Independent California Republic

[Taverner]

Since all of this talk of CA seceding from the US, I did a little research.

Apparently there's a site

http://www.independentcalifornia.com/why-independence/

There's a flag



And although we would run into SCOTUS issues, if we changed the California constitution in a ballot measure - we could do it.

[Kutjara]

1. Count me in!

It's about time we got around to seceding from this batshit crazy country.

[TechBear_Seattle]

2. The last I heard of this was a move to split California into two or three smaller states

The two-state split would separate the rural northern 1/3 of the state to create Jefferson. The annual Jefferson State Fair in Crescent City, California is a nod to this.

The three-state split would create Jefferson, then split the lower two thirds into the big-city coast and the very conservative interior. I don't recall the names given for those entities.

[Taverner]

3. State of Jefferson is nothing more than rednecks wanting legal lynchings

California Independence is all about leaving this batshit crazy country!

[TechBear_Seattle]

8. Rural yes, but red necks? Legal lynchings?

http://www.jeffersonstate.com/

Originally, at least, the proposal for Jefferson was very well thought out and rooted in very legitimate beefs with federal and state governments. I lived in Eureka for several years (granted, it was back in the early 90s) and all of the people I met who were serious about Jefferson were thoughtful, educated people.

[Taverner]

9. Hmmm the people I knew who were wild about Jefferson were Grants Pass rednecks

Very big on "gun rights" and English Only

But who knows?

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

14. I thought it had something to do with roads.

Although I'm sure the original idea's been coopted by militia kooks.

[JuniperLea]

34. I'm a native...

And most the natives I know are pacifists.

[XemaSab]

36. Where in Jefferson are you a native of?

:shrug:

[Retired AF Dem]

39. Thats strange

most people in the U.S. thinks that California is batshit crazy and wouldnt miss it. (By the way born and raised in San Diego)

[Auggie]

4. The flag doesn't do it for me

[jgraz]

6. Add a pot leaf to the center

Then I'm good.

[Auggie]

10. LOL...

so appropriate!

I'd do it in Photoshop but I don't know how to post a photo.

[Taverner]

7. How about these?

[Bucky]

13. It does look more like the flag of a former Soviet republic

American state flags are supposed to be boring navy blue rectangles with the state seal printed on it.

[jgraz]

5. Let's see if Oregon and Washington want to come with us!

We could be the Republic of Pacifica.

I nominate Barbara Lee as our first President.

[Auggie]

12. Hawaii too

[Taverner]

16. And Hawaii has a KICK ASS flag

None of this boring state seal BS

[pscot]

19. You form your country

we'll form ours. I think Washington, Oregon and British Columbia would work. If we could get Alaska Idaho and Montana to throw in with us we could comprise a libertarian /democratic republic with a land area as big as the original 48 with fabulous natural wealth. And we could keep the Californians in California, where they belong.

[jgraz]

20. I think you guys will want that California money

After all, you can't run a national treasury on coffee and nanaimo bars. :rofl:

[Taverner]

21. The money, the movies, the technology

California itself has enough to offer the world around it.

Actually, Republic stretching from the tip of Baja Sur to the edge of BC would be a great nation don't you think?

[Xithras]

32. No, I think they'll want our farms.

Screw money. Agriculture in the northwest is a seasonal thing, and it's damned near impossible to grow anything in those states once the frosts set in. California, luckily, has vast swaths of farmland and a climate that allows us to grow year-round.

Then again, maybe we don't want to screw money. If we let them go their own way, we could just SELL them all that food they'll need to survive those harsh, cold northern winters. It'll be great for our economy (not so great for theirs though).

[Aristus]

27. Nah. California can becoem an independent republic with my blessing.

But Oregon and Washington should be their own nation: Cascadia!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cascadia_%28independence_movement%29

[calimary]

40. We could let them keep Dianne Feinstein.

I'd lean more toward Barbara Boxer, but Barbara Lee is certainly worthy also.

I'm kinda sick of being an after-thought. My big complaint was always how our primary was almost last, long after the decision was made and we had NO say (at least until somebody FINALLY took a serious look at that and started doing something about it). At the same time that we had NO say, we also were and are the EIGHTH-largest economy IN THE WORLD, the most populous state, with the largest Congressional delegation, the largest number of electoral votes, the largest Hispanic population - and all of that growing every day. People want our movies, our agriculture, our wine, our beaches, our blondes, our fashion, our electronics, our health industry, our cuisine, our sense of chic, our leadership in trends, you name it. Remember that conventional wisdom: "As California goes, so goes the nation."

[leftysopaw]

11. heck ya!

i'm in too :D

[stimbox]

15. I'm down.

But I like our current flag.

[Solon]

17. My question is why change the flag?

I don't know Californians' opinion on the matter, but the Bear Republic flag isn't half bad, JMHO.

[mulsh]

18. "May the rest of the United States fall into the Atlantic Ocean"

That's the traditional Thanksgiving prayer for a couple of us native Californians. We mean it sincerely. Most of the time. Easpecialy family member who migrated here recently.

[Taverner]

22. Yup

[formerrepuke]

23. As a non-Californian who admires California...its distressing to learn that people

actually discuss this. It IS mostly hot air, no?

[kineneb]

33. no

We get tired of a government 3000 miles away taxing us, and returning about 81 cents for every dollar we send them. California has always been "independent" in its thinking. As far as places to live, for me there is California and Europe, and not much in between.

2nd generation NorCal native, 3rd gen. westerner...
2008 will mark 100 years of my family living in CA.

[Pavulon]

38. Yes. We settled this in 1865, at Appomattox

a silly subject with ZERO chance of ever becoming more than a silly thread. EVER.

[CT_Progressive]

24. That would make america permanently Red/GOP/Neocon

[Tesha]

35. Which is why New England must also secede.

What will eventually be left as the US is just "Jesusland".

Tesha

[mmonk]

25. If California does this, I'll have to move clear across the country

from coast to coast.

[kwassa]

26. California has been an independent republic

for abut a month.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_Republic

The California Republic, also called the Bear Flag Republic, was the result of a revolt by Americans on June 14, 1846, in the town of Sonoma against the authorities of the Mexican province of California; the Republic lasted less than a month.

[Xithras]

29. Yep, and some people argue that it isn't legally a state today.

Basically using the same argument that the Hawaiian seccesionists are trying.

The residents of California declared their independence from Mexico and staged a successful revolt, declaring themselves an independent nation. John C Fremont and his men marched into the new capitol a month later. In a somewhat infamous exchange, Fremont ordered Ide to lower the California flag and replace it with the American flag. When Ide refused, Fremont's men brought their guns to bear on Ide and his tiny, ill equipped force and stated "Take it down, or we'll take it down for you". Ide then lowered the flag, and signed an annexation order at gunpoint.

Under international law, this was technically illegal. The annexation was signed under threat of death and was not binding. The Republic of California, legally, became an occupied nation. The governments set up for the nation, being established by the occupying power, were not legal. The vote to join the Union was not legal as a result. By the letter of modern law, the annexation of the Republic of California by the USA was very illegal.

Of course, I'd bet that you could fit all of the people who actually care into a single room...and not a very big one.

[Zomby Woof]

28. I want to keep our current flag

And elect President Boxer.

[question everything]

30. I don't think that northern, southern and inland

California have more in common that California and the rest of the country.

[mitchtv]

31. Thr republic of Greater California

including Baja and Nevada(already a vassal)

[XemaSab]

37. I'm there

but I like the current flag. :)