Another Conservative Revolt in California: The State of Jefferson
California is a diverse, populous state full of potential. Yet for residents in twenty-one counties in Northern California—and they are particular about their truly northern status compared to San Francisco—they feel left out. I learned first-hand about the struggles for these rugged salt-of-the earth conservatives during a three-day visit to the region. I gave two speeches on conservative activism and to recruit help for the fight against California’s increasingly unpopular sanctuary state law, SB 54.
“North State” is so far north, the closest airport is in Medford, Oregon. The region stretches from California’s northwesternmost county, Del Norte, to the northeastern corner of Modoc County, down to Tuolumne County (which just opted out of SB 54). The citizens want more than respect. They want to form their own new state: Jefferson. The namesake comes from President Thomas Jefferson’s vision of a free republic emerging in the Pacific Northwest and a desire for more regional autonomy.
“To the rest of the state, we don’t exist” says Louis Gliatto, the head of the Yreka (not Eureka) Tea Party and Siskiyou County Committee member for “Citizens for Fair Representation.” To prove how out of touch the Rest of California (ROC) has become, Tehama and Siskiyou counties were the first jurisdictions to opt out of SB 54, one month before Los Alamitos passed its own Constitution Compliance ordinance. The two North State counties openly declared that they would comply with federal law. How could the press have missed this? A county of 44,000 residents deserves to be recognized for taking that bold step.
This new state project is not new, yet few know about it. In the late 1870’s, the state legislature was limited to 120 representatives, but the state population has skyrocketed. Only until the 1930s did legislative districts account for size and population for representation in Sacramento. In 1941, this spread-out conservative community of ranchers, loggers, and farmers initiated the movement to break away, frustrated by the growing disconnect and lack of representation from Sacramento. Today, three state senators and six assembly members must compete with the dominant LA and Bay Area delegations.
The Jefferson movement faded away quickly in the wake of World War II, but California’s reckless escalation of progressive policies has revived the Jefferson movement for the last five years. In northern cities and along the roads, Jefferson signs and flags (a green field featuring a gold prospector’s pan with two Xs’s to represent the sense of being double-crossed by the rest of California) gently stand out or wave under many of the American flags, all on proud display throughout the region. Despite the left-wing tilt of Mendocino, Sonoma, and Marin counties, Jefferson residents are down-to-earth entrepreneurs, engineers, and invested farmers. They laugh about the differences between Humboldt County, with its commercial kush and tie-dyed shirts; and Siskiyou County, where lush, verdant pastures match the unofficial banner, and colorful sunsets greet the peaceful homesteaders. Jeffersonians vocally oppose commercial marijuana, too, as its illegal cultivation and distribution (despite the passage of pro-pot initiative Prop 64 in 2016) has caused violent crime and corruption to spike.
Hosted at the Bacigalupi Ranch—owned by husband Jerry and wife Donna with their daughter Debbie—I witnessed a new world in the same state, and I connected with hard-working conservative activists in their own right. I discovered that I wasn’t the only town mouse in a land that would please a country heart. Many Siskiyou County residents relocated to escape the expensive busyness of San Francisco and Los Angeles. Another woman relocated for health reasons. Other residents owned thriving businesses in the Bay Area, but they couldn’t stand the liberal politics any longer.
Republican leaders in the region joked that they had come to Northern California for an easy retirement, but now they face a new set of political fights. Bringing wealth and prosperity to Jefferson, they still chafe under the progressive tyranny of Sacramento, and it shows. Democratic Party micromanaging has wiped out a once-thriving timber industry. City markers from thirty years ago represent once-bustling communities which have all but disappeared or gone dormant. Welfarism and drug abuse have grown rapidly because of economic stagnation and political persecution. Jefferson farms feed the state and country, but in return the political class feeds off their money, work, and property. The Democratic leaders are now targeting their dams for full removal (read “destruction”), which would ruin farms, homes, and businesses along the Klamath River. All the “Damn the Dams!” talk has forced down property values and diminished hopes of relief within Jefferson.
Taking a tour of the Bacigalupi ranch, I learned directly about California’s burdens on the region’s ranchers. Jerry wanted to expand a man-made lake on his own property. He put off the project for one decade, then found out that project’s fee ballooned from $800 to $5000 a year. Frustrated, Jerry abandoned his development plans for his own property. Fortunately, Jeffersonians don’t take the government’s abuse lightly. Mark Baird, one of the leaders of the Jefferson movement, recounted how they defend their property. When Fish and Wildlife employees threatened any kind of overreach against his property, Baird responded: “Bring your gun. You’re going to need it.” Those officials never came back. This story inspired me as to how Jefferson residents can increase their autonomy. “Why not enact sanctuary for gun owners as Illinois has? Demand that your county supervisors pass a constitutional carry ordinance to counter Sacramento’s gun grabbing.” The residents liked the idea.
The best idea, of course, has been the Jefferson movement. With standing committees in twenty-one widespread counties, plus a pending federal lawsuit, the State of Jefferson is alive and kicking, reminding us of the eternal promises outlined in the Declaration of Independence: “Whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government.” Considering their efforts and successes, the name “Jefferson” is all the more fitting for this active, conservative region of California. https://townhall.com/columnists/arthurschaper/2018/05/13/another-conservative-revolt-in-california-the-state-of-jefferson-n2480198
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How many more Jefferson threads is Heartland/C4P going to create? Couldn't he just bump his previous Jefferson threads instead of clogging the tracker with this fantasy?
Please delete double reply.
Ok
Thanks.
they feel left out
If they now feel left out, it is of their own doing.
Lol, do you really believe this crap? As if the 5th largest economy IN THE WORLD would allow a few people on the fringe to break us up. Move to Texas.
It's my understanding that FEMA will be moving into the mythical state of Jeffersonia and are looking for property to set up FEMA camps for the backward inhabitants..
I'm offering a couple of hundred acres in Modoc and Siskiyou counties to FEMA for said purpose.
just under 9k people voted in 57 precincts? That highlights the sad state of affairs our voting processes have gotten into. there has to be over 100,000k people in those precincts.
If I point out a spot I have in mind for a homestead, could you slip that in too?
No problem dulay. If you don't mind living with a bunch of wild Indians I have just the spot for you...
You can ride can't you? Horses that is.
Did a lot of riding as a kid. I have a lot more to giggle now. I have my eye on the Seiad Valley area of the Klamath River. Grow pot and vegies, fish all day.
Beautiful area... Been there a few times.
Oh man Dualy, that my old stomping ground....Used to fish the upper Klamath above COPCO along the old stage coach trail leading into Oregon. Also did a lot of fishing on Iron Gate.
Also fished on the McCloud river and Lake Shastina.
Got some nice steelhead on the Klamath.
That's for me. I've never been as far north as Klamath though. I looks awesome and I want to plant a forest garden, some pot and have chickens and maybe a pig or two. Oh and a donkey, I really want a donkey.
Donkey's are great, a bit stubborn but really good to have around.
Especially the miniature donkeys.
"Especially the miniature donkeys. "
My neighbor had one of those when I lived in San Diego, and he was really adorable. He would stand at the fence when I came home from work and bray for carrots that I usually fed him when I got home each day. He and my Border Collie would have fun playing chase up and down the fence. When the people finally moved and took little their Donkey, Tippy, the dog, really missed him. So did I. (smile)
At this point, I want to see California divide itself into three or four new states. Let's stop talking about it and do it. Whether you think it's going to solve problems or not, you can't say it wouldn't be interesting.
Hell, you want interesting, let's start chopping up Texas.
When does the revolt start? Nothing will come of it and it will get basically no coverage, so knowing the time and date will be helpful for tuning in to check it out as a curiosity.
Sunday afternoon. Right after church, brunch at IHOP, and thumpers getting changed out of their church clothes.
I blame it on the Big Country breakfast. That thing will make a person ornery as hell.
Not that your question makes any sense, but I think we always want to try to witness a flash in the pan before it fades away.
Besides, I thought you were all for unity and peace. What happened?
I think the peace and unity seeds go up after midnight before church. Then it's the standard left are atheists bible babble and the left are fascists boilerplate for the rest of the week.
With the pretend Christians, it's go to Church on Sunday, ask for forgiveness, which they think they are given, then back to the normal demeaning and derogatory abuse of those who don't walk in lock step with their pretend Christian piety on Monday and through the week. Then come Sunday, ask for forgiveness, think they have it, then start all over again with the norm on Monday.
Sin, wash, rise, repeat. It is what gives true Christians a bad rap for hypocrisy.
True.
Don't forget Bible study on Wednesday nights
Forgot about that, I've never been to one of those.
Wednesday nights is Halo night.
"Sin" is a silly concept, especially in the context of this discussion. Neither did I say anything at all about advocating for a political position (no matter how absurd) as being wrong. So I have no idea where you came up with that idea.
Stop lying. That's BS and you well now it. Even if you don't, the majority of intelligent people here on NT know it. It's only those who make false accusations, or spout nothing but lies, that I take issue with, and you do that endlessly.
Then why did you address me? Especially since my initial reply was not a reply to either you or Raven, much less have anything to do with what you brought up?
Does he really need a reason? He just feels the need to spread his BS wherever he points his mouse
I tend to agree.
The whole "State of Jefferson" nonsense is just a delusional pipe dream. Similar proposals to partition California have been made before. Nothing has ever come from them, and likely never will. Partition of a state requires approval of both that state legislature and Congress. The last state to partition itself was West Virginia over 150 years ago.
If a split were ever to succeed it would have to be a split through the near center with anything from San Louis Obispo to Bakersfield and south being in the State of Cal Angeles, and everything north of that line being the State of Cal Frisco. Both would continue to be democrat strongholds and we'd get an additional two Democrat US senators.