California Divided By Military and Commercialism
Hi everyone, Jake 'Frackadactyl' Palermo here. With all of the political tension in the US, people have been asking questions. Should they hold onto hope for a better future; or they should get out of a game they feel is rigged for the ones in power? With the 2016 presidential election showing the ironically named United States of America at its ugliest and most divided; states like Texas and California want to secede from the US to become their own separate countries. Welcome to Comic Comparisons where comic books that share similarities in some way are compared and contrasted; while displaying how it applies to real life scenarios and a theory of how it can work out.
The California Scenarios
Two comics from alternative publishers Image and Black Mask bring the question of California's separation to its most extreme outcomes. Once California secedes after a conflict with the states... even more political tension rises up.
This Means War
In Calexit, after a fascist president wins the election; the state of California through another election breaks off from the United States before the president elect comes into power. But by the time the president sits in the oval office; things take a turn for the worst as immigration becomes illegal. Even things like adoption in California is considered being a refugee. Because of the colliding ideals and economic destabilizing regimes, California itself became divided. The rebels controlling the coasts stand against the US aligned coalition. But since the coasts hold most of the resources, they are a major threat to the coalition. The coalition can't even get certain medication legally lest they be considered traitors. By that point, marginalized people are on a losing side whether they align with California or not.
Guns or Checks?
In The New World, after a second Civil War's nuclear fallout; California has formed a new state along with some of its neighbors. But in New California, violence has become the vital norm; not just for the desperate to survive but also for entertainment and endorsements. California's vibrant diversity is something to celebrate but it clashes with the grimy new United States. The two main characters embody this new world. Kirby Miyazaki is a vegan hipster anarchist making a living by messing with the state; Stella Maris on the other hand is a burned out bounty hunter/law enforcer as part of an actual reality show. Stella however hates her job due to the mob mentality on who lives or dies. The only reason she stays is for the paychecks to drown herself in hedonistic activities. Eventually they clash in a Romeo/Juliet fashion. Finding common ground in that their lives are just fodder for the sake of marketed political agendas; Kirby and Stella run off from their former employers.
Time for California Politics
Now Califonia is a state where much of the US gets its money and resources. As a coastal state, it has access to imports and trade centers. It is actually the fifth highest economy in the world, even more so than the UK. However it looks like the people behind the Calexit comic know their stuff. The scenario presented there while extreme is very much how people would react.
Trade
While California holds a significant portion of the United States' wealth and population; only a very slim part of it has the land necessary to keep it running. The rest of California is composed mostly of mountain ranges and forests, presenting a problem in terms of logistic sustainability. Also due to the status of Calexit's New California allowing any marginalized groups in; an influx of uncontrolled mass immigration could cause a significant downward spiral in infrastructure. Add that to a high poverty rate and California could experience a lot of economic downturns. And with potentially new enemies in the form of the US; trade (a major part of California's economy) would be cut off significantly.
Company Takeovers
And that's just the numeric side of this change. The New World presents how once a conflict goes on after another one; it's not about who will take the position to create stability but how to market it. California, being one of the most entertainment and media associated parts of the US; would do just about anything to keep its market going. And much like the news that takes sides in terms of campaigns; using figures like Kirby and Stella to embody the radical left and the alt-right ideologies are a means not to keep morale up but to sell brands. Rather than the fight for freedom, it's just about keeping on the fight to make some money.
Concluding Suggestion for California
People will always be afraid of what their home will spiral into once an undesirable comes into power. But it looks like California might have to consider holding off from cutting themselves off from the US. Unlike the UK's Brexit to get away from the bureaucracy of the EU; nothing made by the White House has caused a significant departure to cause a shift away from the states. Not to mention if California breaks away, both parties lose significant means of sustaining themselves. Besides the citizens have a few ways of making the steps needed to fix a game called elections as displayed on these videos: Thanks for coming to the end. Like, share, comment if you'd like; and remember to look between the panels.