New State Of Jefferson (Orange, Ashland: how much, home, unemployment)

[CCCVDUR]

A friend just alerted me to a movement to create a new state of Jefferson for SW Oregon and NE California (web sites below).

What is the current status of this movement?

In my view, it could prove to be a good idea given the fiscal problems in California and Oregon. However, I'd have to study how much OR and CA government money supports unemployment compensation and health care for the counties in question. And, government regulation surrounding the harvesting of natural resources, and home construction by way of growth mgmt. etc. etc.

Jefferson - The 51st State - Northern California / Southern Oregon - A State of Mind
the adventure life | Jefferson State: Separate and a Lot More Than Equal
Mama, I’m Coming Home Lyrics, Ozzy Osbourne Mama, I’m Coming Home Lyrics

[KC6ZLV]

Originally Posted by CCCVDUR

What is the current status of this movement?

About the same as it was in 1941.

[David Aguilar]

Why would anybody want to create a state out of those counties?

There's high unemployment, and the largest population center is Medford.

Come on now.

[SOON2BNSURPRISE]

This subject comes up a lot. My entire life people have talked about spliting the state in half, in thirds, creating the State of Jefferson. It is something that may never end. What may bring real change is to clean out the legislature and eliminate all state employee unions.

[EscapeCalifornia]

I'll lay money on a peaceful, independent Palestine happening before the State of Jefferson.

[CCCVDUR]

Originally Posted by SOON2BNSURPRISE

This subject comes up a lot. My entire life people have talked about spliting the state in half, in thirds, creating the State of Jefferson. It is something that may never end. What may bring real change is to clean out the legislature and eliminate all state employee unions.

I have only driven through SW Oregon and NW California from the NW to the SW. There's something "different" about that area that's hard to describe. And, there are places such as Arcata, Eugene, and perhaps Ashland that are clearly anti-establishment.

And, I think that many residents are strongly Libertarian and don't want the feds increasing taxes or going after pot. SW Oregon didn't vote for the Tax measure yesterday: Live election results - Measure 66 & 67 :: Your Government - The Oregonian

And, it seems that Northern Nevada is somewhat Libertarian. Given Nevada's financial issues, perhaps Vegas could be Nevada's new capital, and Reno and parts north could become part of Jefferson.

[Winston Smith]

Personally, I'd like to see California secede from the Union all together, but that's illegal. The Mythical State of Jefferson is, I suppose, just as much of a fantasy. For one thing, in these types of "break-aways," like counties splitting, the breaking party pays all of the costs. I can't see an area as economically depressed as the Siskiyou region of CA/OR having the financial means to break away, let alone sustain themselves as a State. Not only that, neither California nor Oregon would give up the areas easily, citing tax base and natural resources as the reasons.

Then again, as the U.S. economy falters and crumbles in on itself, the country will probably break up into smaller regional sovereignties. Maybe the State of Jefferson will emerge as its own little area of governance then. Who knows? Of course if that happens in my lifetime, I will have hopefully attained either Canadian or Costa Rican residency, so...

[wburg]

Actually, Arcata is a lot more Green than Libertarian--they are the only city in the US to ever have a majority of Green Party members on its city council. There are more conservatives and libertarians in counties like Orange and Placer than the entire population of Humboldt, several times over.

Jefferson is an incredibly bad idea--it would be a state with no tax base, but it wouldn't save enough money to California to save the rest of California. There have been over 100 attempts to split the state, dating back to the 1850s when Southern interests wanted to make southern California into a slave state. It's not going to happen.

[Clarks]

There was a novel, I cannot remember the name, it was popular in the 70's and dealt with a fictional nation of peaceful hippies comprising the approximate area of Jefferson.

The citizens did find that humans must have a violent outlet and there were woodsie war games that could result in death and injury.

[wburg]

Ecotopia?

Amazon.com: Ecotopia (9780553348477): Ernest Callenbach: Books