Should California Divorce America?

Could sub-national sovereignty work for California?  Will an independent California Republic become a reality in 2014?

After a European 18th century, a British 19th century and an American 20th century, many say that a Californian 21st century is not only beneficial, it is necessary for the global economy to reach its zenith.

In a new book, California's Next Century 2.0: Economic Renaissance, author and lifelong Californian Marcus Ruiz Evans boldly addresses the topic of California independence.

The subject of this new book is NOT secession from the United States.

Rather, the topic at hand is sub-national sovereignty, a status in which a nation has policy control except for the printing of money and maintenance of a national defense (though California already has its own military department and defense troops).

For more than a century, California has starred on the world stage, with innovative Californians pushing forward new developments in commerce, technology, law, entertainment, politics, science, communications, psychology, spirituality and lifestyle.

More than any state, California is poised to maximize its strengths in global communications, international trade and foreign relations for the benefit of everyone, everywhere.

What uniquely qualifies California as the epicenter of the world's next renaissance?

• California is a trading nexus between Latin America, Asia and US/Canada.
• California has an economy increasingly dependent on international trade.
• California is home to immigrants from every regional society on earth.
• California has a large middle class with a developed taste for foreign goods.
• California has a strong artistic culture, which is also a profitable industry.
• California has a wealthy elite class that backs issues, causes and the arts.
• California has a stable government, free of attacks or fears of social collapse.
• California has its own military defense forces while allied with the U.S. military.
• Californians are computer literate, formally educated and geosocially aware.
• Californians represent all faiths, all languages, all cultures and all political views.
• Californians are blood-related to all nations and are stakeholders in world events.
• California cities and towns have bonded with hundreds of sister cities globally.
• California is at the forefront of international environmental legislation and focus.
• California has a multitude of foreign relations schools, groups and think tanks.
• California's Senate Office of International Relations impacts international policy.
• California contains chambers of commerce representing 100 nations worldwide.
• California has developed partnerships and agreements with other world powers.
• California's numerous industries market business relationships to all countries.
• California regularly hosts foreign heads of state, world figures and dignitaries.
• California city protocol offices complement a large number of foreign consulates.
• California is a leader in defending human rights, animal rights and ecosystems.

"It's not like California has suddenly grown too big for the britches," Marcus Ruiz Evans told Californiality.  "California was building infrastructure and international trade ports before the pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock.  It is simply time for California to continue on the path it forged centuries ago."

In California's Next Century 2.0: Economic Renaissance, Evans suggests that California embrace its unique global role and reform itself as the independent California Republic, the new global nerve center of international diplomacy, technology and finance.

"The world needs a new negotiation and talk nexus to serve the role that Switzerland did in the last century," Evans emphasized. "But in this next century."

Evans offers that, just as sub-national entities Hong Kong and Scotland benefit their partner governments of China and Great Britain, the California Republic would greatly benefit the United States as its strongest ally and trade partner.

With the freedom to independently engage in bilateral foreign trade contracts with every nation on earth, California would experience an unprecedented economic boom, complete with foreign investors lining up to own a piece of the action.

Once the California Republic is be able to design its laws and economy to accommodate global trade at a self-determined pace, Sacramento could easily turn deficit to surplus, according to Evans' unique blueprint for sub-national sovereignty.

California's Next Century 2.0: Economic Renaissance is not a timid book.  It reflects the author's passionate concern for his native land of California, a land which Evans sees as being victimized by a federal government that claims to have California's interests at heart.

Here is a poignant passage from the book:

"It appears that California is never helped out by the federal government - no matter how bad the situation is - whether or not the political party running the federal government is the same one running the California government.  This situation has existed for literally decades.  And even when California is most in need, the federal government - besides providing no assistance - will continue to take money from the state to pay for extra programs for others, apparently having no problem with making the California economy even worse.  If the state and the national governments were people, it certainly would be described as an abusive relationship."

Book author Marcus Ruiz Evans is apparently not alone in his sentiment.

Others, like former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, have been both frustrated and exhausted at dealing with Washington's so-called "negligent control" of California.

"The federal government is a part of our problem," Schwarzenegger has declared.

"We are currently owed billions of dollars by the federal government for various programs.  We no longer can ignore what is owed to us, or what we are forced to spend on federal mandates."

Evans also asserts that, despite being the worst-hit state during the recession - and receiving no help from Washington, DC - California still had to pay about one full state budget in extra federal taxes for services, which the State of California never saw.

California's Next Century 2.0 - Economic Renaissance points out that California is so big financially, and at the opposite end of the bulk of the American population, that it is consistently on the losing end of the U.S. federal government's national monetary policy.

Evans' book is correct in its recollection of U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt's economists realizing the need for the West Coast Dollar.  This particular book does not suggest it, nor does it espouse leaving the U.S. Dollar nor adhering to the gold standard.

The book's author emphasizes the necessity for continuing the relationship between the California Republic and the United States.  With adjustments, healthier boundaries and a committed understanding between the two societies, California will triumph immensely - and so will the United States of America.

The obvious goals of the book, California's Next Century 2.0 - Economic Renaissance, are fairness, equity, peaceful negotiations and prosperity for all nations joined with the California Republic in friendship, freedom and happiness.

The book was written as a labor of love by a native Californian investing his time toward starting a public discussion on sub-national sovereignty, a subject that is now bubbling up across California.

Marcus Ruiz Evans has lived in the Central Valley, the Inland Empire, the San Francisco Bay Area and Los Angeles.

Experienced in global trade sectors, as well as in government decision formulation, Evans has traveled extensively, listening to people's views on America, California and the world.

Is California's Next Century 2.0 - Economic Renaissance the most intellectually erudite book ever written?  No, but neither is it riddled with utopian cliches and condescending verbiage.  It gets to the point.

This controversial book is a layman-researched blueprint for sub-national sovereignty, written for mature-minded California citizens, taxpayers, and international investors wanting to create immense wealth from California.

Evans' book and his numerous speaking engagements are now causing citizen groups to form across the state that want to organize a ballot measure regarding California independence.

To know all about the author, read the Marcus Ruiz Evans biography article.

Read an excellent article that includes Marcus Ruiz Evans' statements on California independence, written by Tom Elias of the Los Angeles Daily News, called "How Would California Do On Its Own?"

Also read a well-done book review written from a leadership perspective.

Visit author Marcus Ruiz Evans' book website, California's Next Century 2.0 - Economic Renaissance.  This book about California sub-national sovereignty is quite intriguing, to say the least.