Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility

Suspect Identified in Ambush Shooting That Killed 2 Idaho Firefighters

8 hours ago

Will Valadao Spoil Trump’s Plan for July 4th ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ Signing?

9 hours ago

Shaver Lake and Reedley 4th of July Shows Are Wednesday. Who Else Is Celebrating?

13 hours ago

Elon Musk Says Senate Bill Would Destroy Jobs and Harm US

13 hours ago

Israel Strikes Pound Gaza, Killing 60, Ahead of US Talks on Ceasefire

14 hours ago

Trump’s Administration Finds Harvard Violated Students’ Civil Rights, WSJ Reports

14 hours ago

How Did the Supreme Court Rule? Here’s a Look at the Big Cases

3 days ago
Draper's 3 States Folly Would Create 1 NorCal Super-State
Bill McEwen updated website photo 2024
By Bill McEwen, News Director
Published 7 years ago on
June 13, 2018

Share

Inspired by what Robin Williams said about cocaine, pardon me for stating the obvious: Ballot measures are God’s way of saying that Tim Draper is making too much money.

Portrait of GV Wire News Director/Columnist Bill McEwen
Opinion
Bill McEwen
Draper is the billionaire behind the latest proposal to break up California. In fact, he’s a serial offender when it comes to this ridiculous idea.
But this time — unlike 2012 and 2014 when his self-funded “six states” scheme failed to make the ballot — the venture capitalist’s half-baked “three states” initiative qualified for the Nov. 6 election. When you pay $3 a signature to petition circulators, they are motivated to get people to sign anything.
Draper was born rich and has gotten richer. In fact, he’s a third-generation venture capitalist.
“(Draper) often is identified as an early adopter of ‘viral marketing’ in the 1990s and was an early investor in technology companies like Skype and Hotmail. Recently, Draper has been an outspoken advocate for cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin,” reported the Los Angeles Times’ John Myers.


We can deduce then that Draper is well-versed in technology and finance and has a keen eye, at times, for identifying future trends.

It’s All About the Water, Mr. Draper

However, it’s equally apparent that he doesn’t know squat about water, politics, infrastructure or water.
While Bitcoin may be Draper’s future, water is California’s past, present and future.
We don’t have nearly enough of it. Moreover, 75% of the state’s annual rainfall occurs north of Sacramento, but 75% of the water consumption is in the south.
Splitting the state up, in the manner that Draper proposes, will put the 40 counties of his “Northern California” in the driver’s seat on water.
Good luck with navigating the future on this always contentious issue. I’ll be 65 years old in December. Perhaps I should become a water lawyer. I might make enough to then become a venture capitalist.

Fact-Check Draper Against ‘Splitting California’ Report

Draper is a salesman at heart, dismissing any serious complications with a wave of his hand. Last year, in an email to the Los Angeles Times, he provided this justification for Draper’s Folly:
“Three states will get us better infrastructure, better education and lower taxes. States will be more accountable to us and can cooperate and compete for citizens.”
Draper also has said, “If you were going to start a new state today, it wouldn’t look anything like what we have. This is a chance for three fresh new approaches to government. … Three new states could become models not only for the rest of the country but for the entire world.”
Smart voters, however, should fact-check Draper’s claims against the realities presented in last year’s “Splitting California” report from California’s nonpartisan legislative analyst, Mac Taylor, and state finance director Michael Cohen.
In a nutshell, Draper’s initiative is a disaster. It would create one super-state, Northern California, which would have water and wealth, along with lots of income from taxes, to fund a new government. It also, Taylor writes, would have “the highest number of UC campuses and UC enrollment, as well as the highest number of CSU campuses. . . .”
Nothing like the rich getting richer, right?
Did I mention that Draper lives in Silicon Valley, which would be in Northern California?
Trust me, this guy wants to take care of himself.

Draper Plan Creates Northern California Super-State

The new “California” comprises six counties — Los Angeles to Monterey. The new “Southern California” — Madera County south to San Diego County — would have lots of poor people, lots of prisons and pockets of great wealth.
Southern California, bolstered by the conservative heart of the state and Orange County, also would have lots of Republicans (33.1% compared to 36.5% Democrats) who are high-propensity voters. Draper might want to rethink the name and call it “Trumpifornia.”
Even if voters are crazy enough to pass it, the initiative would have to clear state constitutional questions and get the approval of Congress.

We Are Not Civil War Virginia

The last time a state split was in 1863. West Virginia broke off from Virginia because it wanted to remain in the Union during the Civil War.
“When West Virginia separated from Virginia, court cases related to the states’ debts persisted for about 50 years. Some of the legal and practical issues of splitting up California suggest there is a high likelihood that the process would take many years to complete,” said Taylor and Cohen.
California has its challenges, but nothing like those faced by Americans during the Civil War.
In addition, California is the most complicated state in America. In fact, it’s virtually a nation-state with its nearly 40 million people and the world’s fifth-largest economy.
If Draper wants to help, he should invest in California. The real one.
But there could be a silver lining in his crazy idea. Unless California’s leaders address the state’s pressing problems, they will continue to face CalExit and break-up efforts.
Are you paying attention, Gavin Newsom?

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

Clovis Police Seek Public’s Help in Finding Missing 82-Year-Old Woman

DON'T MISS

Fresno Woman Killed in Head-On Collision, CHP Investigating

DON'T MISS

Musk Vows to Punish Lawmakers Who Back Trump’s Spending Bill

DON'T MISS

Fresno Man Sentenced to Nearly 6 Years for $4.2 Million Tech Startup Fraud

DON'T MISS

Bryan Kohberger Pleads Guilty in Murders of Four Idaho Students, ABC News Reports

DON'T MISS

Wildfire Near Lake Madera Country Estates Burns 12 Acres, Now 100% Contained

DON'T MISS

Fresno County CHP Arrest Two in Interstate 5 Drug, Gun, and Counterfeit Money Bust

DON'T MISS

California Seizes Over 600,000 Pounds of Illegal Fireworks. Newsom Calls for Safe Celebrations

DON'T MISS

Where Trade Talks Stand With Major US Partners Ahead of Tariffs-Hike Deadline

DON'T MISS

Labor Icon Huerta Breaks Ground on Fresno Park Bearing Her Name

UP NEXT

Fresno Woman Killed in Head-On Collision, CHP Investigating

UP NEXT

Fresno Man Sentenced to Nearly 6 Years for $4.2 Million Tech Startup Fraud

UP NEXT

Wildfire Near Lake Madera Country Estates Burns 12 Acres, Now 100% Contained

UP NEXT

Labor Icon Huerta Breaks Ground on Fresno Park Bearing Her Name

UP NEXT

Fresno Man Arrested in Clovis for Sex-Related Crimes Against Minor

UP NEXT

Dyer’s Lobbying Works. Fresno Gets $100M for Downtown From State

UP NEXT

Fresno Fire Destroys Home Under Construction, Displaces Six

UP NEXT

Will Valadao Spoil Trump’s Plan for July 4th ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ Signing?

UP NEXT

Buying a Home With Solar? Beware of CA Bill Written by Former Utility Co. Exec

UP NEXT

Catholic Bishops Try to Rally Opposition to Trump’s Immigration Agenda

Bill McEwen,
News Director
Bill McEwen is news director and columnist for GV Wire. He joined GV Wire in August 2017 after 37 years at The Fresno Bee. With The Bee, he served as Opinion Editor, City Hall reporter, Metro columnist, sports columnist and sports editor through the years. His work has been frequently honored by the California Newspapers Publishers Association, including authoring first-place editorials in 2015 and 2016. Bill and his wife, Karen, are proud parents of two adult sons, and they have two grandsons. You can contact Bill at 559-492-4031 or at Send an Email

Fresno Man Sentenced to Nearly 6 Years for $4.2 Million Tech Startup Fraud

6 hours ago

Bryan Kohberger Pleads Guilty in Murders of Four Idaho Students, ABC News Reports

6 hours ago

Wildfire Near Lake Madera Country Estates Burns 12 Acres, Now 100% Contained

7 hours ago

Fresno County CHP Arrest Two in Interstate 5 Drug, Gun, and Counterfeit Money Bust

7 hours ago

California Seizes Over 600,000 Pounds of Illegal Fireworks. Newsom Calls for Safe Celebrations

7 hours ago

Where Trade Talks Stand With Major US Partners Ahead of Tariffs-Hike Deadline

7 hours ago

Labor Icon Huerta Breaks Ground on Fresno Park Bearing Her Name

7 hours ago

DOJ Announces Arrest, Indictments in North Korean IT Worker Scheme

7 hours ago

Fresno Man Arrested in Clovis for Sex-Related Crimes Against Minor

8 hours ago

Dyer’s Lobbying Works. Fresno Gets $100M for Downtown From State

8 hours ago

Clovis Police Seek Public’s Help in Finding Missing 82-Year-Old Woman

The Clovis Police Department is asking for the public’s help in locating an at-risk missing adult last seen on Thursday. Pathmani Goonawarde...

5 hours ago

Clovis Police are searching for Pathmani Goonawardena, 82, who went missing nearly three weeks ago and was last seen driving a white Volvo near Copper and Auberry, possibly en route to Coarsegold. (CHP)
5 hours ago

Clovis Police Seek Public’s Help in Finding Missing 82-Year-Old Woman

fresno
5 hours ago

Fresno Woman Killed in Head-On Collision, CHP Investigating

President Donald Trump and Elon Musk attend a press conference in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., May 30, 2025. (Reuters File)
6 hours ago

Musk Vows to Punish Lawmakers Who Back Trump’s Spending Bill

6 hours ago

Fresno Man Sentenced to Nearly 6 Years for $4.2 Million Tech Startup Fraud

Bryan Koberger, who is accused of killing four University of Idaho students, listens during a hearing to overturn his grand jury indictment in Moscow, Idaho, U.S., October 26, 2023. (Reuters File)
6 hours ago

Bryan Kohberger Pleads Guilty in Murders of Four Idaho Students, ABC News Reports

The Blanca Fire, burning 12 acres northwest of Lake Madera Country Estates in Madera County, remains active with 0% containment and no reported injuries or structural damage as the cause is under investigation as of Monday, June 30, 2025. (CalFire)
7 hours ago

Wildfire Near Lake Madera Country Estates Burns 12 Acres, Now 100% Contained

Fresno County CHP arrested two on Interstate 5 after finding about one kilogram of suspected cocaine, a loaded ghost gun, and counterfeit money during a vehicle search on Sunday, June 29, 2025. (CHP)
7 hours ago

Fresno County CHP Arrest Two in Interstate 5 Drug, Gun, and Counterfeit Money Bust

Gov. Newsom warns Californians to celebrate the Fourth of July safely, emphasizing zero tolerance for illegal fireworks which have surged to over 600,000 pounds seized this year. (Shutterstock)
7 hours ago

California Seizes Over 600,000 Pounds of Illegal Fireworks. Newsom Calls for Safe Celebrations

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend