Five Oregon Counties vote to Join Idaho

[Thermodolia]

Maybe we shouldn’t be basing our representation off of the population and instead do it by votes like in Party list PR

Good luck getting that to happen. if people want it they can place a referendum on the ballot.

Why? Because you don’t think that people should have free and fair elections and representation? Is that why you dismiss the notion? Or is it because you’re worried that the democrats could lose their stranglehold on power?

Also these counties had a referendum and you are wanting to ignore that!

[Thermodolia]

Uh, yeah, all of the politicians are supposed to hold hearings about issues affecting their constituents. That is why they were elected.

Really ? The previous president of the USA was openly and explicitly elected to "own the libz" - not to represent them. Was that wrong ?

Yes, almost undoubtedly wrong.

[San Lumen]

Good luck getting that to happen. if people want it they can place a referendum on the ballot.

Why? Because you don’t think that people should have free and fair elections and representation? Is that why you dismiss the notion? Or is it because you’re worried that the democrats could lose their stranglehold on power?

Also these counties had a referendum and you are wanting to ignore that!

I never said any of that. If people want a statewide referendum to move to Party list PR and it passes so be it.

[Punished UMN]

Uh, yeah, all of the politicians are supposed to hold hearings about issues affecting their constituents. That is why they were elected.

Really ? The previous president of the USA was openly and explicitly elected to "own the libz" - not to represent them. Was that wrong ?

Uh, yeah, of course it was.

[Punished UMN]

How can that be public record if they won't even hold a hearing to hear the issues?

Ok. What have they tried to bring forth?

I'm not intimately familiar enough with the issue but surely them passing a referendum on it should spur some state representatives to start asking about it, right?

[Thermodolia]

Why? Because you don’t think that people should have free and fair elections and representation? Is that why you dismiss the notion? Or is it because you’re worried that the democrats could lose their stranglehold on power?

Also these counties had a referendum and you are wanting to ignore that!

I never said any of that. If people want a statewide referendum to move to Party list PR and it passes so be it.

But why can’t we have a state wide referendum on this matter? The one the topic is about? Because you constantly shit on that idea

[The Black Forrest]

That’s been asked a few times. What are the issues? How are they not being represented?

The unfair electoral system for starters.

But still even if they want to leave why keep them? They clearly tried to destroy the democrats attempts at anti-climate change legislation. So why don’t you just let them leave so Oregon doesn’t have to deal with them anymore

Well having enclaves of like minded people will only lead to isolation; lack of discussion and greater strife.

I get if their problems are getting ignored. Not getting proper funding and resources., etc

[The Black Forrest]

Ok. What have they tried to bring forth?

I'm not intimately familiar enough with the issue but surely them passing a referendum on it should spur some state representatives to start asking about it, right?

Indeed. It will be interesting to see what follows. I hope they do list their grievances. It would help the outsides understand possibly get support.

[San Lumen]

I never said any of that. If people want a statewide referendum to move to Party list PR and it passes so be it.

But why can’t we have a state wide referendum on this matter? The one the topic is about? Because you constantly shit on that idea

and the referendum to split the state will fail.

[Thermodolia]

But why can’t we have a state wide referendum on this matter? The one the topic is about? Because you constantly shit on that idea

and the referendum to split the state will fail.

And? At least we held it. If it fails it fails.

[Dtn]

No counties voted to leave Oregon despite what the Greater Idaho movement is claiming. That wasn't even on the ballot.

Oregon legislators aren't depriving anyone of self-determination or whatever by not holding hearings (??) on this issue.

[Forsher]

Are all politicians supposed to do that or just the politicians that happen to not represent you ?

Uh, yeah, all of the politicians are supposed to hold hearings about issues affecting their constituents. That is why they were elected.

Did you even read the question?

A politician's constituents are exclusively the people who the politician represents. In the case of a first past the post system, this means one's constituents are the residents of your constituency/electorate... in the US, these are usually called districts. Some US politicians are elected from a statewide electorate and the US President and Vice-President are elected to a nationwide electorate (though, confusingly, because the USA's constitution was written by idiots, they're not elected from such an electorate but, instead, from an arbitrary aggregation of smaller electorates).

(And then there's the additional complication of appointed politicians, e.g. the SecDef, whose constituency probably depends on who they're appointed by.)

In any case, because the US separates the executive and legislative branches, politicians represent just the people in their electorate with nominal whole nation/state responsibilities in addition to that. Thus the question:

Are all politicians supposed to do that

No.

just the politicians that happen to not represent you

Also, no.

The exception, of course, is if an entire chamber or committee is forced to debate such an issue due to the endeavours of the politicians who actually represent these constituencies.

You want it to work some other way, have elected politicians that lack traditional constituencies, e.g. through party list methods.

Of course, you could just be making a strawman but the question is very clearly about a specific discussion not "issues that affect their constituents" in general. That the people of some random county/district in a different part of the state are represented poorly is only an issue affecting everyone in that state insofar as that poor representation is a function of a flawed electoral system. And knowing the US, I would suppose that's probably the case in Oregon.

[San Lumen]

No counties voted to leave Oregon despite what the Greater Idaho movement is claiming. That wasn't even on the ballot.

Oregon legislators aren't depriving anyone of self-determination or whatever by not holding hearings (??) on this issue.

What did they vote for then?

[The Two Jerseys]

I never said any of that. If people want a statewide referendum to move to Party list PR and it passes so be it.

But why can’t we have a state wide referendum on this matter? The one the topic is about? Because you constantly shit on that idea

The same reason why the Oregon Democrats wouldn't let the people have a statewide referendum on the cap-and-trade bill: they might vote the wrong way.

[Northern Socialist Council Republics]

I’d actually be amenable to a statewide referendum. My whole stick here is that it should be the state as a whole that decides whether its eastern counties can leave, and what higher moral authority is there in a state than the people of the state themselves?

If the population of the state desires a referendum on the matter then the Salem government should give them one.

[Christian Confederation]

It's a little hypocritical for Democrats to Demand DC and Puerto Rico become States then throw a fit when the Conservative Part of Oregon wants to join Idaho because they don't feel represented in Oregon.

[San Lumen]

It's a little hypocritical for Democrats to Demand DC and Puerto Rico become States then throw a fit when the Conservative Part of Oregon wants to join Idaho because they don't feel represented in Oregon.

They are represented. there is nothing hypocritical about it.

[Dtn]

No counties voted to leave Oregon despite what the Greater Idaho movement is claiming. That wasn't even on the ballot.

Oregon legislators aren't depriving anyone of self-determination or whatever by not holding hearings (??) on this issue.

What did they vote for then?

They voted to require their county commissioners to have biannual meetings discussing secession. Apparently in perpetuity.

[The Black Forrest]

It's a little hypocritical for Democrats to Demand DC and Puerto Rico become States then throw a fit when the Conservative Part of Oregon wants to join Idaho because they don't feel represented in Oregon.

Different situations. DC and PR don’t have representation.

Even then; I don’t know how the counties aren’t being represented……

[South St Maarten]

It's a little hypocritical for Democrats to Demand DC and Puerto Rico become States then throw a fit when the Conservative Part of Oregon wants to join Idaho because they don't feel represented in Oregon.

Different situations. DC and PR don’t have representation.

Even then; I don’t know how the counties aren’t being represented……

Exactly, in a technical sense the counties would have representation in Oregon and in Idaho, PR has no representation whatsoever.

[Washington Resistance Army]

It's a little hypocritical for Democrats to Demand DC and Puerto Rico become States then throw a fit when the Conservative Part of Oregon wants to join Idaho because they don't feel represented in Oregon.

Different situations. DC and PR don’t have representation.

Even then; I don’t know how the counties aren’t being represented……

Because we live in an FPTP system and if you're in the minority you functionally have no real representation or power. This is basic politics.

[The Black Forrest]

Different situations. DC and PR don’t have representation.

Even then; I don’t know how the counties aren’t being represented……

Because we live in an FPTP system and if you're in the minority you functionally have no real representation or power. This is basic politics.

They have representatives. How are they suffering? Seriously; I am curious.

[Galloism]

Because we live in an FPTP system and if you're in the minority you functionally have no real representation or power. This is basic politics.

They have representatives. How are they suffering? Seriously; I am curious.

The majority is attempting to deny them the right to vote on new legislation as guaranteed under the Oregon constitution?

[Thermodolia]

It's a little hypocritical for Democrats to Demand DC and Puerto Rico become States then throw a fit when the Conservative Part of Oregon wants to join Idaho because they don't feel represented in Oregon.

Different situations. DC and PR don’t have representation.

Even then; I don’t know how the counties aren’t being represented……

Actually DC and PR are being represented. They elect delegates so they shouldn’t complain because they are being represented

[Washington Resistance Army]

Because we live in an FPTP system and if you're in the minority you functionally have no real representation or power. This is basic politics.

They have representatives. How are they suffering? Seriously; I am curious.

Having representatives does not inherently mean you have any say in government. Especially in FPTP if the other side has a comfortable majority then you can be disregarded entirely.