Several things make this interesting.
1. There is legal precedence against secession. (
Texas tried that.)
2. If California voters actually cast a vote on it, they'd not likely get
sufficient support
unless the state is restructured to create a separate state from the rural areas. That would need to be done first.
3. How will this new country defend itself? Do they think they get to keep the Marines at Pendleton or the ships & sailors in San Diego? They'd certainly keep the bases but not the manpower.
4. How will they support the population that is currently on welfare?
34% of the nation’s welfare recipients live in California but only …
12% of the U.S. population resides here.
In horse racing talk, that is an Impact Value of 2.83. :-)
5. From the other side of the fence, how would the rest of the country handle the 13% reduction in GDP (which currently comes from CA)?
I'm sure you could add other questions to this list.