 | | 07-16-2014, 07:49 PM |
|
#282
|
|
Fan Forum Star
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 133,050
|
Quote:
Plan to split California into six states could end up on 2016 ballot
Billionaire Tim Draper collects 800,000 signatures, which could put plan experts call a 'colossal waste of time' on 2016 ballot
One billionaire’s plan to divide California into six states might actually make an appearance on the ballot in 2016.
Clad in a tie depicting his vision for a divided state, venture capitalist Tim Draper on Tuesday delivered 1.3m signatures to Sacramento, the state’s current capital. That exceeds the state’s 807,615 signature requirement for getting a constitutional amendment on the ballot, though officials will still have to determine the validity of those signatures.
Draper, who recently purchased 29,656 bitcoins in a government auction, said that he wants the state divided into six separate entities, each with their own constitutions, governments and, presumably, flags. He believes that dividing the state into six parts would solve California’s problems and lead to greater accountability.
The six proposed states are Jefferson, which would contain the so-called “Emerald Triangle”; North California, home to wineries, suburbs and the present state capital; Central California, where much of the country’s produce comes from; West California, with Hollywood, Disneyland and Los Angeles; South California, the hot, dry border state; and Silicon Valley. They would look like this.
“The chances of this passing are zero, zip, nada,” said UC Berkeley law professor John Yoo in an email.
In an article he co-wrote on the subject, Yoo said that Draper’s argument that California is “nearly ungovernable” doesn’t stand up to criticism because that claim can’t be proven.
If Draper’s measure does make it onto the ballot and is supported by a majority of California’s more than 17.7m registered voters, one large thing stands in the way of his plan: the federal government. The US constitution requires the consent of a state’s legislature and Congress to create new states, meld two states together or make other complicated modifications.
“This is the kind of thing that is not going to go over well, especially considering what it would mean for representation in the Senate,” said Richard Hasen, a law professor at UC Irvine. “It would multiply by six times California’s power in that body and putting aside partisan politics, it seems quite unlikely that you would get buy-in from the country to admit five new states into the union to magnify California’s power.”
Draper’s continued efforts to get the measure on the ballot have frustrated people who believe he is distracting from real issues the state is facing, including a severe drought.
"This is a colossal and divisive waste of time, energy and money that will hurt the California brand," Democratic strategist Steve Maviglio told the San Francisco Chronicle. He formed an opposition group called OneCalifornia with GOP strategist Joe Rodota to combat the measure.
|
To think of all the good this guy could accomplish if he only focused his considerable reasources of time and money towards worthier goals.
On the other hand, this gives you a pretty good picture of what actually controls governments nowadays, doesn't it?
__________________
 Sunny
"The work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives, and the dream shall never die." avie by Jessie
|
|
|