The Calexit – there seems to be a lack of coverage over this movement and critics seem to either be confused or ignorant to the facts surrounding California’s possible independence. So, I’d like to spark a conversation as well as share some much-needed information.

1. Secession is not illegal.

According to Evans Texas v. White, the only case that addresses secession, the Supreme Court decided that seceding from the Union was not allowed, “except through revolution, or through consent of the States.” This means that secession is legal, so long as it has state or congressional approval.

2. There is a lack of coverage on California being a donor state.

There’s a lack of reporting on California being a donor state and progressively losing more money to the federal government. A donor state is a state that receives less federal funding than it gives through taxes. Meaning that with every passing year, California loses money to the federal government.

The president of Yes California, Marcus Ruiz Evans, said the recent gas tax in California causes us to fork over more money to the federal government while becoming poorer with every passing year. California lost $103 billion in 2016. That’s a lot of money that Californians will never see again.

3. The Calexit is not originally in response to the 2016 election.

The Calexit was actually founded in 2012 when Ruiz wrote a book criticizing the actions of the federal government and how Californians can feel distant from the rest of the country.

“I created Calexit,” said Evans, “when I wrote the book ‘California’s Next Century’ in 2012. The first time someone took the idea seriously was from Tom Elias.”

Elias’ article may be the reason for this confusion. It was published as a critical response to the electoral college right after the election, but Calexit had existed for more than four years at this point.

Evans said that they had jumped from about 10,000 to 45,000 members within a week after the election. He also stated that Yes California even plans on using its opposition to help the cause. The president’s clear opinions through his many tweets criticizing and even threatening California’s budget will only strengthen the resolve for our state to leave.

To Ruiz, the president’s actions are very helpful and are, “very pro-Calexit.”

3. California does not need the U.S. to be a functioning country.

According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, California had a GDP of 2.9 trillion in the second quarter of 2018, ranking fifth in the entire world. Our state alone holds more than 10 percent of the U.S. total population, along with more than 10 percent of the U.S. GDP.

California has a state government that is capable of becoming federal. Though it’s not perfect, it certainly retains the groundwork to guarantee rights and uphold democracy. Evans says, “(it) guarantees more rights than the U.S. Constitution.”

California holds a militia. While it’s not as massive as the U.S. military, it has time to grow while the process of secession takes place. Evans himself says that while he does not know how to go about establishing a military, it is not impossible or improbable to figure out during the peaceful secession.

California may not have a home yet, but they certainly have the tools to build it. I am skeptical of the federal government as any good American should be. I am skeptical of the Calexit as any Californian should be. But this is happening, these problems are real and should be discussed with honor and dignity among fellow citizens. Preferring to be comfortable with ignorance is how we lose our spirit and give in to someone else’s will.

Gage Northcutt can be reached at [email protected] or @GageNorthcutt on Twitter