#268: Cut My States Into Pieces

In 1981, author Joel Garneau’s The Nine Nations of North America suggested a framework that regions, not state boundaries, contribute to the varied cultural identities across North America. Years later, Colin Woodward furthered that idea with American Nations: A History of the Eleven Rival Regional Cultures of North America. Neither are perfect, but both are great reads if you’re interested in wrapping your head around the historical roots of North America’s many diverse cultures and how they may not fit so neatly into provincial, state, or a country’s boundaries.This thinking will prime you for a concept some may consider unimaginable: an independent California.

The Last Resort traces the rise, fall, and rebirth of CAL EXIT – the name given to the Californian Independence movement and really gives you something to think about.

I’m sure you’ve heard the stats before. California’s economy is the fifth largest in the world. Think about it. California has a larger economy than that of all but four countries. Stockton? It’s more populous than Sweden. California is home to the world’s largest tech hub. California, the world’s 9th largest emitter of greenhouse gases and has its own climate change plan.

It’s pretty clear that California is a powerhouse all on its own, so what if it actually was on its own? How would the remaining United-ish States start to react? Do things inch closer toward a harmonious utopia or does the US find itself dragged into a new civil war?

The brightest spot in The Last Resort is, without a doubt, Xiuhtezcatl who roots the messiness of a movement in honest conversation and curious explorations. A movement will always be the sum of its participants so there’s a lot to hope for when young, open-minded people take to a movement. There's nothing wrong with constructively seeking progress to improve the well-being of others. This is how the future becomes better than the past.

For some folks, that means an independent California. For others, it means working within the framework of a union where compromise will always be the price of admission.

It stands to share that this isn’t the first time people in North America flirted with secession from a larger dominion.

Québec, Texas, Alberta (Canada’s Texas), Alaska (America’s less predictable Canada), the Cascadian states and provinces. These are only a handful of examples where people seriously dabbled with separatism. Vermont and New Hampshire even want out!

What’s undeniably true with these and the CAL EXIT movement is that it’s flawed to think there’s ever a status quo to maintain. Nation states and territorial boundaries are for maps, not cultures. Thinking will evolve which means political winds will always be shifting.

The reality is that CAL EXIT is unlikely to succeed since America has a history of strongly discouraging secession. Despite that uphill battle, it’s a powerful political statement of a trend in the US where people are becoming increasingly fed up with governing systems. The Last Resort gives a realistic look at a movement where a few people, and America, are trying to make sense of an idea that isn’t so far-fetched.

Have a listen and share what you think.

🎧 Need more to listen to? Here's a podcast we recently featured on Twitter!

Interested in sponsoring Podcast Delivery? Book your ad today!