Wednesday, October 08, 2003
Reflections on the Recall Election
For those who may have wondered from time to time exactly what constitutes the "Left Coast," the map here graphically defines the term.
While I was discussing the election with a friend this afternoon, the perennial subject of splitting California into two smaller states came up. Usually in that discussion the concept is to create North Cal and South Cal, with the border between the two being a line beginning near San Luis Obispo and passing near Bishop to the Nevada state line.
This election suggests a different concept. The obvious border between California and West California (or maybe Left California) would be the county lines of Mendocino, Sonoma, Marin, San Francisco, Alameda, San Mateo, Santa Clara and Santa Cruz counties, i.e., the "red zone" on the map.
An alternative definition of West California might include those counties that voted to retain Davis as governor, shown on this map. This would be unsatisfactory to me, however, because it leaves LA County as an island in the green sea. And I'm not at all sure that the folks up north would care to be associated with LA County. Besides, LA is sui generis.
My personal choice would be to include the counties that voted to retain Davis by at least 55%, which would include the counties listed above plus Napa and Contra Costa.
Hey, California politics are screwy anyway, so why not indulge in pipe dreams?
While I was discussing the election with a friend this afternoon, the perennial subject of splitting California into two smaller states came up. Usually in that discussion the concept is to create North Cal and South Cal, with the border between the two being a line beginning near San Luis Obispo and passing near Bishop to the Nevada state line.
This election suggests a different concept. The obvious border between California and West California (or maybe Left California) would be the county lines of Mendocino, Sonoma, Marin, San Francisco, Alameda, San Mateo, Santa Clara and Santa Cruz counties, i.e., the "red zone" on the map.
An alternative definition of West California might include those counties that voted to retain Davis as governor, shown on this map. This would be unsatisfactory to me, however, because it leaves LA County as an island in the green sea. And I'm not at all sure that the folks up north would care to be associated with LA County. Besides, LA is sui generis.
My personal choice would be to include the counties that voted to retain Davis by at least 55%, which would include the counties listed above plus Napa and Contra Costa.
Hey, California politics are screwy anyway, so why not indulge in pipe dreams?
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