Is it any wonder that a majority of our not-really American state is ready to leave before the Americans kick us out? According to an Independent California Institute poll, 58% of California adults say we’d be better off than we are now if California peacefully became independent — its own country — in the next decade.

This article is part of Joe Mathews’ weekly column, Connecting California. It appeared in papers across California (as well as USA Today). You can read the full article here or USA Today’s abridged version here.