Will we have our own currency ?
An independent California may eventually have its own currency but that is
a question to be answered in future elections. The day after independence,
California can continue using the U.S. Dollar and if anyone tells you
something different, they are lying.

That is because the U.S. Dollar is a "fully-tradeable" international currency,
which means any country can use it if it wants to without requiring the U.S.
Government's permission. Many countries have already done away with
their own currency and instead use international ones like the U.S. Dollar, so
having our own currency is not something we absolutely must have.

What about Medicaid ?

Medicaid is administered by the individual states but subject to federal
requirements. This means California already has the infrastructure to
continue running this important healthcare program and delivering its
benefits as an independent country. While the program is funded jointly by
the state and federal government, independence means the taxes you pay
to the U.S. Government that fund Medicaid today will simply be diverted to
Sacramento to continue funding it tomorrow. Indeed, while this healthcare
program may continue under a different name in an independent California,
the program itself certainly will continue - with the added benefit that federal
requirements will no longer apply to it, putting complete control of the
program exclusively into our hands.

What about Medicare and Social Security ?

Medicare is administered entirely by the U.S. Government and paid for with
your federal taxes. While this important Social Security program provides
health insurance coverage to persons over the age of 65, it does not cover
100% of all costs. As is the case with Medicaid, an independent California
will be able to administer a program to continue this important health
coverage with the federal taxes you currently pay to the federal government
that will instead be paid to Sacramento. By doing so, California (instead of
the federal government) will have control of who, what, when, where, and
how much is covered by the program.

Remember, California's independence will never deprive you of your U.S.
citizenship - you will simply become eligible for dual citizenship in California
and will suddenly be living in a foreign country. The good news is that won't
affect your retirement benefits. The Social Security Administration says
that U.S. citizens living outside the United States may continue to receive
retirement payments "as long as you are eligible for payment and you are in
a country where we can send payments."

By the way, collecting your Social Security retirement benefits as a U.S.
citizen living in another country also means you will still be automatically
covered by premium-free Medicare Part A if you visit the United States and
need additional coverage while there. You will also be eligible for coverage
under Part B. In short, you will not lose your citizenship, your health
insurance coverage or your Social Security retirement benefits by voting yes
on the California independence referendum.

Twank Note 1:

Remember, California's independence will never deprive you of your U.S. citizenship ...

I suspect an irate Trump administration will strongly disagree.

Where California and Trump could clash over the next four (or more) years

Jeremy Scahill on Democracy Now!