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[Dalek]

Silicon Valley investors call for California to secede from the US after Trump win

As Donald Trump’s shock election victory reverberated around Silicon Valley late on Tuesday night, some high-profile technologists were already calling for California to secede from the United States.

The broader west coast is a stronghold for the Democrats, and significantly more politically progressive and racially diverse than large swathes of central US. California is also the biggest economy in the US and the sixth largest in the world with a gross state product of $2.496tn for 2015, according to the IMF.

The campaign for independence – variously dubbed Calexit, Califrexit and Caleavefornia – has been regarded as a fringe movement. But support was revitalized by influential Uber investor and Hyperloop co-founder Shervin Pishevar, in a series of tweets announcing his plans to fund a “legitimate campaign for California to become its own nation” – posted even before the full results were in.

A few hours later, Hillary Clinton conceded the election to Trump, and Pishevar told CNBC that he was serious about Calexit. “It’s the most patriotic thing I can do,” he said, adding that the resulting nation would be called New California.

“We can re-enter the union after California becomes a nation. As the sixth largest economy in the world, the economic engine of the nation and provider of a large percentage of the federal budget, California carries a lot of weight,” he said.

Pishevar was supported by others in Silicon Valley. Angel investor Jason Calacanis said that California succession would be simple in the wake of both Brexit and a Trump win.

Pishevar’s comments add weight to the Yes California campaign, which launched in late 2015 calling to create a free, independent California Republic. Led by political activist Louis Marinelli, Yes California proposes a 2019 referendum, following the model adopted by Catalonia to gain independence from Spain.

The proposal illustrates the technology industry’s frustration with Trump over his repeated criticisms of Silicon Valley companies. The Republican leader wants Apple to stop making phones in China, thinks Jeff Bezos bought the Washington Post to exert political power and avoid paying taxes, and claimed that Mark Zuckerberg’s push for specialist immigration would actually decrease opportunities for American women and minorities.

 

[Jeff Vader]

You mean the people living in a bigger bubble want to split the state off from the US and then further split off from the central and southern part of CA? Yeah good luck there pal.

 

[AlimNassor]

Just like when Texas wanted to leave after Obamas win.

 

[Riposte]

This actually can't happen. I mean, I guess California could try declaring war against the United States.

 

[Phu]

Top props to the person who came up with 'Caleavefornia'.

 

[Strike]

Good luck with that.

 

[TAJ]

This actually can't happen. I mean, I guess California could try declaring war against the United States.

The mood in other states seems to be "Fine, then. Go.". If that holds then it's doable.
Never underestimate the resentment towards California.

 

[Just_myles]

Bad idea. Also Jason Calacanis is not someone I would want to stand behind. Not saying he is a bad dude, btw.

 

[MattKeil]

The mood in other states seems to be "Fine, then. Go.". If that holds then it's doable.

No, it's not. A state cannot secede from the union. Period.

And even if it could, if you think the US would just let a chunk of its economy and resources the size of California just walk out the door without military intervention, you are out of your tree.

 

[Heavy_D206]

What a joke. California is challenging Texas for the dumbest state award.

 

[SunnyVi]

Good luck with the water situation.

 

[FantasticMrFoxdie]

Its hilarious seeing some of the random comments on Facebook from non-californians acting like they don't need California:

You wanna flee now that Trump is Prez? Well, adios and good riddance! No one is stopping you.

This is what happens when parents don't spank their kids, read them the Bible and explain how democracy works. Quit with the games, grow up and teach your kids. Cause this might be one of your son's or daughter's throwing a tantrum because they learned that democracy is not the equivalent of kicking and screaming on the floor until mommy or daddy is just tired of the tears gives them one more. I say cut them off, put the belt to their ass and send Cali to bed.

Goodbye and good riddance!! We will build a wall to keep you morons out too!!
You are too stupid to realize that California is bankrupt and the rest of us have been propping you up!! Just know that once you leave the USA, you will not be allowed back in when you realize your mistake!!

And as mentioned in the other thread WA and OR-gaf you're coming with us right?

 

[GKSilKamina]

...but where would they get their water from?

 

[jchap]

Desert wasteland with no one to bail them out like in 2012

 

[AnathemicOne]

Huh, well Silicon Valley was actually one of the reasons why California shouldn't secede, if the tech valley is in agreement, well, all we really need is military support. I'm looking at you Camp Pendleton and San Diego.

...but where would they get their water from?

Where would you get your food from?

 

[Proelite]

Wa, Oregon, Nevada, and Cali can form the Best Coast Nation. Colorado and New Mexico can be part of it.

 

[antonz]

Huh, well Silicon Valley was actually one of the reasons why California shouldn't secede, if the tech valley is in agreement, well, all we really need is military support. I'm looking at you Camp Pendleton and San Diego.



Where would you get your food from?

The people behind this in Silicon valley are shitlords who deserve no respect. before this they have been advocating for California to break into smaller states along the boundaries of rich and poor. They want to make sure all the poor folks get stuck in their own state while the Rich and Famous can have their Special State.

 

[UnemployedVillain]

Any time I hear talk of secession I laugh and then wait for those people to eventually realize it was a stupid idea and go on with their lives

 

[Vulcano's assistant]

would the process even realistically take less time than Trump 4 year term?

 

[Robot Pants]

Oh shut the fuck up already. These idiots

 

[FantasticMrFoxdie]

Wa, Oregon, Nevada, and Cali can form the Best Coast Nation. Colorado and New Mexico can be part of it.

Hell yea


And the name of our country will literally be called "Best Coast"

 

[MattKeil]

Where would you get your food from?

Where would they get their anything from? Without the port of Los Angeles/Long Beach and the port of Oakland, the US has no high capacity container port on the west coast. Seattle isn't equipped for that kind of volume. Everything would have to come in through the east coast, or else shipping transit rights would have to be purchased from California, which would drive prices of just about everything up astronomically.

As much as red staters would like to believe they could easily live without the crunchy stoner hippie scum they see as making up most of California's population, the nation depends on California for far too many things to let it leave, even if leaving were remotely plausible. Which it isn't.

 

[AnathemicOne]

The people behind this in Silicon valley are shitlords who deserve no respect. before this they have been advocating for California to break into smaller states along the boundaries of rich and poor. They want to make sure all the poor folks get stuck in their own state while the Rich and Famous can have their Special State.

Only entertaining the notion, I know realistically and logistically secession wouldn't work without some major upheavals in socioeconomic climates (of both California and the US), but if rural America can buy into false hope and believe Trump is gonna bring back low-skilled jobs, then I can wish for stupid fantasies too.

 

[SynthFetish]

And as mentioned in the other thread WA and OR-gaf you're coming with us right?

Yes, yes we are.

Don't worry about the water, we got you covered fam.

If we take Oregon and Washington, the north.

No need to take, we like this idea. (Or I do anyways)

 

[MagnaderAlpha]

...but where would they get their water from?

If we take Oregon and Washington, the north.

 

[yanipheonu]

Wa, Oregon, Nevada, and Cali can form the Best Coast Nation. Colorado and New Mexico can be part of it.

I know it's basically fan fiction, but this idea of creating coalitions of states into separate countries is an interesting experiment at least.

The discontent is huge, and it's only going to get worse. Worse, with republicans controlling most the government, the threat of secession, no matter how unlikely, becomes at least something they can actually use for influence.

 

[jabuseika]

Will never happen because the rest of the country needs our Welfare tax dollars, but would be nice.

Good luck with the water situation.

Well just bring Oregon and Washington with us.

 

[CrocMother]

California can't secede without war.

 

[Chiggs]

Better figure out the water problems, smart guys.

 

[Ferrio]

Better figure out the water problems, smart guys.

I think seceding is stupid, but how does staying with the union actually solve that especially under a Trump presidency?

 

[Coinspinner]

SECDEE!

Tee hee.

 

[AnathemicOne]

California can't secede without war.

Pfft we house the largest Marine Corps base here, just gotta persuade them with evil liberul dogma and BAM! Civil War 2 baby.

Edit: Plus we have robot armies

 

[louiedog]

Better figure out the water problems, smart guys.

California won't need as much water when it doesn't need to grow as much. What will the rest of the country do without that food?

Alternatively, seems like a pretty easy trade deal right there.

 

[Keasar]

Do it.

 

[QuantumBro]

Eh, Democrats in Californians have nothing to be smug about, they didn't vote either.

 

[Asbel]

I wish the voting population of the country can secede from the non voting ones..

Anyway, what about the west coast joining Canada instead?

 

[Catdaddy]

This actually can't happen. I mean, I guess California could try declaring war against the United States.

I bet there is a screenplay being written now..

 

[SynthFetish]

I wish the voting population of the country can secede from the non voting ones..

Anyway, what about the west coast joining Canada instead?

Is this an option? Can real life Disney Prince Justin carry us into the great white north?

 

[dracula_x]

So, basically Putin's plan in action – no more USA, just independent states.

 

[Mr. X]

So Cali is the Texas of blue states?

 

[Toxi]

There's something in the water in Silicon Valley.

What a joke. California is challenging Texas for the dumbest state award.

Considering California didn't vote for the bumbling orangutan in a suit that is gonna be our next President, I think we can safely say they're nowhere close.

 

[wesleyshark]

Just like when Texas wanted to leave after Obamas win.

Yep. Same nonsense.

 

[DrSlek]

We can re-enter the union after California becomes a nation.

What? Someone explain what this means.
I'm interpreting this as California leaving the United States, but then reintegrating for some reason?

 

[Tubobutts]

Eh, Democrats in Californians have nothing to be smug about, they didn't vote either.

But the majority of people in California who did vote voted democrat?

Unless for some reason you think California would have had more electoral votes if more people voted?

 

[Tal Shiar Agent]

So, basically Putin's plan in action – no more USA, just independent states.

No matter what happens the next four years, Russia wins. Unless Western Europe grows some balls.

 

[USC-fan]

You can go but we keeping our water.

 

[Dancing Queen]

So Cali is the Texas of blue states?

 

[Kayhan]

Break up the US?

Putin is fapping to this news as we speak.

 

[Ferrio]

What? Someone explain what this means.
I'm interpreting this as California leaving the United States, but then reintegrating for some reason?

I assume because then they could negotiate the deal of reintegrating?

 

[LUFTRAUSER]

Advice from South Carolina: don't do this. It doesn't work.