Your points are valid. My basic point is that secessionists have valid claims also. And that the issue was left surprisingly vague by the Framers.
You’re right that a pre-established process is needed and written into law. It should be painful to the state (or county) that chooses to leave, but peaceful and permitted.
I agree with you that it is vague in that there is no yea or nay to secession in the Constitution plainly written out. But that’s not the way this needs to be considered.
All of the states in the union have commitments to and from each other. Each state has commitments to and from the Federal government, also. There is no state in the union with the capacity to conduct itself as an independent nation. That’s why states had to vote to become a member in the union. There are way too many problems to being an independent nation in so many ways. So considering independence is foolish. And if a democratic vote of the people in California produced one nay vote, legally within the Constitution by what I pasted in, it will create a civil war they can’t win.
red