Secession no longer a joke, but still a bad idea

There's a ballot measure in the works that, if it qualifies, would ask Californians if they want to leave the United States and form a separate country. The election of Donald Trump, who's historically unpopular in California, has raised the profile of the secessionists. Of course, it's not as simple as merely asking the question. Any serious attempt at secession would be almost impossibly difficult, and could lead to a new Civil War, according to Zócalo Public Square columnist Joe Mathews. He sees a different, more peaceful path: As the richest and most influential state in the nation, California should work to impose its will – and its values – on the rest of the country.