The California secessionist movement is fast becoming a political reality, even though it stands no realistic chance of ever succeeding.
In a crucial first step towards their long term goal, secessionists have successfully filed a ballot initiative proposing that the state become its own country and secede from the United States.
The initiative has now been cleared for signature gathering and will require 546,651 valid signatures by July 22nd in order to become a formal ballot initiative.
If successful, voters would be asked in 2028 the following question: “Should California leave the United States and become a free and independent country?”
According to the guidelines set out by its organizers, if over 55 percent of voters said “yes” on a turnout of over 50 percent, would constitute “a vote of no confidence in the United States of America.”
It would also then declare that the “will of the people of California” is to become an independent country.
On this basis, state authorities would be required to create a commission on the viability of California becoming an independent country.
The cost of this initiative and the associated commission is estimated at around $10 million, as well as $2 million in annual state costs to keep the commission going.
There are currently no provisions for secession under the U.S. Constitution.
In 1869, The Supreme Court ruled in Texas v. White that unilateral secession is unconstitutional, meaning that Congress would have to approve any departure.
Hellbound and Down 