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The 2019 #Calexit Independence Referendum

In the Spring of 2019, Californians will go to the polls in a historic vote
to decide by referendum if California should exit the Union, a #Calexit
vote.

You will have this historic opportunity because the Yes California
Independence Campaign will qualify a citizen’s initiative for the 2018 ballot
that if passed would call for a special election for Californians to vote for or
against the independence of California from the United States.

This is a very important question. It is the responsibility
of this campaign to explain what a yes vote will mean for you, your family, your
community, our state, our country, and our world. We have designed this website
to answer many of these questions and look to you to ask more.

"As the sixth largest economy in the world, California is more economically
powerful than France and has a population larger than Poland. Point by point,
California compares and competes with countries, not just the 49 other
states.”

In our view, the United States of America represents so many things that
conflict with Californian values, and our continued statehood means California
will continue subsidizing the other states to our own detriment, and to the
detriment of our children.

Although charity is part of our culture, when you consider that California’s
infrastructure is falling apart, our public schools are ranked among the worst
in the entire country, we have the highest number of homeless persons living
without shelter and other basic necessities, poverty rates remain high, income
inequality continues to expand, and we must often borrow money from the future
to provide services for today, now is not the time for charity.

However, this independence referendum is about more than California
subsidizing other states of this country. It is about the right to
self-determination and the concept of voluntary association, both of which are
supported by constitutional and international law.

It is about California taking its place in the world, standing as an equal
among nations. We believe in two fundamental truths: (1) California exerts a
positive influence on the rest of the world, and (2) California could do more
good as an independent country than it is able to do as a just a U.S. state.

In 2016, the United Kingdom voted to leave the international community with
their “Brexit” vote. Our “Calexit” referendum is about California joining the
international community. You have a big decision to make.

Yes California is here to
help.

THE CASE FOR INDEPENDENCE IN 9 SIMPLE POINTS
Being a
U.S. state is no longer serving California’s best interests. On issues ranging
from peace and security to natural resources and the environment, it has become
increasingly true that California would be better off as an independent country.
Here’s a summary of why we think so.

1. PEACE AND SECURITY
The U.S. Government spends more on
its military than the next several countries combined. Not only is California
forced to subsidize this massive military budget with our taxes, but
Californians are sent off to fight in wars that often do more to perpetuate
terrorism than to abate it. The only reason terrorists might want to attack us
is because we are part of the United States and are guilty by association. Not
being a part of that country will make California a less likely target of
retaliation by its enemies.

2. ELECTIONS AND GOVERNMENT
California’s electoral votes
haven’t affected a presidential election since 1876. On top of that,
presidential election results are often known before our votes are even counted.
So, why should we keep subjecting ourselves to presidents we play no role in
electing, to 382 representatives and 98 senators we can’t vote for, and all the
government officials and federal judges appointed by those very same people we
don’t elect.

3. TRADE AND REGULATION
The U.S. Government maintains a
burdensome trade system that hurts California’s economy by making trade more
difficult and more expensive for California’s businesses. As long as California
remains within this burdensome trade system, we will never be able to capitalize
on the trade and investment opportunities that would be available to us as an
independent country. On top of that, the United States is dragging California
into the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement which conflicts with our
values.

4. DEBT AND TAXES
Since 1987, California has been
subsidizing the other states at a loss of tens and sometimes hundreds of
billions of dollars in a single fiscal year. As a result, we are often forced to
raise taxes and charge fees in California, and borrow money from the future to
make up the difference. This is partly why California presently has some of the
highest taxes in the country, and so much debt. Independence means that all of
our taxes will be kept in California based on the priorities we set, and we will
be able to do so while repaying our debts and phasing out the current state
income tax.

5. IMMIGRATION
California is the most diverse state in
the United States and that is something we are proud of. This diversity is a
central part of our culture and an indispensable part of our economy. As a U.S.
state, our immigration system was largely designed by the 49 other states thirty
years ago. This immigration system has since neglected the needs of the
California economy and has hurt too many California families. Independence means
California will be able to decide what immigration policies make sense for our
diverse and unique population, culture, and economy, and that we’ll be able to
build an immigration system that is consistent with our values.

6. NATURAL RESOURCES
Certain minerals and other natural
resources like coal, oil, and natural gas are being extracted from California at
below market value rates by private corporations with the permission of the U.S.
Government. While a small portion of the revenue is shared with us, our share
has been withheld during times of sequestration. That means the U.S. Government
is paying their debts with royalties collected from selling off California’s
natural resources. Independence means we will gain control of the 46% of
California that is currently owned by the U.S. Government and its agencies. We
will therefore take control of our natural resources and be the sole beneficiary
of royalties collected if and when they are extracted from our lands.

7. THE ENVIRONMENT
California is a global leader on
environmental issues. However, as long as the other states continue debating
whether or not climate change is real, they will continue holding up real
efforts to reduce carbon emissions. The truth is this country accounts for less
than five percent of the world’s population yet consumes one-third of the
world’s paper, a quarter of the world’s oil, 27 percent of the aluminum, 23
percent of the coal, and 19 percent of the copper. Independence means California
will be able to negotiate treaties to not only reduce the human impact on our
climate but also to help build global resource sustainability.

8. HEALTH AND MEDICINE
The Affordable Care Act was
enacted by the U.S. Government to lower the cost of health care and expand
health insurance coverage to the uninsured, yet millions of Californians still
lack access to quality health care because they can’t afford it. For many,
access to hospitals and medicine is a life or death issue. Independence means we
can fund the health care programs we want and ensure everyone has access to the
medicines they need because our taxes will no longer be subsidizing other
states. Finally, California can join the rest of the industrialized world in
guaranteeing health care as a universal right for all of our people.

9. EDUCATION
California has some of the best universities
but in various ways, our schools are among the worst in the country. Not only
does this deprive our children of the education they deserve, but it also costs
taxpayers billions in social services and law enforcement expenses linked to
lacking opportunities resulting from poor education. Independence means we will
be able to fully fund public education, rebuild and modernize public schools,
and pay public school teachers the salaries they deserve. On top of that,
independence means freedom from federal education policies and one-size-fits-all
standards set by political appointees on the other side of the
continent.

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Yes California

Paid for by the Yes California Independence Committee PAC. FPPC ID
1378942.

Yes California is the nonviolent campaign to establish the country of
California using any and all legal and constitutional means to do so. We
advocate for peaceful secession from the United States by use of an independence
referendum to establish a mandate, followed by a nationwide campaign to advocate
in support of a constitutional exit from the Union. By joining this campaign,
signing up as a member, donating, volunteering, or otherwise supporting this
important cause, you agree to these nonviolent principles.

While Yes California supports and encourages Californians to stand up and
take direct action, to be bold, and to unapologetically demand the liberation of
the people of California from its captors, we explicitly
reject conduct or speech inciting open rebellion against the American
government.

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