the program ended a couple years ago, but for a period of time, California paid an additional set of taxes to make up for shortfalls in other states – in other words, several Red states could only stay afloat because of handouts from California
No that still happens, mostly in blue states they pay more in taxes than they receive back from the Fed. And a lot of shit hole red states get more from the Fed than they pay.
DC will never let such a productive powerhouse go. No country would give that up. If that's what they want, they should remember what happened last time and prepare for it. I'll be in the Canadian wilderness collecting bottle caps and watching from a distance if y'all need me.
Hey now, the west coast (especially the northern half) is very much one region which works together. The states are largely similar in terms of culture and politics and even sometimes work together on shared legislative goals.
It wouldn't be California leaving. It would be the whole west coast.