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Wired reports that:
While ostensibly a plan to make the entire state of 38 million people more governable, the six-state initiative is being led and funded by a member of the Silicon Valley elite, many of whom would no doubt welcome the increased political clout that would likely come from carving out their own statehood. In the hands of most, the six-state initiative would look like a pure stunt. But with Silicon Valley behind it, this effort's chances at the ballot box can't be dismissed out of hand. Unlike most other would-be revolutionaries, Silicon Valley has a long record of taking ideas that sound outlandish at the time--affordable computers in every home, private rocket ships--and managing to make them real. It also has a seemingly endless stream of money that, combined with heavy doses of ingenuity and shamelessness, give its goofball ideas the fuel they need to take off.
...
"Our gift to California is this--it's one of opportunity and choice," Draper said at a press conference yesterday where he announced the campaign had collected far more than 800,000 signatures needed to get the measure on the ballot. "We're saying, make one failing government into six great states."
(Score: 3, Informative) by frojack on Wednesday July 23 2014, @05:41AM
Oddly enough, wherever you live in the US, you have software, and spinach, and almonds, and wine, movies, and weed.
Maybe you should take a staycation in California some time.
Other than that, I completely agree that this is nonsense.
No, you are mistaken. I've always had this sig.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday July 23 2014, @07:26AM
> Oddly enough, wherever you live in the US, you have software, and spinach, and almonds, and wine, movies, and weed.
On the store shelves. But you'd have to be an idiot not to realize he was talking about production, not retail.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by RaffArundel on Wednesday July 23 2014, @12:57PM
The only thing on that list monopolized by California is almonds as far as the US goes. Even those may have European competition - not sure - doesn't Spain produce most of them for the EU?
Regardless, this (and all "split states up" - yes, I'm looking at you Texas) is stupid from a resource management perspective. California already has an issue keeping power and water flowing; what do you think is going to happen when you have six states all with different economic bases competing for the same resources?
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday July 23 2014, @02:49PM
> The only thing on that list monopolized by California
WTF? Who said anything about monopolies?
Name a single state with significant production of even half of those.
(Score: 3, Informative) by frojack on Wednesday July 23 2014, @04:48PM
California.
Holds the largest production of any state in all but one of those categories...
Wine: California is the leading wine producing state—making more than 90 percent of all U.S. wine
Software: No monopoly, but clearly the home to 4 of the biggest US software firm an 45% of game makers
Almonds: 2013 news article indicated that the United States produced at least 80% of the world's supply.
Spinach: California (73% of 2004–06 U.S. output), Arizona (12%), and New Jersey (3%) are the top producing states,
Marijuana: hard to say, since its still illegal, but California seizures by DEA are larger than the next 4 states combined
Movies: California ranks fourth behind Louisiana, Canada and the U.K in actual film locations, Most post production still done in CA and Canada. California has taxed its movie business away to other states.
No, you are mistaken. I've always had this sig.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday July 23 2014, @07:53PM
> California.
Jesus fucking christ you are dull!
Of course it is california. That's the whole point - production (not retail) of all those things in one single state, his state, california. Not split into 6 different states.
I am totally blown away that you went to the effort to look all that up, but couldn't grasp that you were proving the obvious (and disproving your previous post up this thread).
(Score: 2) by frojack on Wednesday July 23 2014, @08:26PM
Not disproving any previous thread.
My state produces all of those things. As do many other states. You can have those things just about anywhere, grown in your home state or imported. It hardly matters, which was exactly my point, even if it went right over your head.
You don't have to LIVE in any state to have those things, and I'm astounded you would think anyone would have to, or that it is somehow cool if all those things are produced within your state.
No, you are mistaken. I've always had this sig.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday July 23 2014, @10:48PM
> Not disproving any previous thread.
>
> My state produces all of those things.
Then why didn't you cite YOUR state? Whatever it may be.
> imported.
Wooooosh!
> or that it is somehow cool if all those things are produced within your state.
You implicitly agreed that is cool by trying to disprove the OP. Whatever dude, you are just flailing and incoherent.
(Score: 2) by opinionated_science on Wednesday July 23 2014, @02:41PM
I'm not from California but it is an AWESOME place to visit...really stunning. This guys seems like the typical rich wing-nut that has never had anyone disagree with him for decades...