[quote=spdrun]My point wasn’t an exact scenario. My point was that it isn’t 1861, and the stakes in case of civil war are much higher — therefore a peaceful breakup of the US isn’t as impossible as before. Weapons are worse, international media is much more advanced and nosy, so the alternative becomes unthinkable.
Even the Soviets weren’t crazy enough to try to hold things together when the end came in the 90s.[/quote]
I’d like to bootstrap on your comment above regarding a peaceful breakup. I think we should be discussing federal tax transfers, because this is oft overlooked, especially by those who think blaming public sector unions solely for California’s fiscal quandry is valid.
The other important (and equally overlooked) aspect is the significance of Prop 13.
Two sides to every story. On the one hand, California is headed towards a fiscal cliff, and the pension overhang is certainly a major consideration, but it’s not the only reason.
