Rural Oregon counties vote to discuss seceding from state to join ‘Greater Idaho’
A deep political divide between urban and rural areas has conservative residents feeling ignored by the state government
A group called Move Oregon’s Border is leading an initiative to have Oregon’s rural counties secede from the rest of the state and join Idaho.
A group called Move Oregon’s Border is leading an initiative to have Oregon’s rural counties secede from the rest of the state and join Idaho.
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Mike McCarter, 72, a retired plant nursery worker and lifelong Oregonian, has been leading the effort for almost two years. He said he and many others are eager to “get out from underneath the chokehold of Northwestern Oregon.”
“We’ve watched the shift take place in Oregon politics where the primary concern of the Legislature is Northwest Oregon. That’s where 78% of the state’s population is based. They tend to forget that every law that you pass in the state affects us out in the rural economies, too,” McCarter told Fox News.
He highlighted a number of benefits that come with being a citizen of Idaho, including lower taxes and generally more freedoms. Idaho is ranked No. 3 in regulatory freedom whereas Oregon is ranked No. 43, according to the Cato Institute.
Oregon’s state politics took a sharp left turn during the past 20 years, something that has not gone unnoticed by more conservative residents in the state’s rural communities. McCarter pointed to a recently passed law that made Oregon the first state to decriminalize possession of hard drugs.
“Now you look and you say, ‘well, if you’re homeless, if you’re a hard drug user, if you’re a rioter, if you’re an illegal, come to Oregon – we’re a sanctuary state and you won’t get in trouble.’ And that’s not the way conservatives feel in Oregon.”
Portland has seen months of violent protests and riots with little government intervention since the death of George Floyd in May in Minneapolis.
“Idaho is not a sanctuary state at all, and they want to protect their citizens. That’s comforting, to live in a state like that who enforces the laws and not let the lawbreakers go free.”
A measure requiring local officials to meet on the subject of changing the border was on the ballot in four counties this past election. It passed in Jefferson and Union counties and was voted down by small margins in Douglas and Wallowa counties.
McCarter’s goal, however, is to get the issue as much attention as possible, since the final decision will lie with Oregon and Idaho state legislatures. The group hopes 19 of Oregon’s southern and eastern counties will secede and become part of what they call “Greater Idaho.”
If successful, the border change would no longer make Idaho a land-locked state, giving it two coastal counties, something McCarter said could be a key selling point for the neighboring state.
Move Oregon’s Border will continue collecting signatures for the May 2021 local elections in 11 other counties.
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RebelFred
3 years ago
Same thing in Illinois, Corrupt Cook (Crook) county suppresses the rest of conservative Illinois, southern Illinois needs to succeed from the north or merge with Missouri or Indiana.
The DemoRats in Crook county (Shitcago) are a crime syndicate that have enslaved the rest of the state, love the state, hate the criminals that are in charge!
The United States need to all succeed from the DemoRat crime party, give them a one way ticket to Venezuela,
Cuba of North Korea, their choice, give them 24 hours to get out of our country or suffer THE PURGE!
You hate our country, our constitution, our liberty get the hell out, NOW!
America doesn’t want you or need you! Begone parasites!
anonQ
3 years ago
I wish these people success. Libreals in that state have turned it into a sh*t hole from what I can see.
The first step of the new secession war is going to be conservatives splitting states to join conservatives.
Liatris Spicata
3 years ago
This is an interesting development, the concept of which I find very appealing. Basically, any region should be able to secede from its polity to join an adjacent one (assuming both the seceding area and the gaining area agree through some considered process).. That would, I think, put a brake on the expansiveness of government. As it is, areas like downstate IL are partially disenfranchised by Chicagoland.
I first encountered this concept about 40 years ago in the pages of Reason magazine, where it was applied to South Africa.
Pity the decent people on the west slope Cascades who get stuck with Portland.
The whole rotten Leftist crony establishment junta, coast-to-coast is getting ready to collapse of its own corruption and moral turpitude before that will happen, the way it only can in our country, the United States of America.
Thanks to one man — Don Trump.
Our new Gen. George Washington.
Chris Wolf
3 years ago
Pity the decent people on the west slope Cascades who get stuck with Portland.
The whole rotten Leftist crony establishment junta, coast-to-coast is getting ready to collapse of its own corruption and moral turpitude before that will happen, the way it only can in our country, the United States of America.
Thanks to one man — Don Trump.
Our new Gen. George Washington.
Jerry S
3 years ago
Great idea! Rural areas should separate from the urban slums run by Demonrats.
AR154U☑ᵀʳᵘᵐᵖ DEPLORABLE 2020
3 years ago
Why do these rural communities continue to feed their Masters within the Urban ghettos ?!!
Starve them OUT!!
AR154U☑ᵀʳᵘᵐᵖ DEPLORABLE 2020
3 years ago
Why do these rural communities continue to feed their Masters within the Urban ghettos ?!!
Starve them OUT!!
joe shmoe
3 years ago
would be funny if all oregon leaves except portland
joe shmoe
3 years ago
would be funny if all oregon leaves except portland
patd
3 years ago
Sounds like a smart move if they can make it happen!!!!
patd
3 years ago
Sounds like a smart move if they can make it happen!!!!
JonnyBoBonny
3 years ago
This is an awesome idea!! Washington, we’re next!!!
Uber
3 years ago
I find this to be a really interesting move. The city/rural political divide is becoming more pronounced by the year. People in cities tend to live in a bubble of ignorance about how the world really works, and I’ve often wondered where this increasing rift would lead. Perhaps this is the first step in rural regions organising themselves into a political force.
CharlieSeattle
3 years ago
I wonder if Hollywood will use this idea in their next sequel to, DIVERGENT.
Thistle
3 years ago
Western Canada is proposing to do the same. We have Wexit. Let’s go people!
Lyle Hartman
3 years ago
If you subtract out eastern Washington and Oregon from Seattle and Portland it’s a totally different mindset. Let them join Idaho or form their own State. Ever notice how living surrounded by concrete (man’s creation) whacks people out. That goes back at least as far as Rome. Concrete dwellers just get weirder and weirder and can’t understand why we don’t want to get weird with them.
Rick Becket
3 years ago
It can never happen because it requires the approval of the Oregon state government.
mtman2
3 years ago
Most every State faces the same problem and wants out too…!
France-HP-a-ciel-ouvert
3 years ago
Do it! Let these Pantifa and Blacks Loot and Murder starve to death like the good little commies they are.
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