Californians are attempting to secede from the United States of America with the 2019 CalExit Independence Referendum which, if passed, would end a long-standing union due to conflicting values.

Secession is a drastic retaliation pitched by a small amount of Californians out of their disapproval of Donald Trump becoming the President Elect.

We think that it’s too radical to remove ourselves from a country that we should be proud to be a part of, even if you disapprove of Trump.

Considering that the U.S. is still recovering from falling face-first into recession; rather than investing ourselves into perpetuating the divide, let’s fight for reparation by first trying to strengthen the bond.

CalExit is a personal incentive motivated by an emotional response; a dangerous cocktail to drown rising tensions, not heal them.

While 61 percent of voters in California cast their votes for Hillary Clinton on Nov. 8, her loss to Trump was not an invitation to secede from the U.S., despite what supporters of the referendum might suggest.

The main motive for CalExit is fueled by the belief that the rest of the U.S. is bogging California down with debt, threatening our state security and burdening our trade system.

With secession on the table for 2019, it’s important to acknowledge what’s at stake if California separates from the U.S. and the effect it would have on not only national issues but foreign affairs.

The U.S. is a “Superpower” among the world’s nations, chopping our country into independent republics sacrifices our ability to retain that power, and subjects us to a weakened military which could potentially open the gates to foreign threats.

Regarding the economy, we have to consider not only the welfare of California, but the impact that becoming independent could have on the rest of the nation.

California currently contributes 13.3 percent to the U.S. economy, more than any other state, according to a chart from Business Insider.

While “Yes California” argues that we should invest that money into our own state, this selfish thinking could be a detriment to the U.S. economy overall.

The CalExit petition argues that secession would provide many benefits, including environmental initiatives, a strengthened economy and peace and security.

However, California is the sixth-largest economy in the world, while the U.S. (as a whole) is No. 1, according to the 2015 Global Gross Domestic Product.

Let’s not compete with ourselves here.

Instead of seceding from the Union, we need to unite our country, not divide it.