Tech Investor Says Plan To Split California Headed For 2016 Ballot

[DonViejo]

Source: TPM

CATHERINE THOMPSON – JULY 15, 2014, 9:18 AM EDT

The wealthy Silicon Valley investor who wants to split California into six separate states says he's gathered enough signatures to put the effort to the ballot in 2016.

Venture capitalist Timothy Draper's Six Californias initiative tweeted Monday that he planned to file the signatures Tuesday in Sacramento.

A spokesman for the campaign, Roger Salazar, told Reuters that that the initiative had gathered more than the roughly 808,000 signatures needed to place it on the November 2016 ballot.

"It’s important because it will help us create a more responsive, more innovative and more local government, and that ultimately will end up being better for all of Californians," Salazar told Reuters. "The idea ... is to create six states with responsive local governments - states that are more representative and accountable to their constituents."

-snip-

Read more: http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/timothy-draper-six-californias-initiative-2016-ballot

[loudsue]

1. Gerrymandering at its finest.

Assholes.

[CanonRay]

2. If a billionaire is behind this, of course it must be good for the rest of us!

Honestly, this is the Republican wet dream.

[Xithras]

3. Where it will fail spectacularly!

As a born and bred native Californian, I've long supported the idea of splitting California into two states in concept. The problem with the Draper plan, like most plans before it, is that the proposed implementation will create more problems than it will solve. We don't need to consign the Central Valley to becoming a permanent Appalachian-style backwater, and we don't need to let the Silicon Valley turn into some billionaire-run, libertarian-darwinist Shangri-La. Draper is just trying to figure out a way to keep more of his money in his pocket.

[LiberalArkie]

4. Te problem always arises when the billionaire-run, libertarian-darwinist Shangri-La get their way is

The lower all the taxes and fees to nothing, then they bitch at the wait times for ambulances, fire trucks and the police to arrive. They start bitching about the water pressure, the street lights and why does it take an hour for the police to get to a fender bender.

[IronLionZion]

5. and since government is so slow and inefficient, it must be cut more

or privatized so only the wealthy will get those services they are willing to pay for.

[SwankyXomb]

9. They won't have to bitch about the water pressure

There won't be any water.

[Auggie]

6. Needs support of CA legislature -- will never, ever happen.

[SnowCritter]

7. That and the Federal government, IIRC

In a word - fugedaboudit!

[Auggie]

8. Such a colossal waste of time and money

[Kelvin Mace]

10. Please, spend LOTS of money on this

hundreds of millions if you can. The more you spend on this, the less you have for other projects that might pay off.

[4Q2u2]

11. New Frontier

Maybe this is not just about gerrymandering. Maybe this is the next logical step in "their" world of capitalism. They pretty much have bought and broken thousands of US companies, outsourcing is in full flow. So what is left to buy and break up and make a huge profit.
US States as commercial property. Hell maybe they can sell naming rights, to the highest bidder of course. It will only involve a nominal finders fee.

[A Simple Game]

12. I don't think California is as Democratic as many like to believe it is, but

if honestly divided shouldn't this result in more Democratic Senators?

[Angleae]

14. And even more republican senators.

From rough looks at the map it might end up an even split (6 D, 6 R) instead of the current 2 D, 0 R.

[Hong Kong Cavalier]

13. Investor's Plan to Split California Would Create Poorest State in USA

http://valleywag.gawker.com/investors-plan-to-split-california-would-create-poores-1516826595

[KamaAina]

15. And the richest

"Silicon Valley".

[Hong Kong Cavalier]

16. All according to ze plan.

Muhahahahhahah...hah...ha...er....

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

17. I think this proposal is ridiculous, but...

I think Los Angeles, Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties should be their own state.

[dembotoz]

18. 6 states = 12 senators yah thats gonna happen