Perhaps I missed your point.
Northwest · M
@Lizabee This means that we have an obligation to preserve minorities' unique culture/identity, and not attempt to absorb it into the collective.

Minorities are not immigrants, but they can be.