In September 2014, Scotland held a referendum for independence from the United Kingdom that ultimately was defeated by almost 400,000 votes. Leading up to the vote, there was some trepidation that if it had succeeded then other regions in Europe would hold similar votes.

Then Brexit happened. Many in Scotland who are unhappy about Brexit have talked about trying again, saying Brexit ultimately will hurt Scotland significantly.

Well now that charge has come to this country, though not quite in the form of seeking independence. CAL 3 is an initiative that would create three separate states from the original California. It’s the brainchild of Tim Draper, a California venture capitalist and it could be on the ballot in November. Draper announced last week that he had more than 600,000 petition signatures and the state requires 365,880 required by state law. He was behind a petition drive a few years ago to divide California into six states, but that effort didn’t receive enough signatures.

Under Draper’s plan, California would consist of the Greater Los Angeles area north to Monterrey, basically the counties along the Pacific Ocean. South California would be from Fresno County south and North California would be everything north of that, including the Bay Area.

It’s doubtful that would happen because it would take an act of Congress to ultimately approve it even if California voters say yes to the proposition. However, never say never. If voters resounding approve it, say 70 percent vote yes, it would seem that a lot of pressure would be on Congress to approve the split.

That kind of outcome would seem more than improbable as it is simply a political move. In a state that is a pretty deep shade of blue, you can’t blame Republicans for wanting to find a way to have a stronger voice. Even after a split, the three states would all rank in the top 10 in population; per capita would see South California drop to No. 30 and that is in part because it is the farming region of the state.

So would a split into three Californias mean for the rest of us? Not much and a lot.

Not much because life would pretty much go on the way it always has for the rest of us. Nobody left the Union, no one created a civil war, and instead of 50 states we’d have 52 states. However …

There would be a lot of things that would affect us. The 435 members of the House of Representatives would be reshuffled significantly and you can almost be guaranteed the number of representatives Michigan has would go down since. And since every state has two senators, the Senate would have 104 members.

And what about the flag? We’d need 52 stars and how would they be aligned? OK, a little levity there.

But in reality, could it possibly lead to other states seeking similar movements?

For years, probably decades, there was a small group of Upper Peninsula residents who wanted to create a separate state. While you don’t hear about that kind of effort any more, might we if California is successful? It would make no sense at all for the Upper Peninsula, but stranger things have happened.

Texas is another huge state geographically, and while traditionally not deeply divided who is to say that someday it might not come to that? California might be all the encouragement a well-connect, well-funded group might need.

How about New York? Make no mistake, New York City is the deciding factor more times than not when if comes to elections in that state. Maybe the lower Hudson River Valley and New York City become one state and the rest becomes another.

A few years ago there was a group of people in Colorado who wanted to create a new state in the northwest corner of that state. It never got far, but there was talk. Maybe that becomes a topic again.

Might California be the bell cow for a new movement?

While ultimately it all really is just speculation, the California scenario really is playing out. Regardless of any kind of vote outcome, there always has to be some thought that it might happen again. Until then, everything is status quo.

Now, about that Puerto Ricoas a state talk …

Steve Murch can be reached via email at smurch@thealpenanews.com or by phone at 358-5686. Follow Steve on Twitter @sm_alpenanews.