The Sacramento Bee
Date: March 09, 2018
By: Joe Mathews, Zócalo Public Square

Taiwan is an independent nation – in its ambitions, its economy, its democracy. But many countries refuse to recognize it as a separate country, deferring to mainland China, which claims Taiwan as a possession and responds with threats when Taiwan goes its own way.

California shares aspects of this conundrum. Our state has the ambitions, economy, and democracy of a leading nation. But it remains very much a part of the United States, which responds with threats when California goes its own way.

Yes, Californians fervently hope that our current conflict with the American government is temporary. But since California’s differences with America predate President Donald Trump, our status as a halfway country will likely outlast him.    [FULL  STORY]