Letters to the editor for Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2017

Talk of California secession is reckless

Just like Californians are saying that President Trump isn’t thinking things through, those thinking of seceding from the United States better give some serious thought to what the ramifications are if this movement is successful. They have much, much more to lose than any short term gain they think they will get.

If successful, within 20 years all of California will look like Tijuana. Not just through influx of people from the south, but there will be a lot of jobs leaving the state. Military bases will close and all the related jobs will cease. Companies currently doing work on government contracts will either have to relocate outside the “country” to continue the work or stop working on those contracts. Roads and infrastructure, already a problem, will get even worse.

Ever driven through Calexico, Mexicali or Tijuana? All or many of the jobs related to importation of goods through current ports will cease as those imports are moved to Oregon or Washington State.

Then there is the issue of importing water from Utah/Arizona and Nevada. A new constitution for the “country” will have to be created, instituted and enforced. Before that can happen though there will have to be elections for equitable representation of the citizen’s (those who actually stay).

Who runs the new “country” during this transition? This isn’t the little “let’s secede from the U.S.” thingy that proponents are touting.

David Knighton

Carson City