Friday, February 28, 2014

Mercury News says thinking about democracy is fun

Mercury News editorial: Tim Draper's six states of California are a kick to contemplate
The six states of California postulated by billionaire venture capitalist Tim Draper are definitely a kick to contemplate.
Finally, the free spirits of the State of Jefferson, which even now proclaims its independence (if not actual existence) near the Oregon border, could go their own Wild West way, free of enviro-dictators and gun wimps. The State of Silicon Valley could dispense with a governor and make the entrepreneur king.
And those Central Valley farmers finally could -- well, what could they do about grabbing more water away from cities? Would it be easier or harder to drain the Delta if it were in another state? Would they have to declare war on the State of Silicon Valley for it? Careful, we'd have NASA.
Like the ecclesiastical debate about how many angels can dance on the head of a pin, the possibilities for a subdivided California could take up months, maybe years of evening conversations before a blazing fire (natural gas or wood), sipping a drink (Silver Oak or Coors) and spinning endless scenarios (of nanny-state utopia or free-range individualism).

So, go ahead, its OK to talk about democracy. In fact, it is still legal so enjoy it. It used to be commonplace in America, you know, talking about real proportional governance. Then came the thought police of the New York Times.

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