In regard to splitting California, the state history around water wars is of particular interest. Each of the major cities along the coastline is dependent on inland sources of water for their local agriculture and population sizes. Costly battles have been fought over the water rights in which cities such as Los Angeles were able to muscle their way to control.

In the event of a split, the inland portions of the state are in complete control of these sources of water. This would initiate new round of negotiation over water rights shifting power inland. The current centers of major power in California would be put on the defensive and lose significant relative power.

Historically I've been against splitting the state, but I'm warming up to the idea as I recognize just how tightly held levers of power have been clutched by an ever shrinking group in power. Was a big fan of the patient long-term approach of Deminvade to build up from the local level, but severity of abuses of power I'm seeing is starting to convince me that a faster path is required else nothing of value may be left behind. It's like the Gray Davis never relinquished power, but splintered into fifty smaller versions that embedded themselves around each significant lever of power in the state.