California’s rural counties declare independence

“New California” declared independence from the Golden State on Jan. 15. The group of unhappy California residents claim the state’s governance has become destructive to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, citing the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution. “New California is a new state in development exercising it’s [sic] Constitutional Right to form from the State of California. The process to form New California is authorized and codified in Article 4 Section 3 of the United States Constitution,” reads the group’s announcement. “After years of over taxation, regulation, and mono party politics the State of California and many of it’s [sic] 58 Counties have become ungovernable. The nature of the State becoming ungovernable has caused a decline in essential basic services such as education, law enforcement, fire protection, transportation, housing, health care, taxation, voter rights, banking, state pension systems, prisons, state parks, water resource management, home ownership, infrastructure and many more.” The group has drafted a so-called declaration of independence for their “51th state,” which they envision as breaking from the large coastal metropolitan areas. Paul Preston is listed as the New California Vice Chair and contact person for the effort. — WLJ