Is California too large to be governed? Silicon Valley venture capitalist Tim Draper thought so, that's why he proposed to split the Golden State into six separate states.
"California as it is is ungovernable," Draper told ABC News, "It is more and more difficult for Sacramento to keep up with the social issues from the various regions of California. With six Californias, people will be closer to their state governments, and states can get a refresh."
Draper also noted that California, which is the most populous state in the United States, got only two senators representing it in Washington DC.
Draper's proposal includes splitting California into Jefferson in the far north, North California, Silicon Valley, Central California, West California and South California. Silicon Valley, some people pointed out, not only got to be its own state (how convenient!), but will also have the nation's highest per capita personal income. Compare that to neighboring Central California, which would have the nation's lowest.
Draper's plan is controversial, but he's got permission from Secretary of State Debra Bowen to start collecting petition signatures to qualify for a ballot. A total of 807, 615 registered voters need to sign Draper's Six Californias plan in 150 days before it can be put on the next state election.
What do you think? Should California be split into six? Or perhaps we should just wait for the big earthquake to tear California off the west coast into its own island nation?