Five Oregon Counties vote to Join Idaho
Posted: Wed May 19, 2021 8:34 pmhttps://thehill.com/homenews/state-watc ... e-to-idaho
https://www.opb.org/article/2021/05/19/ ... -of-idaho/
Voters in five rural Oregon counties approved measures on Tuesday to consider joining the state of Idaho, a part of a long-shot grassroots movement to break with a state dominated by liberal voters west of the Cascade Mountains.
Voters in Malheur, Sherman, Grant, Baker and Lake counties all approved measures that would require county officials to take steps to promote moving the Idaho border west to incorporate their populations.
They join two other rural counties — Jefferson and Union — whose voters approved measures promoting a move to Idaho last year.
The local measures are backed by Move Oregon’s Border for a Greater Idaho, a local organization that wants to grow Idaho west and south into some counties in Northern California.
“This election proves that rural Oregon wants out of Oregon. If Oregon really believes in liberal values such as self-determination, the Legislature won’t hold our counties captive against our will,” said Mike McCarter, a conservative activist who heads the group. “If we’re allowed to vote for which government officials we want, we should be allowed to vote for which government we want as well.”
I hate to break it to Mr. McCarter but this is not how democracy works. Legislative apportionment is by population not land area and statewide elections are decided by who wins the most votes not who wins the most counties.
By the logic given we should break up the United States into several dozen more states because rural counties vote differently than urban ones. That is ridiculous and its unlikely this measure goes anywhere beyond being a protest vote.
My feeling is if you dont like the politics of a state or province move to another that fits in better. These people should move to Idaho instead of trying to change boundaries.
Similar proposals have happened over the decades and none have gone anywhere and I have serious doubt this will lead to any border changes either.
Your thoughts NSG?
https://www.opb.org/article/2021/05/19/ ... -of-idaho/
Voters in five rural Oregon counties approved measures on Tuesday to consider joining the state of Idaho, a part of a long-shot grassroots movement to break with a state dominated by liberal voters west of the Cascade Mountains.
Voters in Malheur, Sherman, Grant, Baker and Lake counties all approved measures that would require county officials to take steps to promote moving the Idaho border west to incorporate their populations.
They join two other rural counties — Jefferson and Union — whose voters approved measures promoting a move to Idaho last year.
The local measures are backed by Move Oregon’s Border for a Greater Idaho, a local organization that wants to grow Idaho west and south into some counties in Northern California.
“This election proves that rural Oregon wants out of Oregon. If Oregon really believes in liberal values such as self-determination, the Legislature won’t hold our counties captive against our will,” said Mike McCarter, a conservative activist who heads the group. “If we’re allowed to vote for which government officials we want, we should be allowed to vote for which government we want as well.”
I hate to break it to Mr. McCarter but this is not how democracy works. Legislative apportionment is by population not land area and statewide elections are decided by who wins the most votes not who wins the most counties.
By the logic given we should break up the United States into several dozen more states because rural counties vote differently than urban ones. That is ridiculous and its unlikely this measure goes anywhere beyond being a protest vote.
My feeling is if you dont like the politics of a state or province move to another that fits in better. These people should move to Idaho instead of trying to change boundaries.
Similar proposals have happened over the decades and none have gone anywhere and I have serious doubt this will lead to any border changes either.
Your thoughts NSG?