I should have included the caption:
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| Darker areas show the State of Jefferson, as proposed by Gilbert Gable in 1941. Modern versions of the movement usually include the lighter areas as well. |
Posted on 10/06/2008 8:03:23 AM PDT by AuntB
Siskiyou County -- Some folks around here think the economic sky is falling and state lawmakers in Sacramento and Salem are ignoring their constituents in the hinterlands.
"We have nothing in common with you people down south. Nothing," said Randy Bashaw, manager of the Jefferson State Forest Products ...."The sooner we're done with all you people, the better."
Talking about secession has been a quasi-joking conversational saw since 1941, when five counties in the area started things by actually declaring themselves - briefly - to be the state of Jefferson. But now, with the economy in trouble and unemployment soaring, the idea of greater independence is getting its most serious consideration since World War II.
Locals complain that federal and state regulators have hampered the fishing and timber industries to protect forestlands and endangered species such as sucker fish and the spotted owl. Most water from the rainy Shasta region is shipped south, with little economic benefit to the area. Even the California sales tax draws sneers.
The Grange Hall of Yreka... is activating 51 of its brethren halls in the area to collect 1 million signatures to have a statehood advisory measure put on the California ballot. Tony Intiso, a runoff candidate in the Nov. 4 election for Siskiyou County Board of Supervisors, has pledged to force the issue and is running campaign ads calling for regional freedom.
"It's not rocket science to see why it makes sense, and how we could do it," said Brian Petersen, a landscaper who runs the main online forum advocating statehood, www.jeffersonstate.com. "The capitols of California and Oregon ignore us. We want out.
"All we have to do is get an initiative on the ballot and vote to get things going."
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
I still got fight in me. If they’re serious, I can be too. Thinking Governor Hunter would be a possibility? Here in Anchorage, the socialists have taken over...
If they do it, maybe I can get my husband to move out of the Bay Area to up there.
Go for it!!!!
Nice catch on Ithaca, but aren’t the red and blue regions reversed, according to current current usage?
Why would Montana want to split in two? Is there anything to gain there?
I like it!!
Molon Labe!!
I’m counting on you being here, Rocky!
I should have included the caption:
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| Darker areas show the State of Jefferson, as proposed by Gilbert Gable in 1941. Modern versions of the movement usually include the lighter areas as well. |
The Chronicle likes to stir the pot every so often. It enables them to paint us as bitter folk clinging to our guns and bibles so that no one feels guilty about regulating us to death.
The movement was a serious one back in pre-WWII. Then Stan Statham had an advisory vote taken on the prospect of state division back in the 1990s. It was determined then that, as this area is so poor, it receives far more tax benefit than it pays out. The area has very little industry and very little tax base. In actuality, we would end up being one of the most impoverished states in the union. Also, we have several bastions of wealthy leftist, socialist, eco-weird philosophy (Ashland, Arcata, and Mt. Shasta) within the boundaries. They would likely be elevated in standing due to their wealth and make life a living hell for the rest of us.
This is when the State of Jefferson became a state of mind - conservative frontier mindset - individual rights protected from the majority, the protection of the integrity of property rights limited government, local control, natural resource based economy and traditional values.
I’ve been thinking about places like Ashland. They would make this impossible. Besides, Marsh, we’re already one of the poorest regions of the country, might as well be free.
“If that were the case, maybe we should let San Francisco, Marin, Alameda and San Mateo counties split off into THEIR own state. They have nothing in common with the rest of the state, as far as I can see.”
Don’t forget Contra Costa as well.Might as well include Santa Clara down to Monterey, too. It’s all one metro-lump area.
The best plan some years ago split CA into 5 states, one was the area in the Jefferson concept, another was the Bay Area plus some surrounding area, Central Valley and Central Coast, LA area, and then San Diego/Inland Empire and Desert region. That gets the major economic and politically-similar areas together. It would also be fairly even in keeping Senate representation equal. 2 Dem areas (LA and SF Bay) 2 GOP areas (Orange Co./SD/Inland Empire, and the Central Valley) and one Swing (”Jefferson” because it contains the inland side, GOP and the Eureka hippies,Dem)I don’t know how the House side would work out, though.
Thing is, each area would be WAY more manageable in terms of administration.
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I guess I should have read the thread before pinging you. Humboldt County is a lost cause for this split...
Amazing, that is quite a big chunk of land. I’m only about 50 miles north of the upper coastal boundary. If Obama wins, why not take this a step further and fully secede from the Union. I’ll be happy to move to the new country and help it get going.
I’ll be there!
But on the subject of the State of Jefferson, yeah I'd be there, but I believe it should include the portion of Lane County West and South of the Suislaw River (which is mostly Federal land - timber), excluding the city of Florence unless there is a workable plan to expel the leftists who have taken over there. Seems to me Ashland already has enough for the whole state.
Is this a picture from CA or OR? I haven’t seen anything like that in Portland but I do lead a sheltered life.
hehe, Alaskans won’t. Their politicians might, but individuals are ruggedly independent (swoon!)
I get your point, but technically, Fresno is the fourth largest city in California and we feed ourselves. :)
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