Letters: Why cleaving California is a bad idea

Re “Splitting the state into six won’t fix anything,” Column, March 2

The real reason California shouldn’t be broken up into six states is that California is a vision that depends on the wild variety of geography and populations to maintain its vigor.

It is the idea of California in all its splendor that fuels immigrants from all over the world to come to our state. We are all the beneficiaries of this great melting pot.

This crackpot idea is akin to splitting the deserts from the mountains or the beaches from the rivers, something that would reduce us all. Moreover, in the digital age, the concept of size is evolving. The changing ways in which we form communities and stay in touch with our elected representatives allow more citizens to actively participate in the political life of California.

Sure, we have many problems to solve, but to split up California would be the wrong move. It would be to kill the dream.

Peter L. Coye

Claremont

Michael Hiltzik’s excellent column leaves out one important consideration.

Six states would mean 12 U.S. senators. Instead of the two current Democratic senators, we could conceivably have four Democratic senators (for the two new states containing much of the Los Angeles area and the Bay Area) and eight Republican senators (for the four remaining states that would lean more to the right).

Could this be an attempt to shift the balance of power in the Senate?

Bob Lentz

Sylmar

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