Some theories of
secession emphasize a general right of secession for
any reason (“Choice Theory") while others emphasize that
secession should be considered only to rectify grave injustices
(“Just Cause Theory”). Some theories do both. A
list of justifications may be presented supporting the right to secede,
as described by Allen Buchanan, Robert McGee, Anthony Birch, Walter
Williams, Jane Jacobs, Frances Kendall and Leon Louw, Leopold Kohr,
Kirkpatrick Sale, and various authors in David Gordon’s
“Secession, State and Liberty,” includes:
The right to liberty,
free association and private property
Consent as important
democratic principle; will of majority to secede should be recognized
Making it easier for
states to join with others in an experimental union
Dissolving such union
when goals for which it was constituted are not achieved
Self-defense when larger group presents
lethal threat to minority or the government cannot adequately defend an
area
Self-determination of
peoples
Preserving culture,
language, etc. from assimilation or destruction by larger group
Furthering diversity by
allowing diverse cultures to keep their identity
Rectifying past
injustices, especially past conquest by a larger power
Escaping “discriminatory redistribution,” i.e., tax
schemes, regulatory policies, economic programs, etc. that distribute
resources away to another area, especially in an undemocratic fashion
Enhanced efficiency when
the state or empire becomes too large to administer efficiently
Preserving
“liberal purity” (or
“conservative purity”) by allowing less (or more)
liberal regions to secede
Providing superior
constitutional systems which allow flexibility of secession
Keeping political
entities small and human scale through right to secession
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Report: Calif. faces losing
another $8B in revenue
By JUDY
LIN, Associated Press Writer
Friday, March 13, 2009
(03-13) 14:16 PDT
Sacramento, CA (AP) --
The recession will take
an $8 billion bite out of California's finances next year unless Gov.
Arnold Schwarzenegger and lawmakers make more spending cuts or close
some tax loopholes, the state's leading budget analyst said in a new
report Friday.
Despite a budget deal
last month that was meant to close a $42 billion deficit through June
2010, the Legislative Analyst's Office said state finances already have
fallen short as revenues have come in lower than expected.
The grim news suggested
another round of budget fighting in the Capitol, just weeks after
Schwarzenegger and legislative leaders hammered out a hard-won
compromise that closed the gap by cutting $15.8 billion from state
programs, raising $12.8 billion through tax increases and borrowing
billions more.
"Unfortunately, the
state's economic and revenue outlook continues to deteriorate,"
Friday's report said. "Even in the few weeks since the budget was
signed, there have been a series of negative developments."
Legislative Analyst Mac
Taylor said the state's higher unemployment rate, now at 10.1 percent,
further declines in the stock market and lower tax collections led to
lower revenue projections in just a few weeks.
State Controller John
Chiang also said this week that February revenues were nearly $1
billion below previous projections.
The LAO's report
indicated the additional revenue loss will create a $6 billion deficit
in the new fiscal year that starts July 1, plus $2 billion that is
needed for a cash reserve.
Unless Schwarzenegger
and lawmakers take action, Taylor said the deficit will grow to $12.6
billion in 2010-11.
"Our year of shared
sacrifice is not over," Assembly Budget Committee chairwoman Noreen
Evans, D-Santa Rosa, said in a statement. "As grim as it is, this
forecast is not even the worst-case scenario facing California. We must
be prepared for more bad news to come."
Assembly minority leader
Mike Villines, R-Clovis, said lawmakers should address the gap only
through cuts.
The forecast also
assumes voters approve all six budget-related measures in a May 19
special election. The budget compromise relied on passage of those
measures, which seek to impose stricter spending restrictions, extend
temporary increases in the state's sales and income taxes, borrow $5
billion against future lottery profits, and transfer money from special
funds dedicated to early childhood development and mental health.
"Clearly, as far as
looking at our fiscal situation, the passing of those measures are
pretty critical in improving the state's fiscal situation," Taylor said
Friday. "If they don't pass, it's going to be a lot more work."
The downbeat report
forecast double-digit unemployment rates continuing into early 2010
followed by slow growth that won't be nearly enough to cover future
multibillion-dollar budget gaps.
Taylor recommended the
state use as much federal stimulus money as possible to protect
education programs and consider a mix of further spending cuts and
revenue increases to solve the budget deficit without raising taxes.
His report suggested
eliminating sales tax exemptions on animal feed, timber equipment and
some medical items, as well as reducing credits for senior care. It
recommended ending business tax exemptions on employer-provided
parking, small business stock sales and corporate property trades.
The governor's finance
department spokesman, H.D. Palmer, said the legislative analyst had
more information than was available when the budget was passed. He said
the administration will update its budget outlook after the May special
election.
"We are continuing to
work our way through a recession that has hit California's economy
extraordinarily hard," Palmer said. "And that creates the potential for
the state's revenue picture to get worse."
State Treasurer Bill
Lockyer on Friday announced his office would sell $4 billion in general
obligation bonds after California's nine-month absence from the
financing market. Lockyer said there could be a second bond sale at the
end of April.
California desperately
needs to secure financing again since a cash crisis forced the state to
freeze loans on thousands of infrastructure projects and halt tax
refund payments during the budget crisis. Chiang, the controller, has
announced his office will resume making payments.
Also Friday, the
Schwarzenegger administration launched a Web site, www.recovery.ca.gov,
dedicated to tracking how federal stimulus money is spent in
California. The legislative analyst has projected California will
receive $31.5 billion from the bill and billions more in competitive
grants.
The budget passed last
month addressed the current and next fiscal years. It reduced 2008-09
general fund spending to $94 billion from $101 billion, and allocated
$92.2 billion in 2009-10.