While I don't disagree with you I think this initiative is necessary. It puts the state of California back in play for both parties. When a state is essentially uncontested, THAT too is undemocratic and far from what the founders envisioned, especially for a state that is 10% of the population with 10% of the electoral vote.
The right thing to do, someday, would be to split the state into two states. While it seems heretical, such makes far more sense.
... spoken by a lifelong California resident.
>> When a state is essentially uncontested, THAT too is undemocratic and far from what the founders envisioned, especially for a state that is 10% of the population with 10% of the electoral vote.
First - uncontested doesn’t necessarily mean undemocratic. Democrats just seem to congregate in CA like Republicans have congregated in Texas. Like minds tend to congregate, and to the extent the population is politically like-minded, that can result in elections that are relatively uncontested. The fact that Republicans are a lock in Texas and Democrats are a lock in California isn’t due to lack of democracy ... it is due to general agreement throughout the State.
Second - If we’re going to throw CA back into the mix ... then Texas will soon follow. Texas is a largely uncontested Republican state bearing much of the same influence that you describe in California.
>> The right thing to do, someday, would be to split the state into two states. While it seems heretical, such makes far more sense.
This is a monumentally lousy idea.
First - The federal government doesn’t have the authority to split up powerful states.
Second - Splitting states up is entirely counter to the ideals of federalism ... and splitting the most powerful states (like CA and TX) up into less powerful entities is the best way I can think of to amass all political power in Washington D.C.
I can’t describe how horrible this idea is - as the federal government will become a monstrosity, and the power of State governments would dwindle to virtually zero.
>> ... spoken by a lifelong California resident.
As a lifelong Texan ... I’d prefer my state remain a bastion of conservatism. Splitting the state up simply won’t fly.
H