As could Texas.

The people there are American, not Californian. They don't have their own culture, so they can't use the self-determination-right-thing by the UN. Besides, like the US would ever let go of one of their most important states...

Actually, every state has its own culture. There are major differences between New York, Florida, Texas, California...

I think any group of people who want their freedom should be allowed to have it.

Why not? Imagine...King Ahnuld the First.

There are a lot of differences in the states. New York is very different from Texas, and California is different from Florida. Accents are different, food can be different, the diversity in the people.

Even some of the language is different. Some say pop others say soda. And other words.

righty said lars, of course claifornia has a culture! hollywood, fruit festivals and is more famous for the orange festival, surfing and wind surfing ect

I would love to see the US broken up a bit...

I actually would say California has a very distinct culture.

Where's that pesky thing I posted about if the blue states seceeded from the red states? About how the blue states would have all the industry?

California holds enough of that on its own. It could support its own economy very well, actually.

EDIT: Found the link I was talking about.

same here, DrD. but i think other possible countries are further up the metaphorical queue for independance.

no the US would attack.
we have a law saying that a state cant seceed from the union

Which is stupid, Mac... the US of Freakin A is less and less a free country by the minute. If a State wished to declare themselves their own free country, I would back that for all it was worth.

I think it would be weird. Does California even want to be a independent country? I mean there sure is a lot of difference, and I would actually like to see a splitted USA, because maybe the people there don't want to have the same president as the rest of the country, but don't they feel connected?

I'm saying yes but then I don't know much about the ramifications this would cause to California or America. I would hate to see California become it's own country than immediately block people from coming in like the US has done to Mexico. I'm all for it if it is what Californians want and if it can be done in a proper fashion.

i agree with chel, the borders might become a little bit messed up.

if the U.S attacks, so be it. Shwarzeneger will hold his people together!

I agree with mac on this one. The question said 'Could California successfully become an independent country?' While I agree with those who posted who said that it does have a distinct culture, the US Gov't would never allow it to happen. So no, it couldn't.

It will never happen the same way as Quebec seperating from Canada or Alberta to much hassle with what they can get from the government as to what is theirs and what is the countries, also If they owe the country money like some states borrow money as do provinces, then there is the currancy issue. To much involved that it would never fly. Yes they are distinct enough to be their own but they can't be on there own, does that make sense.

could they legally or just could they though?

yes they could legally but they would have to take it to government and the country would have to vote,and the vote would have to be a clear majority not just 50% + 1, it has already been to vote here in canada for quebec and it was close, It all started over the meech lake accord. Then because of the fact that they borrowed money from the have provinces they would have to settle there debts before succession could occur.

they could do it legally. who knows if fifty years from now the government would let it happen. maybe they would. maybe they wouldn't.

Technically, it's not possible. There's an amendment against seceding (which I'm not saying I agree with, just saying that it is currently impossible).

not really it's just there and will always be a part of the US. It's just as silly as saying: WILL NEW YORK BECOME AN INDEPENDENT NATION? <--- WEIRD

Erm...as of now, I don't see not.

Really depends on the financial/political dependencies California has on the government of the United States of America and whether they can develop their own form of government and society from this to the point of becoming an independent nation. :/