Guest essay by Eric Worrall
A small but vocal group of Californians want to secede from the Union, to avoid President-elect Trump’s climate policies.
Climate Change Secession
Some private citizen groups in California, distraught at the prospect of an America under President Donald Trump, are advocating that the state secede from the union.
Constitutional scholars (and most Californians) assure us the separation is not going to happen. But is there any instance in which California could go its own way? What if Trump withdraws the nation from the United Nations Climate Change Accord and rejects the validity of the global warming threat altogether?
Could and should that set the stage for environmentally precocious California to break ranks with the president and join the Climate Change Treaty as a separate entity? It is not all that outlandish, considering California would not be declaring itself a sovereign state. It would simply be using its existing progressive greenhouse gas emission reduction policies to directly participate in a worldwide crusade to slow the rate of human-induced global warming. That shouldn’t exclude it from being a member of the United States in good standing.
California’s unilateral action could arguably be justified as a legitimate manifestation of States’ Rights that would serve as an inspiration at home and abroad. We are talking about policies aimed at having 33 percent of the state’s electricity come from clean, renewable energy by 2030 and 80 percent by 2050.
…
Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/edward-flattau/climate-change-secession_b_13497438.html
Other voices urge that California remain part of the Union, so they can oppose President-elect Donald Trump’s policies from within.
California must lead, not secede
In the Trump era, California must do what it does best — lead
More than a month after the presidential election, many Californians are still stunned by the results. Admittedly #CalExit is a great rallying cry, but secession is not the answer. #CalLeads is a better solution.
Rather than secede, we can do what California does best — lead.
It’s possible the Trump administration will find bipartisan common ground on solutions to our nation’s problems, but it’s equally possible Washington will continue to merely seethe in its dysfunctional swamp. We shouldn’t wait to find out.
Obviously, California still has its share of challenges — from housing costs to education to water — but we’re working on them, not waiting for answers from Washington.
…
Read more: http://www.sfchronicle.com/opinion/openforum/article/California-must-lead-not-secede-10804752.php
California’s ambitions to be a leading example of renewable energy success are a fantasy.
Last year (2015) California imported 99,210 GWh (33%) of their electricity from out of state, mostly from the South West, up from 25% in 2010. If California seceded they would have to negotiate some fossil fuel electricity import deals real quick, or the lights would go out.
But look on the bright side – if California secedes, Governor Jerry “Moonbeam” Brown finally gets to be President of somewhere.
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I think it’s a brilliant idea given the last para.
But look on the bright side – if California secedes, Governor Jerry “Moonbeam” Brown finally gets to be President of somewhere.
James Bull
Delegates left Paris ecstatic because they realized that sequestering carbon in the soil as organic matter is DOABLE. This would increase soil fertility, reduce droughts, and increase the carrying capacity of the Earth for Life. This does NOT require Trump or any other politicians, just education of the general populace about where food comes from. It is based on FACTS not fancies, though you will have a hard time taking that line with alarmists. Just tell them that the temperature controversy no longer matters. Everyone wants vitality and health and lets work together for it.
If you were a delegate and left Paris ecstatic because soil carbon sequestration is doable, you might be in a majority of one. Enjoy the accolade. I hope you have two hands because the clapping might be subtle otherwise. The bigger majorities left ecstatic because they thought they were on track to destroy the west’s industrial advantage.
Warmth melts ice in Antarctica and Canada and this, in turns, increases humidity. Higher oceans means more humidity, too. Ice Ages=desertfication of vast areas of the earth, the creation of the Sahara desert which didn’t exist before the Ice Ages, etc.
I think you mean California Climate Secession Offer don’t you.
Take them up on it – what have you got to lose.
The more activist a government is, the more problems the people have.
Look at Belgium, they had no government for nearly 2 years – problems – none.
Just let the peple get on with their lives and only intervene under extreme circumstances.
“steverichards1984 December 20, 2016 at 2:48 am
Look at Belgium, they had no government for nearly 2 years – problems – none.”
What, still? It was like that in 1981.
Personally, I agree. states rights all the way. My caveat would be that if they do that, I had better not see a cent of my Maryland money go to their California no-pipes dream. That was the whole point of the states – if they make it work then great, maybe others follow suit. If (read when) they fail, it’s their own mistake to swallow, not the rest of us. My two cents
“Climate Change Secession
Some private citizen groups in California, distraught at the prospect of an America under President Donald Trump, are advocating that the state secede from the union.”
insinuating to comply with an
undeclared forthcoming civil war.
Better for that ‘climate refugees’ to migrate to Christmas Islands.
No! We have had enough of boat-loads of so-called refugees. If they want to come to Australia, they should come the proper way – with a visa and a return air ticket, and sufficient funds to support them for a holiday in Gods Own Country. So there!~
I really don’t think those people should be allowed to govern their own state anymore.
They seem to have no clue about how reality works. Their power, fuel and some of their water comes from the rest of the country.
I’ve seen Califlowers with degrees misuse words like it’s an absolute necessity to destroy the integrity of the English language just to talk about a movie and their inability to write in a precise and limited manner makes me question even their literacy.
Their entire set of laws shows the state as nothing more than a knee-jerk away from voting themselves to godhood and banning bread and homeless people out of the expectation of making autism extinct.
As much as I’d like to see the US Army roll over the state and put it under marshal law for two decades in response to a treasonous act, I think most of us would rather build a wall and let them go as long as their over-entitled retarded asses don’t swim around it but die where they are.
There are many good and many great Californians, but predominantly those aren’t simply exceptions but six sigma outliers
prjindigo
…Califlowers with degrees misuse words…
…
I’d like to see the US Army roll over the state and put it under marshal law… (my bold)
I see you agree with President Jackson that it’s a poor mind that can think of but one way to spell a word. Or maybe you suggest that California will need a Marshall Plan in the near future.
: > )
But they ARE ‘Califlowers’ aren’t they?
It would be much better to divide the State in half and give the southern portion back to Mexico.
I’m tired of this „XX% of energy“ slogan.
Energy isn’t only about KWh. As any other product, it has also many other qualities like:
1. physical quality ( phase shift, voltage, harmonics )
2. timing as business quality ( availability and reliability )
3. geographical position
1KWh of solar power isn’t comparable to 1KWh of traditional power.
1 BMW car in my garage isn’t comparable to 1 Tata in New Delhi.
Additional pain is an (hopefully) unintended over-investment in solving problems caused by renewables, they are:
1. backup natural gas power stations (it’s all Putin’s fault )
2. private backup generators
“radzimir December 20, 2016 at 3:23 am
1 BMW car in my garage isn’t comparable to 1 Tata in New Delhi.”
IIRC, the Mk6 VW Golf is made in South Africa. China outstrips car making output in the EU zone by millions. And, when I worked for Honda in 1994, there was over capacity then where fields in the Channel Islands were covered in cars not sold. I have no idea what the situation is like now.
California continues to pull the wool over the eyes of most Americans. By embracing green energy and clean technology California is able to borrow at the state level and receive massive federal loans and grants to subsidize its economy.
Apple CEO Tim Cook boasts that Apple operates 100% on clean energy (which, as a global company, is impossible). Apple also keeps massive amounts of money offshore and out-of-state (such as in tax free Nevada). Apple is milking California. Elon Musk is milking America.
California is milking America. Why would it leave?
And Ireland.
And Ireland are fighting EU to keep it that way which brings us back to Brexit (or the Russians, whichever you prefer as the cause of all the world’s woes).
Maybe they could follow all this to its logical conclusion (in their eyes) and hitchhike off planet.
There is a way forward for them. They may actually get it whether they like it or not.
There is a proposal which concerns states which spend way more than they have. In particular, it concerns states which borrow more than they can ever repay. Eventually those states must go insolvent and then formally bankrupt. At such time there will be overwhelming pressure for the rest of the country to bail out the failed state.
The bailout plan could proceed as follows:
A) The state looses its statehood
B) State government is dissolved
C) The ex-state is administered as a territory
D) The territory has no federal representation, its residents do not vote in federal elections
E) The territory may regain statehood only after all bailout monies have been repaid.
Perfect! California does not quite leave the Union, but is not a state, either. Everybody is happy!
Without federal representation or voting, the ability of California to impose its lunacy (financial and otherwise) is greatly restricted.
For Californians, there is some thought about whether reckless spending and borrowing is truly free of consequences.
For everybody else, there is at least some small assurance that the irresponsible government which caused the disaster has been done away with.
Like Greece and the EU?
http://rs50.pbsrc.com/albums/f306/ymhull/Ebay/Goldmember1.jpg?w=480&h=480&fit=clip
Man, I like the way your brain works…..
Tony,
I like it.
What is remarkable is that California insists that every other state adopt its liberal policies often at great cost and job loss. There’s nothing stopping the state of California from continuing on its own path by itself but they want to secceed? That would be a tragedy for the middle class and working class who would find it more difficult to emigrate to other states looking for better jobs and a lower cost of living.
Perhaps they should leave now, before things get worse.
The ‘No’ state leads only in BS. Doing something after others have done it is not leadership.
While back California was boasting about new renewable energy capacity. It was all BS. I found the spread sheet listing the projects. Almost all was built in other states. Some was existing projects renamed.
I not sure why California think wind turbines in the Pacific Northwest is an accomplishment of Cali.
Maybe because Oregon and Washington provide CA with so much energy. The windmills interfere with proper use of hydro and rely on coal backup, but they can feel holy.
BPA does not have a problem balancing wind, nor is coal used as backup.
https://transmission.bpa.gov/business/operations/wind/baltwg.aspx
Climate Witch Hunt Update:
Lawyer with Cape ties fights Exxon Mobil subpoenas
http://www.capecodtimes.com/news/20161216/lawyer-with-cape-ties-fights-exxon-mobil-subpoenas
BOSTON — A Newton-based environmental attorney who lives part-time in Brewster has been subpoenaed in a Texas-based federal civil rights case filed by Exxon Mobil against Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey in a high stakes tit for tat over climate change.
Matthew Pawa, of the Pawa Law Group, filed a motion to quash the two nonparty subpoenas issued to him and his firm last month requiring the firm to disclose privileged information, arguing that the information requested was irrelevant to the case and citing a violation of freedom of association, which is protected under the First Amendment, according to federal court documents.
Last week, a Texas judge ordered Healey to appear to answer questions in the civil rights case. But on Tuesday Judge Ed Kinkeade canceled the deposition and on Thursday he stayed discovery in the case after Healey filed a petition with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, calling on the court to correct Kinkeade’s alleged abuse of discretion.
On Friday in U.S. District Court in Boston, Judge William Young administratively closed Pawa’s case until discovery in the case brought by Exxon Mobil against the attorneys general resumes.
Pawa’s firm initially objected to closing the subpoena case, stating the corporation would still be able to enforce their subpoenas even if discovery is stayed.
Young disagreed, saying that, while he isn’t making any ruling on the subpoenas, he didn’t believe the corporation could act on his subpoenas during the stay.
“That’s my understanding,” he said, adding that he will make himself available to both parties if there are changes in the underlying case.
Pawa declined to immediately comment on the pending subpoena case.
Pawa’s work includes representing the pro-Cape Wind group Clean Power Now and three other legal cases based on the theory that there is a connection between the country’s top polluters and climate change.
Healey’s office declined to comment on the case Friday. Exxon Mobil did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Weren’t there a group of Texans who want to succeed from the union not too long ago?
“secede”. The media made a big deal out of it, even though in Texas they were a big joke. Their proposed “new state capitol” was a mobil home in a rundown trailer park somewhere. They finally fizzled out after most of them ended up in jail for the usual bs those types are usually up to.
Btw, Texas looks like it is going to do very well in the new administration, after being shut out for 8 years. Tillerson, Sec of State, Texan, Perry, Sec of Energy, Texan, Pruitt, EPA, an Oklahoman but very close to Gov. Abbot and the Texas GOP.
The left is whining non stop about Trump’s appointments, but from a Texas point of view they couldn’t be more wonderful!
Come on if we can Brexit, California and Cexit Calexit? Californexit – Caleforniacate?
Maybe it’s just too hard!
Califortify? Depends on if they’d build barbed wire borders and at which directions :- )
I thought California was for open borders.
The secessionists might want to read this (and similar reports):
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4046600/Now-power-firms-raise-bills-30-year-prevent-blackouts-MPs-suggest-industry-return-three-day-week-lack-electricity.html#ixzz4TLrwb7Of
Some parts of CA do get cold, and all parts need artificial light at some time of the day.
Amazing transformation from ‘the science is settled’ and ‘we will not dignify deni*rs with a conversation’ to campaigning about how best they should now try to face down Trump. Already they know they’re in for the kicking of their activist lives. The Green Blob’s well-earned rinsing is going to be a sight to behold. 🙂 🙂
If California wants to follow its climate beliefs, why can it not be allowed to proceed on its own? I don’t see the need to secede.
California has access to lots of the sunshine required for solar energy, wind from the ocean for wind turbines and mountains for hydroelectric schemes. Why don’t they just set a target time by which they will be self-sufficient in energy?
They have a willing government, governor, all the Hollywood glitterati and some of the richest corporations who place great store by virtue signalling over climate. If California can’t make a go of renewable energy then who can?
OK, the relevant Federal loans should be withdrawn over time, California should stop selling its oil, they should stop using electricity from out of state and oil imports should be reduced to zero etc but if California can make renewables work then they will truly be leading by example and the world will have learnt something. If they cannot then, perhaps, Californians will have learnt something.
What is not t like?
Oh, moar snowflakes holding bits of cardboard. Just like they’ve utterly destroyed the meaning of the words racist, sexist, homophobe, misogynist, bigot and so forth they have, through egregious overuse, just as surely destroyed the meaning of people holding bits of cardboard.
Years ago I used to actually read the bits of cardboard to see what the holders were upset about but now the words no longer even register on my retinas. Probably shouldn’t but all I see now is an idle daydream vision of high pressure water cannon reducing them and their bits of cardboard into a homogeneous and probably quite useful pulp.
California is in a position very similar to the Confederate States on the eve of the Civil War.
Few people today realize that King Cotton was a high technology stack which led to a huge market and high profit margins. The stack included a superior product (long staple cotton), vastly improved productivity (the cotton gin, mechanical balers and steam-powered transport), superior logistics (the standardized bale and boats and rail cars built around them), branding which allowed mills around the world to buy with confidence, a breakthrough in communications (the telegraph) which allowed brokers to sell cotton worldwide within days of it being pressed into bales, and slave labor (similar to employment conditions in modern China). This stack also required the use of modern financial systems to meet the huge capital requirements before the first harvest.
As a result of the “stack” southern cotton was very profitable, the market was worldwide and huge. The confederate states were directly responsible for about 70% of federal revenue and indirectly responsible for a large chunk of federal revenue generated from the remaining states due to the profits generated by mills and slave trading. And then came the fall.
Fast forward to today. A geographically small portion of California is riding high on a technology stack based on much good work and ingenuity, and cheap (almost slave-like) labor. These high profits have allowed it to prosper and pay for many poor decisions, but as in the days of the Confederacy, the citizens of that state will eventually discover that no goose will lay golden eggs forever. Hopefully they will survive after the bubble bursts and will not have to suffer a long Federal takeover and “reconstruction”.
The CSA lost because of underdevelopment in railroads and manufacturing industry. They did make superior gunpowder but relied on rivers for transport, so couldn’t shift army corps from Eastern to Western Theaters quickly over the rickety, inadequate rail net.
They also shot themselves in the foot by not selling all the cotton they could before the blockade set in. They hoped that cotton famine in British mills would bring the UK in on their side, but hate-brained scheme backfired.
Hare-brained. But autocorrected hate also works.
My half-pfennig:
Good riddance. Let us cut off the rest of the States monies that end up in the California black-hole, let us cut off the power the rest of us send to them, let us build a wall so that no Californicator can leave and pollute any other place (that had the sense to vote [for Trump/against Hitllery]). I’m OK with the whole state being cut off from the ones that have some sense. Let’s not pussy-foot around; JUST DO IT! Get this done and finished within the next six months. It will go a long way to ‘draining the swamp’.
Regards to all,
Vlad the Deplorable Impaler
History shows that competition between states, whether in the USA or elsewhere, is essential to an improving economy and lifestyle. It is how parts Europe became the world leaders after the Middle Ages. It is also why Brexit is a good idea, why Europe should break up again, and why, in the long run, California and the rest of USA would be better separated.
Harold
I strongly agree that competition and 50 ongoing experiments are the key to a vital and healthy economy. But there are also some essential functions which are facilitated by strong ties to neighbors we may not always agree with, but are willing to learn from. As always, the devil is in the details.
Update: The electors that did not vote according to their pledged oath were Dems casting votes for all manner of picks other than Hillary. Democracy gets Berned.
‘Some private citizen groups in California, distraught at the prospect of an America under President Donald Trump, are advocating that the state secede from the union.’
I read the article to find out where to send money to help them. He doesn’t list any. I assume now that ‘Some private citizen groups in California’ is a straw man.