Well, we could always become the next Atlantis. Good for tourism!

Defense spending is already out-of-control in the US with our heavy reliance on bloated contractors whose primary objective is to extend time and increase cost. The value was lost long ago. We can barely roll-out new technology that is actually useful to the operator and with no present threat from a superpower, what do we need with new fighters, bombers, and warships? We can’t even provide the basic soldier with body armor and a decent weapon with a half trillion dollar budget!

I’m not advocating a blockade of the US. California leads the nation in food and most resource production; free movement would be necessary and would probably resemble the light border controls between Canada and the US or EU members. California is also already developing trade pacts on its own. The US just screws things up with poorly planned agreements like NAFTA and CAFTA.

Water is a real concern, but with proper city and agricultural planning, it can be mitigated. We still have to buy water from other states and secession wouldn’t change the rate.