Greater Idaho: Republicans' Plan to Redraw State Lines

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With American politics becoming increasingly polarised, secession has become a popular topic of conversation. While that is constitutionally difficult, redrawing state lines is comparatively far easier... So just how likely is a prospective Greater Idaho?
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[@weldin]

Why was there no mention of Idaho’s likelihood to accept them? You said Oregon might be happy to get rid of them because it means fewer liabilities, but why would Idaho want to take them on?

[@neeneko]

Idaho doesn't want them. It would be extremely expensive for Idaho, both in up front terms (Idaho would have to buy a bunch of state assets from Oregon), and the recurring costs mentioned in the video. They would also be absorbing a new well organized political block that would be likely to turn on them, using disruption to increase their own power over Idaho politics.

[@nickbohman2997]

Yes, as a lifelong Idahoan, we don’t want them

[@aaronka1285]

Despite the issues, I do think that Idaho lawmakers might see some benefit from this. It would create a lot of publicity and put attention on Idaho. It would also Stoke State pride and make a bit of a political statement. I'm not sure how attracted Idaho lawmakers would be to this idea simply to make a statement, but it is a possibility. Is that enough to actually make the change? I don't know.

[@Grizabeebles]

It wouldn't make sense to join Idaho. Creating a new state also means creating 2 new Senators. Those Senators are what the Republican party really wants.

[@kappadarwin9476]

@@aaronka1285 It would be fun to talk about but Idaho wouldn't want them. You have several new counties who are deeply conservative meaning they are likely to say no to a tax increase meanwhile leeching money from Idaho to keep themselves stable. Its just a bad deal.

[@thedawgarmy6947]

Oregon just passed a ballot measure essentially making legislature walkouts fireable. It passed with overwhelming statewide support, so hey, we can find things we agree on.

[@MrThhg]

lol 114 vibes

[@Snp2024]

Thank God atleast somewhere people agree

[@thescotchirishman3373]

I was pretty impressed by that passing. Watch Cap and Trade come back LOL

[@Saitaina]

Yup, one of two of four measures passed on election night the votes were that clear. After the pandemic bullshit we were DONE with the state fucking around.

[@davidgjam7600]

@@Greater_Idaho can't you just stop your temper trantrums and grow up?

[@Moftheworld-lp6ii]

As an Idahoan I and most other Idahoans think this whole thing is never going to happen. Idaho already doesn’t have the tax infrastructure to maintain what we already have let alone all of east Oregon. In addition the Oregon legislature would never ever be ok with letting over half the state leave not to mention the main selling point that’s been made to Idaho is giving it a Pacific coast like, which is now off the table seeing as the Pacific counties in Oregon apart of all of this voted to remain in Oregon. So this scenario isn’t only unlikely it’s likely impossible.

[@adamsfusion]

It'd also be a shock to have a huge population start showing up to your state congress with opinions about how they want things run. Idaho and East Oregon might be conservative, but they also have dissimilar histories. It'd be the same for any two states in the same situation.

[@salag13]

Exactly. It’s just a bunch of rural conservatives whining because they can’t have their way. A more simple solution for them is to just move to Idaho.

[@anthonybanchero3072]

Plus a Sales Tax is DOA in Oregon.

[@jonunciate7018]

@@salag13 but they are poor and likely can't afford to leave, especially farmers.

[@Xanthro2]

As an Oregonian... I don't want are issues to infect Idaho. Oregon needs to rot and die for not closing its sothern border.

[@spoikins]

Oregonian here. This is not going to happen, even if all the counties and the Oregon leg sign on, because Idaho will have to shell out a few million dollars to purchase the currently Oregon-owned land and assets in those counties. Idaho gains nothing from this but more liabilities.

[@MrThhg]

little more then a few million, maybe in the billions.. just found one of the highest concentrations of Lithium in the US on the Oregon-Nevada border as well

[@caffeinatedlemur]

Oregonian here to 2nd this post. Idaho does not want to or would it be able to pay the required reimbursements for any land in such a deal. Additionally there are additional hurdles with the amount of federal and tribal land. Not to even mention the nightmare that is water right treaties in the south of Oregon.

[@peppelepeu7156]

Grew up in Oregon. This will not happen.

[@EverettBurger]

Up, and Idaho would have to cover costs like utilities (water/sewer), law enforcement, DMV, etc.

[@neeneko]

@@caffeinatedlemur Water rights alone could be said to both drive and sink this plan. Proponents hope that Idaho will give them more access to water, but that probably would not change.. so Idaho would be absorbing a large, angry, politically active community who will quickly discover that their magic dreams did not come true and would likely start disrupting their new state trying to function.

[@TheRadPlayer]

It's mental that a minority part of a legislature can just not show up for a vote, and thus de-facto vote a proposal down.

[@thestraw8271]

Both sides do it, at that. It's pathetic. They're all adult-children.

[@rahcollier7006]

In Oregon, we voted to disqualify lawmakers from re-election if they have 10 or more unexcused absences from floor sessions. I like my state.

[@justinhayes6532]

@@rahcollier7006 So happy 113 passed so handedly

[@crossbones3820]

@@thestraw8271 Give us an example of democrats doing it

[@dannylive3000]

@@crossbones3820 in Texas over voting rights

[@D_S_L]

As someone living in rural Oregon, I can tell you first hand that the urban rural divide is really bad. There's a lot of resentment over the Willamette valley's influence when it comes to state politics. So much so, that for a while, the gubernatorial race here was very close. To be fair, there was an independent running on the ballot, but even still, it was very contentious. A lot of Republicans in rural Oregon have become disenfranchised with the state's government, and I'm not surprised the same things happening in California. Let's say it does happen though. For starters, there are a lot of rural oregonians who probably didn't think about all the state's generous benefits that help a lot of rural oregonians out. Secondly, I don't know how large the population would be, but there are still going to be some urban areas within a state that would have a larger population all of a sudden. This leads to business growth which leads to urbanization which leads to a bluer state. That last part might be a little far-fetched, but it makes sense. Regardless, I just think it's a weirdly idiotic idea. It's like asking for a new car for your birthday. You get the car, but it's not in the best condition, and you're too poor to pay for gas. Now you're unhappy with your car, and seldom do you drive it again

[@alexlehrersh9951]

Do you mean That more democrats moves too the new urban areas? Otherwise i dont think that a red arar will become more blue by urbanisation

[@sovelissskirata8105]

@@alexlehrersh9951 usually over time people in cities shift blue. Public transportation, cost for public education and health, a bunch of issues shift as priority, which usually shifts blue. It's not a personal ideology change exactly (most folks are liberal if you strip away terms) just a shift in perception .

[@RobespierreThePoof]

Rural America used to be a place which could be relied upon to support pragmatic solutions to poverty. Now, they spend their time getting pissy about incredibly petty issues that don't even affect them.

[@dallenbaldwin3484]

There's also the Idaho angle. Are everyday Idahoans on board with the tax increase necessary to give the new western Idahoans the same quality of life they had before the split?

[@homerj806]

@@alexlehrersh9951 So if enough California Democrats move to Idaho, the can vote to either split to form a new state or be annexed by California right. If Republicans start going down this road I can guarantee you this would end in a complete mess.

[@StevenEveral]

Washington state resident here. One of the prevailing ideas in Eastern Oregon and rural Washington is the belief that the "big cities" are leeching off of the hard-working rural areas, when it's exactly the opposite. King County, the most populous county in Washington accounts for about 48% of WA's total tax revenue, but only uses about 27% of those funds. The rural counties in WA and OR are heavily reliant on not only tax money from the big cities like Portland and Seattle but would quickly turn into places akin to rural Mississippi without those cities.

[@patcris8923]

Your so delusional lol. For most countries in southern Oregon they have 1 homeless shelter and just one shuttle bus that doesn't even run everyday. Basically all the social programs are supported by local churches.

[@aaronka1285]

I think that many people in rural counties would be willing to take an economic hit for this. That might change after they have time to feel any potential economic repercussions, but still.

[@hs5312]

One defense i did here, is without the regulations of the Oregon state government maybe the lumber industry could be revived which would bring some revenue, I would also wonder if those counties have a resources like natural gas or raw materials

[@armandolemus7222]

This is absolutely accurate, there’s a reason Washington state is so blue & this is why , intelligent, educated people . Right on

[@Roark787]

@@aaronka1285 Those who use luxuries to justify corruption and tyranny are on par with sewer scum.

[@plucas1]

Becoming part of Idaho would mean the eastern Oregon counties would have to give up their slice of that sweet, sweet state tax revenue that comes mostly from the bigger cities in the west, and that's just not going to happen. I live in western NY, and there's been talk about splitting off the rest of the state from NYC for decades here, but everyone knows that is never going to happen because of all the upstate fingers in NYC's huge financial pie. No matter what part of the country they're from, politicians are addicted to their kickbacks, and cutting off their supply is the surest way to doom any initiative.

[@Nobleheart111]

Nope. East Oregon will be free. No price can be put on the liberty from west Oregon city policies.

[@urubissoldat5452]

As a Western Washingtononian, oh God I would pay so damn much to be apart of Idaho.

[@krakken-]

@@Nobleheart111 Free of revenue anyway... It may sound good in theory but in reality it would just increase the economic divide, with western Oregon able to keep more of its $$, and western Oregon (or southwestern Idaho) becoming less wealthy. It's unlikely that the greater Idaho would want to increase its taxes to support the new additions...

[@MemoirsofaBasketcase]

NYC provides 65-75% of New York State’s revenue. It would be amusing to see the rest of the state go without NYC.

[@urubissoldat5452]

@@MemoirsofaBasketcase It would be so nice.

[@ilect1690]

By that logic the urban parts of any red state should just be able to join into another blue state

[@ColinTherac117]

Much of Illinois would be happy to kick Chicago out of their state.

[@NixonsHead]

Lmao if blue states gave up all their red areas to red states and red states gave up blue areas to blue states then the country would be gigantic red states with tiny blue states dotting the map.

[@delighteddino9363]

@@ColinTherac117 it’d be more akin to Chicago kicking hall out, The Chicagoland area is a majority of Illinois population.

[@NixonsHead]

@Prehistoric Postmodernist And the red oceans would be where all the food comes from. Don't act like the relationship between city and country isn't mutually beneficial.

[@NixonsHead]

@Prehistoric Postmodernist Judging from the attitudes of most blue city dwellers vs. the attitude of most red rural people, it's the city people who don't seem to understand that it's a mutual relationship. Many of them, particularly blue voters, seem to believe we can just tell the rural people of the country to fuck off and die, and that we will just magically keep moving forward.

[@Famous_Athlete_Hashimoto]

There's been similar discussions in Illinois. Basically, Republicans want the Chicagoland area to split off and become its own state so that the rest of Illinois can be more like Indiana, which is deep red. However, just like other states with deep urban/rural divides, they actually depend alot on Chicago's tax revenue. So that discussion never gains serious traction

[@hs5312]

Indiana seems to be fine, so If the rest of the state didn't have Chicago can it really be that bad

[@TommyNir]

@@hs5312 Indiana also isn't nearly as built off of big city revenue like Illinois is, if the southern part of Illinois secedes all of the big city economic support is gone, and there isn't infrastructure in the rest of the state to support it.

[@oktoberregeln]

@@hs5312 I think the word you're looking for is depressing

[@hs5312]

@@TommyNir there is a big natural gas and oil basin in south and central Illinois that is mostly untapped that is a way to potentially make revenue, a few States like North Dakota and Alaska run mainly on revenue from resource extraction

[@hs5312]

@@oktoberregeln I have a relative that lives in Indiana he likes it, maybe you find it depressing but it is not a bad state I would consider going there

[@MrFancyDragon]

The idea of changing state boundaries will have major implications NOT in politics… But in souvenirs and state merch. There’s a reason many states (especially Texas if you haven’t really noticed…) love to slap their state boundaries on any merchandise, road sign, and logo they can find.

[@jsward96]

As a right leaning Englishman whose lived in Oregon for 17 years, that's the main concern I have about the boundary being redrawn. So much state memorabilia would become outdated.

[@IkeOkerekeNews]

Nah, it would be mostly political.

[@irthamepali]

DONT MESS WITH TEXAS DONT MESS WITH TEXAS

[@PendeltonWhiskey]

@@irthamepali Texass is already a mess

[@Randomstuffs261]

Idaho is going to be so depressing when "Greater Idaho" gets created

[@seand.g423]

*so much more depressing Fixed it for you

[@Randomstuffs261]

@@seand.g423 Thank you, the people of Not Great Idaho will be forever grateful.

[@jds1275]

How, so I don't really see anything changing, which in itself is what conservatives like.

[@InfamousAustinT0]

For a long time Michigan's Upper Peninsula has had some sort of appetite for succession. They've considered splitting off and forming their own state called Superior with parts of Northern Wisconsin and Minnesota. It'd be a more rural and conservative state with not a big population. In Michigan's Upper Peninsula there is a different culture, even accent, and the Michigan government is pretty out of touch with the needs and wants of Yoopers(Upper Peninsula residents). The biggest town in the U.P. only has 20,000 people and the next biggest is 10,000. It'd be interesting to see a series explore state succession ideas throughout the country.

[@not_even_known_yet3167]

Not an American but didn't need a Territory more then 500.000 People to become a State? Wouldn't that mean that Superior has to small Population to form there own State when the biggest City only has 20k? Or is that 500k Rule outdated?

[@JanisFever]

Give the UP back to Wisconsin

[@meogen]

@@JanisFever The UP was never part of Wisconsin. Michigan got it before Wisconsin became a state.

[@hs5312]

@@meogen what about when they were territories

[@sles3332]

@@hs5312 wisconsin was apart of the michigan territory

[@john-carl2054]

It’s never going to happen because weed. Many farmers in east Oregon make all their money from weed. Idaho’s oligarchs think weed is the devil.

[@thebestben]

Those rural Oregonians are in for a shock when all their state funded benefits like Medicaid and food stamps cease to exist. Idaho, like other Republican states has poor public services. Western Oregonians basically subsidize the East. Don’t bite the hand that feeds you.

[@joeyjojoshabbadoo8153]

Ironic considering the east side literally feeds the west.

[@zesk6718]

@@joeyjojoshabbadoo8153 Both benefit from each other. Thats why they need to stay together.

[@MemoirsofaBasketcase]

Let Greater Idaho happen so we can see those results.

[@haronsmith8974]

Do you actually believe Rural Oregonians who grow their own food and raise their own cattle need food stamps? LOL

[@Skumm93]

@@haronsmith8974 Yes, because not everybody is a farmer and rural areas are always poor and always the ones who use benefits the most per capita, while the urban area just have more people overall that need access.

[@lindhartsen]

Living in Eastern Washington, this bitterness leaks over here too. Not part of it and frankly The Daily Show also covered this in a piece and brought up some good technical cost points that’d likely stall this happening as well. It’s a fun dream for those that hate the west side but there’s a lot of work left if it’d actually happen.

[@Risviltsov]

Also living in Eastern Washington, I don't think it's a good idea. Idaho's state government is a crapshoot and living standards here for workers in the Palouse would worsen.

[@georgemetcalf8763]

Illinois has the same bitter separatists, too. As if the part of the state south of I-70 and east of I-55 is loaded.

[@davidvavra9113]

I wish my Mason County, Wa, could leave too, ain't gonna happen, we're in too deep.

[@davidvavra9113]

I know in much of Colorado, they all hate Denver, as my area hates Seattle and Downstate Illinois hates Chicago

[@Saitaina]

Down here in OR the main opinion is if they want to be part of Idaho, go move there. PR is next on the new state list anyway.

[@warrenschrader7481]

As a Northern Californian, I find it hilarious that Oregonians want to change to Idaho. The Oregonians that I've known love to complain about our sales tax. Guess which other state has a sales tax?

[@warrenschrader7481]

@@Greater_Idaho Not so easy when you realize that Idaho will be inheriting the bottom half of those average tax payers 😎

[@Kittyapoc]

@@Greater_Idaho it looks like the median Oregon income is $6k more than the average Idaho income, so would still be up in Oregon

[@delighteddino9363]

@@Greater_Idaho not if you’re poor. Oregon taxes it’s rich

[@mooners544]

@@delighteddino9363 Oregon is for chutiyas.

[@halleluyah757]

Guess which ones run from having to pay a sales tax; the next state over residents. Who are the ones that keep voting it down in Oregon; new comers moving to the state!

[@TheEclecticDyslexic]

I love stuff like this. "Damn you, vote the way we want or we will leave so you don't have to subsidize us anymore."

[@infinitelink]

Which to me sounds like, if someone says this to me, a very very reasonable demand to say "sure, let's get those papers done so you can go do your own thing!"

[@seanhartnett79]

Yeah Kentucky you want to go your own way. Fine no money or California food for you.

[@kingkoi6542]

Sounds like the civil war almost

[@Anon-nv7bp]

such a dishonest comment. no one thinks like this apart from haters like OP.

[@switchbladeactiondance]

​@@seanhartnett79 Cali meat tho, is made from Stephan Baldywinds ass fat, no? The burger tasted SOOO pretentious.

[@byronee]

I dont want my ocean front property in Oregon to turn into “Greater Idaho” ocean front property 🤮🤮

[@PendeltonWhiskey]

never gonna happen. don't fret one bit about any of this idiocy

[@brandonbollwark5970]

Isn’t the typical republicans argument “if you don’t like it somewhere, move?” They should do that instead of expecting state borders to move for them. Especially since these counties have so little population.

[@DaremKurosaki]

As an Oregonian, I can safely say I've been in traffic jams that have more people than most of those counties. They're not under represented: There's just very few people who *live* there. "Land" doesn't get a vote, people do.

[@seanhartnett79]

Yep.

[@Mark-uh3un]

This is about as likely to happen as splitting Florida into north and south

[@antcommander1367]

just wait few decades, and climate change will do it for free

[@investinghelps]

They don’t want to tho both voted heavily republican

[@Snp2024]

Florida is firmly republican now even Miami so it's not going to happen

[@eVill420]

They could split it for extra electorial points

[@Odinsday]

@@investinghelps Only in this past midterm, and that was mostly due to the fact that Florida dems are so incompetent, and the fact that older conservatives keep pushing up the GOP vote.

[@Sn0wjunk1e]

I can tell you, as an Idahoan, no one i've met here takes this seriously at all

[@antonk.2748]

Yeah but if the last 10-20 years have taught me anything its the things that no one takes seriously that you have to really worry about. I mean in 2015 no one took Trumps presidency bid or the Brexit referendum seriously. In 2019 no one took the idea of a global pandemic or fascists storming the capitol very seriously. In 2021 almost no one (including myself) took the Russian troops at the Ukrainian border and the risk of a big war in Europe seriously. We are living in a time where things we thought impossible and ludicrous happen with alarming regularity...

[@antonk.2748]

@@Greater_Idaho Just checked out the vids on your channel, nice right wing propaganda and much talk about Greater Idaho "respecting/protecting American values" and "offering alternatives to the liberal/democrat tyranny", just no actual info on economic feasibility or any other real life problems, just polemics, as usual... Also, you wanna provide a link to that study so we can have a look what "Idahoans" "Strongly in favour" and "moving the border" actually refers to?

[@delighteddino9363]

@@Greater_Idaho just like Trafalgar managed to predict the 2022 midterms perfectly? 💀

[@seanhartnett79]

@@antonk.2748 I called the Ukraine invasion the day before

[@PendeltonWhiskey]

@@Greater_Idaho and when that poll was taken, were the Idahoans who participated first told that the price tag would plunge them into tax hell for generations? Were they told that they'd be responsible for picking up the welfare check that Oregon used to write? It's one thing to stand on a street corner and ask passersby a simple question without them being in any way informed on the issue and another thing to put the facts in front of them and then get their opinion. It's very easy to skew poll results. I don't give that poll any credibility at all

[@EverettBurger]

It's not uncommon to see "State of Jefferson" flags in the southern part of Oregon and northern part of California

[@weldin]

I think that’s more of a history thing than a pro secession thing. (Referring to the original proposed northwest states of Lincoln and Jefferson before Oregon and Washington became states)

[@neeneko]

@@weldin It is still a pretty popular idea among the FLDS and even LDS crowd, and shapes a lot of the LDS's decision making.

[@hannah57]

@@neeneko I'm LDS and from this area. I'm not aware of the Church caring about the State of Jefferson. Can't speak to the FLDS interests, but I think they live on the Utah-Arizona border so not State of Jefferson adjacent.

[@hannah57]

@@weldin It lost momentum when WWII hit. People still talk about it in the area and people fly the flag, but it doesn't have the political push it would need to happen.

[@EverettBurger]

@@jackal2568 yup

[@herlescraft]

"we want a more fair representation of our votes" so you are in favor of proportional representation and the abolishment of the electoral colledge? "nope"

[@chrisbeer5685]

"We want more representation of our votes" FTFY

[@curses6166]

The electoral college helps smaller states get a voice in presidential elections. If it didn't exist, California and Texas would decide every election.

[@chrisbeer5685]

@@curses6166 The US has over 300 million people, Texas and California combined have less than 70 million. So no, Texas and California alone couldn't decide anything, even disregarding the fact they are on different sides of the political spectrum and are very diverse themselves. More Republicans live in California than in any other State for example. Instead, a small number of swing States decide every election, heavily weighted towards the smaller ones.

[@herlescraft]

@@curses6166 neat how that's the same thing people in those counties are saying... i mean if the votes were proportional people in the cities would decide every elections basically the argument here is that republicans( people in the rulal US) want their votes to matter more (even 3 times more) than those pesky city dwellers heck we could even put in racist terms... in the 70s the white population fled cities to live in rural communities and suburbs, them asking for a system weighting their interest more that those of the majority black and immigrant city dwelling population is systemic racist 101, it's how a minirity gains a majority of the political power

[@covfefe1787]

@@chrisbeer5685 thats the whole point. Republicans from Orane county have completelty different issues than Republicans from Emmet county in Michigan. and less 200 million people vote in elections anyway

[@Keely503]

This story has made the rounds for something that will never happen…

[@michaelmoorrees3585]

This is actually old history. Starting in the 1930s, a few of the southern counties of Oregon & a few northern counties of California, wanted form the state of Jefferson. Yes, they are rural, conservative counties. If you drive up Interstate 5, just a few miles north of Redding, you'll see painted on the roof of a barn, "Welcome to the state of Jefferson."

[@lesliefranklin1870]

A couple of years ago, a news crew interviewed people in Idaho about this plan. Almost to a person, they were emphatically against the plan. It turns out they don't want to support Oregon's poor rural counties.

[@eddapultstab2078]

The more I look into this, the more I feel that this greater idaho thing is another brexit situation.

[@FOLIPE]

@@eddapultstab2078 if Britain had voted from Brexit and Amerenter at the same time

[@rfresa]

Those counties are already a drain on the rest of Oregon. It's laughable to think Idaho would want them. They might conceivably split off into their own state, but it would be the poorest in the country.

[@Finneagan]

@@eddapultstab2078 Brexit succeeded

[@eddapultstab2078]

@@Finneagan but at what cost, and that's my point

[@SRFriso94]

This speaks to a broader problem in the US, people feeling their vote doesn't matter. For example, if you live in a Republican leaning state, and you vote Democrat, it's easy to see how you would feel that way. Ironically enough, if everyone who felt that way actually went out to go vote, every election would look vastly different, but I digress. The real solution is to design a better electoral system, not take the hacksaw to state borders.

[@georgemetcalf8763]

Yep. While I'd prefer to see the Electoral Collefe eliminated, there's no way that amendment passes (to many Americans are attached to it like a fetus to its umbilical cord), a better solution would be to lift the artificial cap on Representatives. And adopt the Nebraska/Maine model for apportioning votes. Ranked voting would be nice, too. I'd also like the Maine/Vermont model of allowing prisoners to vote (but I know that probably won't fly).

[@theuglykwan]

@@georgemetcalf8763 NE & ME college allocation just means gerrymandering.

[@georgemetcalf8763]

@@theuglykwan but it also removes the winner-take-all allocation that seems to drive a lot of division within states. Sure, they'll still hate their district, but that changes every ten years. That's also why I'd like to see the cap on Representatives removed. They could go back to how it was in the beginning and have 1 Rep for every 30k population. Or a more sensible proration. Something like that would dilute the feeling of being gerrymandered.

[@curses6166]

@@georgemetcalf8763 Do you think a rapist or murderer should be entitled to vote?

[@georgemetcalf8763]

@@curses6166 considering that not all who are found guilty are guilty, the state has already taken their time, why take their votes, too? Having the vote may also help them feel as a part of society and aid rehabilitation while lowering recidivism. And if they had the vote perhaps legislators, judges, executives, etc., would consider criminal policy more carefully.

[@ethanstine426]

Idahoan here and I am terrified of this. Democrats are already deep in red territory here we don't need to be pushed even deeper into Trumps America. Besides as it stands Weed is just a short drive away.

[@gusmonster59]

I am tired of this bull. If you want to live in Idaho, move your behind to Idaho. It is ridiculous to force everyone in Southern Oregon to 'move' to Idaho when that is NOT where we moved to in the first place. So again - if you want to live in Idaho, then MOVE THERE.

[@GuapoG0tGuap]

I don't think rural Americans appreciate how much they're subsidized by urban areas. In a real, material sense separating from the more urbanized part of a state will make life harder for a lot of rural people. If they separate, look what their roads are like. Idaho is a poorer, less populous state. Greater Idaho would be HUGE. Which means that's more roads to maintain, but population would still be small so there's a small tax base trying to cover it and adding low populous, rural counties won't give them much of an economic boost. The real funny part to me is, knowing American conservatives, if they secede and life gets worse, they will still blame liberals and the urban/rural divide will get even worse.

[@kevinconrad6156]

only if we can get the Dakotas to merge, no way so few people should have four Senate seats.

[@PSIponies]

Yes, people in low population areas don't deserve to have a voice. Like they should just learn to code and move to LA like smart people

[@JustANervousWreck]

But those Oregonians would join Idaho, they wouldn’t have their own state, meaning there would still be only 2 senate seats

[@valdavis7461]

Kevin I agree. The Carolinas and Virginias should merge, too.

[@mathewfinch]

That was always the point of those states: Benjamin Harrison wanted the extra electoral college votes.

[@chrisbeer5685]

No way, only Republicans are allowed to gerrymander!!!

[@Linkbetweenus27]

If they allow this, at least let blue cities secede from red states.

[@gwrqet5352]

@Ryan Valinho it's almost like more people = more people to commit crime because of sample size. Not because being in city smog makes you a raging mutant. Simple maths republitard

[@skeleex]

@Ryan Valinho Except California has a lower crime rate then Texas, and New England has the lowest crime rates in the entire country despite all being blue.

[@Goat5747]

@NoodleDoodle why are you talking about New England you do realize that UK and New England are not the same thing right.

[@dirtydan2721]

Uh, yes? What is so bad about state lines being redrawn so that cities and rural areas can rule over their own things instead of constantly having to fight over everything? No red states actually want their blue cities. Blue cities won't let red states go. Before anyone replies about "economics" or whatever, no, nobody cares. Self-determination is more important.

[@jstnrgrs]

This will never happen. Every state legislature involved and congress would have to approve.

[@peccavo]

Great episode! I love it when you report something that might be lower on people's radar but is still important.

[@gamemusicify]

I find it absolutely amazing that the if you don't like it get out crowd is resorting to this to win a election

[@jds1275]

This isn't about winning, it's about aligning yourself with people like you. Oregon would only lose the representative position that already represents this area nationally. There would be no real change in national politics.

[@chrisbeer5685]

@@jds1275 It is so transparently about winning. This would keep Idaho a safe red State while also increasing its population at the cost of blue States. More population = more seats in the House and EC. Sure theres an urban rural divide, like everywhere else. Yet no one wants to split out urban counties from Texas.

[@curses6166]

@@chrisbeer5685 You have to realize that a ton of people in eastern Oregon and Washington share the same values as those in states like Wyoming or Idaho. It might change the representation a bit but not by much.

[@chrisbeer5685]

@@curses6166 I do realize that, I don't see how that means we should redraw state boundaries to give one party an unfair advantage.

[@gamemusicify]

@@jds1275 if you think another state holds your values why not move to that state? This is clearly about winning the election

[@girffrommars]

Also Idaho can't afford to take eastern Oregon. Eastern Oregon is subsidized. Idaho is also a subsidized state.

[@PeterSedesse]

Funny how all the red states are welfare states.

[@vitae4929]

But it’s the fastest growing state right?

[@nickbohman2997]

As a lifelong Idahoan, we don’t want them. We don’t want any more Oregonians in our state.

[@CortexNewsService]

We've had similar suggestions here in Illinois and for similar reasons. Our population imbalance is even worse with 9 million of the state's 12 million people in just six northeastern counties. Every once in a while legislators from the central or southern parts of the state propose turning Chicago and its metro as its own state. Dems have a supermajority here as well and taxes from the metro basically prop up the rest of the state. Luckily it never goes anywhere. As a queer person in central Illinois, the political weight of Chicago is what keeps LGBTQ friendly laws on the books here.

[@oktoberregeln]

Yeah it's always funny when rural Illinois thinks they'll be fine without Chicago.

[@vfanon]

Same perspective as someone who grew up in rural Indiana. Though without the silver lining… It’s weird how Republicans see a smaller population ruling much larger populations as fine, but when cities rule a greater landmass (with less actual citizens) it it’s a sin against democracy- it’s a fundamental flaw in the country’s organization, that’s for sure.

[@NameGoesHere-rw4ji]

This isn't more likely. The state of Michigan had this issue with the UP wanting to move to Wisconsin (it didn't), Michigan wanted Toledo Strip (got UP instead and ---- didn't change boundaries), and Idaho would need to pay a large payment for these properties which Idaho be very unlikely to do even if they would finally get a water front option to the ocean.

[@richgerow3472]

So the party of, "Pull yourself up by your bootstraps and stop looking for a government handout," wants the government to redraw the state lines for them instead of just moving to Idaho.

[@Sentient_Blob]

These are the same people that would tell residents of DC to “just move” when they say they want representation

[@italia689]

They do not feel "represented," and are sick of losing every time. The cities basically rule the states, the states cities are mostly Democrat, and those Republican areas feel "left out." That is right. In Western New York, there are people who want fracking and want to join Pennsylvania. The "environmental elites in the east" are inhibiting on their "freedoms." And I am not sure every single one of them is a Republican, either. Pennsylvania is a Democrat state, for the most part, but with less fracking regulations, and (supposedly) pools of natural gas, it is an economic issue. Of course, that is not going to happen, either.

[@zbynekurbanek3345]

so youre an idiot. there has never been any mention in the whole video that they want anything from the government. because they dont. if youre not able to see the difference between government and the state and the legislature, then please please please do not try to think about politics, way above your intelectual abilities. Sorry.

[@PendeltonWhiskey]

@@Sentient_Blob thats an excellent point and I'm sure you're absolutely right. Their parents are from the "love it or leave it" era

[@Zombiemask4]

Another thing with Idaho gaining all that territory is they would most certainly have to pay for it, Oregon isn't going to give that land away for free. I can assure you that there's NO way Idaho can afford it either, if they did go through with all of the hoops they would have to dramatically increase taxes in order to pay for the territory gained which I don't believe that most Idahoans would be happy with. (Opinion, Idahoan living in Idaho)

[@ColinTherac117]

In the event of separation, the new smaller state of Oregon would have zero right to compensation just for the fact of "losing land". This is because the concept of Oregon "losing land" is from a top down view. Democracy is supposed to be a bottom up system. The land belongs to the people who live there. Any claim that higher levels of government may have is entirely contingent on the consent of the governed - in this case the people of eastern Oregon. Who by the proposed separation would revoke their consent to be governed by the corrupt government of western Oregon.

[@ichijofestival2576]

@@Greater_Idaho 😅 Yes... The... "Eastern Oregonians" who paid taxes for them... All five of them. Funny how all those liberal tax dollars become "everyone's tax dollars" when the bill comes due.

[@ichijofestival2576]

@@ColinTherac117 Oh, wow. "The land belongs to the people who live there." Setting aside a clear ignorance of state and federal land laws, let's discuss "there." "The people who live 'there.'" Where is "there?" Because as has been pointed out _repeatedly,_ the people living on most of the land in question is *no one.* Most of the land is empty. And I can tell you firsthand, owning a home in a county doesn't confer any extra level of control over the land in it. You could argue it's "county land," and I'd simply point out a county is, by definition, part of the state. Same way if I rented you a room, it'd still be part of my house.

[@user-cx9nc4pj8w]

@@ColinTherac117 "The land belongs to the people who live there" I wonder how the original Americans feel about this view...

[@byunbaekhyun2283]

@@ColinTherac117 "The land belongs to the people who lives there" You mean to Native Americans??

[@jacksonhawkins2775]

Idahoan here - this is, as other comments have said, never going to happen

[@nekomarulupin]

The shoot self in foot party will never cease to amaze me.

[@seand.g423]

Which one? 😒

[@justsomeguy335]

Well the party just have their own agenda. But, normal people who are duped into voting for policies that will hurt them? Now that's sad. Reminds me of working class Brexiters

[@karankapoor2701]

Aren't you late for your mom's onlyfans party

[@Messier__]

Bro I hate [political party] too!

[@PendeltonWhiskey]

@@justsomeguy335 Yes, such as retired Republicans who depend on social security but vote for politicians who promise to do away with it. Amazing

[@shitheadpestondemand]

This just opens the door to a whole lot of problems Eastern Oregon joins Idaho > other republican counties will leave democratic states to join republican states > country becomes more polarized > civil war: electric boogaloo

[@als3022]

Oh we are already at the path to two choices, Czechoslovakia or Yugoslavia. And I fear it will be the latter.

[@shitheadpestondemand]

@@als3022 it would be ironic if Serbia was one the bomb us lmao

[@MaxwellsLab]

the country will become LESS polarized actually because more people will get to live under a government they agree with if. Redrawing borders now would also open the doors to the peaceable breakup in the future.

[@MichaelSidneyTimpson]

This is why getting rid of the electoral college makes sense. People in such counties would have their vote finally count for something.

[@davidty2006]

Makes brazil look good.

[@MichaelSidneyTimpson]

@@davidty2006 ha

[@jimdaniels7531]

As someone living in Idaho, this is a seriously stupid idea and it will never happen. Are we going to redraw the borders every few decades whenever political trends shift? Idaho last had a Democrat governor in 1995 and Oregon last had a Republican governor in 1987.

[@jerry3790]

Thank god this isn’t Ohio. If that state got any bigger we’d have serious problems

[@JJ-sq1fv]

Wouldn’t it be easier for them to form their own state than to join Idaho?

[@justanotherguy2824]

From my point of view the problem is the voting system (first-past-the-post). This gives minorities no representation. In the end Republicans in Oregon or Democrats in Idaho are essentially excluded from the political process. For other groups - libertarians, greens etc. it is even worse. The voting system effectively suppresses any political movement outside of two major parties. For me living in a European country with representational voting and 5 parties in the Parliament this sounds very unfair. I would be completely pissed if we had such a voting system here. (Note: Our system has clear weaknesses, too. E.g. our prime minister is not elected by the voters, but appointed according the majorities in the parliament, which I think undermines "checks and balances". I would love to combine the best elements of each system.) So instead of changing state borders and try to align them with political preferences - essentially an apartheid approach, just based on politics instead of race - I would find it much better to fix the voting system. This also may ease the strong polarization in the USA between Republicans and Democrats.

[@aarondaugherty3920]

It is strange to see Republicans complaining about not being represented in their own state. I wonder what they would have to say to people in Oklahoma City, DFW, Houston, Austin, Tulsa, Jackson, Atlanta, Miami, Etc and how they feel about that.

[@napoleonibonaparte7198]

How about merging the two Dakotas?

[@KaiserMattTygore927]

SUPER DAKOTA

[@Pyxlean]

And the Carolinas

[@goughrmp]

All the little state in New England merged together

[@JustANervousWreck]

@@Pyxleanbut why though, the Carolinas have been separate for 310 years so what would be the point

[@rankothefiremage]

Hell merge most of the plane's states they all have hardly any people yet each get 2 senators

[@PeterSedesse]

I would ask why people living in eastern Oregon do not just move to Idaho.. but then I realized how difficult it would be to get 50 year old double-wide trailers on the road.

[@PendeltonWhiskey]

bwahhh ha ha! I have a truck that could drag a few over the state line if somebody were to put wheels on them for me

[@Vampwatch1462]

Jeez. For a party that considers themselves stronger than the "snowflakes", they are just as whiny by doing this. It's pretty much the equivalent of "screw you guys, I'm going home".

[@jds1275]

No, it is a reaction to states creating laws that benefit cities but harm rural areas and then on top of it having no voice in the voting for the laws where they maybe could change the laws in a way to keep them to the city boundaries or remove what makes them harmful to the rural areas. But then again, people in urban areas don't care how destructive their ideas are to rural areas because they are pretty self-centered in the first place.

[@chrisbeer5685]

@@jds1275 Urban Rural divides exist everywhere, yet no one wants Houston to secede from Texas. This is a naked power grab, plain and simple. Rural people have just the same power to vote as every other person. And if they can't convince a majority of people of their ideas, maybe they aren't such great ideas. Theres no "tyranny of the majority" going on here either, in fact its mostly rural people that try to take away rights like reproductive health, equality before the law etc.

[@dirtydan2721]

@@chrisbeer5685 Basically everyone within a 200 mile radius of them is convinced and the only people who aren't are people inside certain urban cores, so why not let them split? Yeah, textbook example of tyranny, some place will be 90% red and you think it should be ruled by blue because "giving them their own rule would unfairly benefit them" or something. Nobody wants Houston to secede from Texas? False equivalency and you basically have no arguments if you stoop to something like this, Houston doesn't rule over Texas the same way blue areas rule over red areas in states like Oregon or New York. You have to make up these comparisons because you have no argument.

[@chrisbeer5685]

@@dirtydan2721 Everyone in a 200 miles radius agreeing with you isn't particularly impressive if it's only like three people, and why should somebody's opinion count any less just because they live in an urban area? " Yeah, textbook example of tyranny, some place will be 90% red and you think it should be ruled by blue because "giving them their own rule would unfairly benefit them" or something." How far do you want to go with this? If there's a blue urban area in a majority red state, should it secede from that state? If there's a red neighborhood in that urban area should it secede itself? A blue street in the red neighborhood? "Nobody wants Houston to secede from Texas? False equivalency and you basically have no arguments if you stoop to something like this, Houston doesn't rule over Texas the same way blue areas rule over red areas in states like Oregon or New York." You're calling it a false equivalence but don't even understand the argument. I'm saying in the Texas example it's the rural areas that decide everything for the urban ones. But that's seemingly alright with you, because it favours your side politically. Finally, let's not falsely equivocate the parties here. Liberal policies tend to have the positive attribute that if you don't like them, you can just ignore them. F.E. if you're pro-choice in a pro-life state, that is in your opinion at least a deep intrusion into your privacy. If you're pro-life in a pro-choice state, you can just not have an abortion, no one is forcing you. That's what pro-choice means. If you don't like marriage equality, but your state goes ahead with it, you can just not marry someone of the same sex, no problem. If you want your child never to hear the word gay or have proper sex ed, you can just home school them.

[@dirtydan2721]

@@chrisbeer5685 Why should someone have essentially no opinion if they live in a rural area that some guy a few years ago drew a border on? If there are like 3 people why are you fighting so desperately to ensure that those 3 people are ruled over by people hundreds of miles away who hate them and are nothing like them? Should a blue city be able to self-determine in a red state? Yes. Why should they be ruled by a bunch of rural people? Can't think of a reason, city-states were a thing in the past and this was considered normal. Taking this further? Nope, never suggested it and it would be too impractical, whereas city-states were the default for most of human history. "Urban Rural divides exist everywhere, yet no one wants Houston to secede from Texas" - your quote, which I was answering. Nobody wants Houston to secede from texas because blue areas don't want to secede like this while the red ones do. The reds aren't oppressed by Houston so therefore they don't want to secede. False equivalency. "Liberal policy good, conservative bad" Okay buddy, this is why people don't want to be ruled by people like you. "If you don't like it you can homeschool" how about instead of that we just have our 90% red county join a red state so everyone in the county doesn't have to move if they want any representation in the way their children are taught? Your response is automatically a response that shows how much you hate the poor for demanding that they homeschool if they don't want someone in a city 300 miles away choosing their school curriculum.

[@Kayson-Muir]

As an as an Idahoan I am in full support of this because it would increase our seats in the house, our gdp, our tax income, and all of the gdp that the new land would bring in

[@Himeyasha]

I'm confused by your understanding. The seats in the house were already republican. (No change there) You would be inheriting the poor areas of Oregon so likely not going to increase your tax income more than your tax costs. Now those areas might have assets that are unknown about, i think someone mentioned Lithium. But overall it costs Idaho money.

[@PendeltonWhiskey]

Here in reality where I live, Idaho would be taking on a huge burden. The counties that want to become part of Idaho are welfare counties. Western Oregon has been paying their bills for over a hundred and fifty years. But thanks for wanting to take that ungrateful and expensive monkey off our backs and putting it on yours.

[@omarreyes7626]

that's some advance level jerrymandering right there, yet another reason why keeping an electoral collage system is beyond stupid.

[@AB-zl4nh]

The USA needs rank choice voting ASAP because First Past The Post is helping to push voters apart.

[@davidty2006]

US needs a full rework once us brits fixed ourselves we'll show the yanks what TRUE FREEDOM is!

[@Stratelier]

As a native Oregonian, hearing TLDR use "Mult'omah" is ... actually _not_ the worst mispronunciation we've ever heard.... On a side note, Measure 113 passed this year by a wide margin (about +40 points) which allows lawmaker absenteeism (defined as >10 unexcused days) to qualify as "disorderly conduct" worthy of an expulsion vote which should provide _some_ response to future walkouts. (The measure was proposed via citizen initiative, as due to the nature of the topic it _could not_ be passed via normal legislative bills)

[@PoeticProphetic]

I never thought I’d see the words “great” and “Idaho” together.

[@candyneige6609]

Puerto Rico and DC becoming states is still far more likely than a greater Idaho becoming reality, because it is far easier to add more states than it is to redraw them.

[@Mythantor]

DC will never become a state cause the Republicans will never let such a firmly Democrat region get a voice in the senate and congress

[@candyneige6609]

@@Mythantor But Puerto Rico will.

[@erikthomsen4768]

@@candyneige6609 Let’s say about that.

[@candyneige6609]

@@erikthomsen4768 Really ?

[@erikthomsen4768]

@@candyneige6609 Well I do see the logic behind your words, I cannot say the same about who would have to vote.

[@emm_arr]

Beware people selling grievance: it always leads to a bad place.

[@sosalish441]

West Oregon is the best thing that’s ever happened to East Oregon

[@DougGlendower]

California would never agree. Losing Lake Shasta would decimate Central Valley farming.

[@adamsfusion]

I'm sure adding a cash strapped, low income, high support set of districts to another state that's entirely low income, high support is a very good idea that would cause no problems in congress. That's generally why I oppose it. Nationally it would be immediately in need of severe financial lifelines that we don't need to do now.

[@seanhartnett79]

Yep

[@RexCogitans]

You should have looked into the political situation in Idaho (and northern California) as well for this video. Would help show the feasibility of the idea.

[@EverettBurger]

It's not uncommon to see State of Jefferson flags in southern oregon and northern california.

[@Treviisolion]

As a former Idahoan, Idaho is incredibly conservative and rural. Boise (the capital) is about the only truly blue region of the state and most of the remaining urban areas tend to be purple at most. If I remember correctly in response to this idea the governor of Idaho expressed cautious interest in the idea but had no expectations of it actually happening while the leader of the democratic party in Idaho expressed disapproval saying that it would lead to greater polarization. Oregon people receive a lot more government services than Idaho people do. Idaho is a state that by its constitution requires a balanced budget (one of many in the US that do) and thus was forced to cut its budget in response to the 2008 financial crisis. One of its major areas of funding cuts was its education systems and as such Idaho has been last-place in terms of education spending. This has meant that a lot of schools, particularly those in poorer communities, have had to get very creative in order to survive. Oregon’s not high in the rankings, only at 34 but it would be a 20% drop in spending. Idaho will not be willing to pay more in taxes to support the current government services that the people in Eastern Oregon are used to, but I suspect that most of them will be willing to accept that in exchange for the lower taxes. Those that don’t will probably be those that will struggle without the government services or the kids growing up during the transition who like me will grow up seeing the support they saw growing up dry up and be forced to make tradeoffs because no one wants to pay for education. But such is life. I doubt it’ll happen unless the polarization grows and a solid supermajority of Eastern Oregon wishes to leave and Western Oregon bribes Idaho to take them.

[@swisshague9769]

Might be because it isn’t even remotely feasible and will almost certainly not happen lmao

[@zero69kage]

@Treviisolion I'm also idahoan, and I'd like to add that Idaho seems to be slowly getting more liberal. I live in Teton County, and it voted for Biden last presidential election.

[@bowwak5366]

@@Treviisolion that's what happens when state have monopoly on schooling not to mention when there is a law banning house schooling.

[@nathanielmorey2800]

Cities should divide into 100 states then and steal the senate, this is so obnoxious

[@jaohonaxa]

All I can say is that if they actually try to go through with this we better damn well get statehood for DC.

[@danz1182]

Just give what's left of it and what does not have to remain a federal reservation exempt from state jurisdiction back to Maryland. Having a state less than 100 square miles and shaped like a piece of very expensive cheese is just not a good idea.

[@JDManring]

@@danz1182 They don't want to go back to Maryland. They want their own Senators. This whole issue is a blind power grab by a political party and not truly about them wanting proper representation within a state or they would be pushing to be returned to Maryland already.

[@KaelynWillingham]

@@danz1182 That argument doesn't hold up when you consider the fact that Rhode Island exists. Not to mention on the flip side that Alaska by itself represents 1/6 of all US landmass.

[@jordanlester9276]

This is more of the kinds of novel content TLDR US needs to be successful! :)

[@NatjoOfficial]

This sounds like a terrible idea from the precedent it sets. Drawing entirely new states on political lines could genuinely bring tensions in the U.S. way up. Literally what those guys did before back before the civil war, building states on political lines. Also it looks as if the area for the state doesn’t have any big cities, although I might be wrong in that assumption. If they build one will it end up with the same liberal/democratic/left leaning presences other cities have?

[@jds1275]

It doesn't create a new state, it just moved the Oregon Idaho border, making eastern Oregon part of the current Idaho.

[@drifter2198]

As someone who lives in rural Oregon, I can say that this isn't about joining Idaho. It's about protesting how little impact we have in our state. The two biggest cities, Eugene and Portland effectively control the whole state due to their large liberal population. Most people in the rural eastern area are conservative Republicans who dislike that two cities in the northern part of the state control the entire part of Oregon despite them not having any support in this region. One example is logging. Last year, the oregon legislature tried to pass rules to limit cutting down trees and carbon caps. Sounds great till you realize that people in eastern oregon greatly rely on woodcutting jobs and it would greatly hurt out area if it passed. We just want more of a say in our state government that's all. If that means leaving Idaho then so be it.

[@chrisbeer5685]

Are you willing to apply the same logic to liberal counties in Texas for example?

[@drifter2198]

I mean sure, I think that's fair

[@mikesbaseballcards]

Why not? Go for it. If that's what the people want then why not!

[@JTL1776]

As a Pennsylvanian. I want Philadelphia and New York to partition 2 cities. To restore political unity and stop the dividing hatred the demacrats keep on pushing. The state of New metropol. Philadelphia. New York City. New Jersey. Allowing Pennsylvania and New York to still have smaller urban cities but remaining rural and suburb dominant.

[@thomsonhallmark7454]

I grew up in Oregon, and the pronunciation of these county names has me dying

[@MrMikey1981]

Considering... it wasn't too bad!

[@PendeltonWhiskey]

I feel your pain. makes me crazy

[@CaesarAugustus.]

After Measure 113, Republicans in Oregon walking out won’t hold the same power anymore.

[@hamilt930]

the walkouts were restricted by a recently passed legislation in the midterms btw

[@friedipar]

Ah yes, the ultimate Gerrymander!

[@koalasandwich567]

Honestly, I think this idea is kinda dumb considering how polarized the U.S., since I don't think making Echochamber a state is a good idea.

[@mattheww.6232]

It's the "echo chamber" of urban center dominating vast rural areas that are almost different countries culturally. Like take where I grew up in rural Illinois. It's father from Chicago then Paris is from London, yet Chicago with it's hordes of illegal immigrants and welfare dependents dominate state politics. And yes, Democrats have jerrymandered the state, but it's in their favor so your not going to hear about it from any lefty "news". I can see an effort to politically isolate the cities, I wish it would be more wide spread and happened sooner. The only thing that has delayed this reaction so far is that localities have final say on what laws they enforce as a matter of checks and balances. But it's not the 90s any more. More and more we have federal and state government creeping into local institutions, like education and having adverse affects as they adopt radical views like cutting off kid's private parts being "medicine" and not the last gasps of a dying internet fad and American equivalent to the Weimar Republic sputtering out.

[@StrongandStable17]

@@mattheww.6232 The State borders of Oregon are 163 years old. Wanting to change them merely because you don't like the way the state leans politically is both petty and ridiculous. Besides like it or not rural areas rely on the economic powerhouses that are urban areas. It is entirely right that when it comes to elections the cities trump rural areas. It's called democracy mate. Luckily most Idahoans and Oregonians regardless of party see this proposal as a stupid idea (because it is and it also sets a dangerous precedent.) I mean I genuinely can't stress how much drawing State borders to isolate people you disagree with politically and to create majorities for one party is a horrendous idea. Besides those city states you propose would have more electoral votes then the wholly rural states you want and will be guaranteed Democratic EC votes in a presidential election. Aside from that gooday to you.

[@walterroche8192]

1. Doesn't take into account the dissatisfaction that the new "gun control" measures have brought to the 'rural' side of Oregon. 2. Doesn't address the considerable new/expanded tax base that Idaho would be getting. 3. Doesn't take into account that IF Idaho does get access to the Pacific that they could put in a port that nets them several billion tax dollars a year in trade. Lots of info left out of a Tdlr.

[@gorillamasterofgaming5525]

I remember when 3 MD counties wanted to succeed and join west Virgina. Like getting a state to agree to lose territory is like ranting at a stone wall nothing is going to happen. No leaders of a land of people wants to lose land under their watch.

[@erinrising2799]

I think the Cascadia secession is more likely than greater Idaho

[@wendypierce5621]

In the western US it’s all about controlling the water. I doubt Oregon would let a county go if they are part of a substantial river system. Also, Northern CA is all about their own hypothetical state of “Jefferson.”

[@eddapultstab2078]

The state of Jefferson has always been a thing for almost a century. It's its own can of worms.

[@drewthayer4905]

@@Greater_Idaho ever heard of the columbia river? look it up on a map

[@infinitelink]

@@drewthayer4905 Does not matter. In the west a river may cross your land and... you can't touch it unless you have the prior water rights.

[@daveharrison84]

The complaints from the people in eastern Oregon who want to secede are so pathetic. Oregon isn't hurting your quality of life. The Oregon state government isn't stopping you from hunting or whatever. If you ask them what they want, they want a government that will ban abortion and pander to their hate for political correctness.

[@boomer150]

I find it fascinating, in populated area's like city's the majority of people are liberal and likely democrat, the conservative's all live out in the middle of nowhere. If you Google liberal you get (willing to respect or accept behavior or opinions different from one's own; open to new ideas) I call that a good thing, not a bad thing. Be more liberal.

[@tomsawyer283]

So long as we have an undemocratic electoral college I see no reason to further this idea. You don’t get cut up a much larger already existing state especially when those same people are the ones who say if you don’t like it move, the state they want is right next store “jUsT mOvE thEre”

[@infinitelink]

The EC is fundamental to there even being a "Union" at all. And in point of fact both sides of this benefit: Oregon immediately saves huge sums of money and becomes richer while those living in/within mostly federal and tribal lands... get to feel like they're better represented. All other status quo matters... the same.

[@gamerthehoopa]

As a Californian, we would NEVER allow Idaho to expand into our territory. We have a sense of shared kinship with much of the other Pacific states, but Idaho? Not at all. Most Californians I've spoken to don't like Idaho all that much, so I find it unlikely we would ever permit them to expand here

[@CompleteGodel]

Heh. That's ironic. I hear a lot of people on Idaho complaining about Californians moving here. Driven up house/apartment prices. Much more aggressive driving from cali license plates, etc. Idaho's been having a population boom the last ten years because of it. Actually did a infographic thing for a competition about it and most are actually moving from cali. (it's probably an outsider thing. Also we are getting a lot of cali/texas republicans who have a much different idea about land use then Idaho republicans. Idaho republicans tend to be much more in favor of public land, forest conservation, wildlife preservation because of will the outdoor stuff people do)

[@seanhartnett79]

@@CompleteGodel interesting

[@mr.x5047]

And yet Idaho's largest population of interstate immigrants are from California

[@vitae4929]

@@CompleteGodelyou honestly beat me to this comment lol

[@gamerthehoopa]

@@mr.x5047 california's not doing too well right now. does that mean we'd let them have any inch of californian land? nope.

[@nathaniel1207]

As a southern oregon resident im sick of portland ruling a state hundreds of times its size with completely different legistlative needs to a big city.

[@GreenH0cker]

This is never going to happen. Not only does Idaho not have the money, but the Oregon residents aren’t gonna want to pay sales tax on anything

[@michaelborch2432]

I think it’s interesting to see what will happen as OR moves towards ranked choice voting and more proportional representation

[@justanotherguy2824]

To me this would make much more sense than redrawing borders according political preferences. For which elections does Oregon consider ranked choice voting and proportional representation?

[@michaelborch2432]

@@justanotherguy2824 RCV just recently passed in Portland and a few counties. There's definitely a growing movement

[@dominoep]

They're inland and yet want to take access to the ocean with them... lol

[@KeyanCarlile]

Western and Eastern Oregon are like two completely different states anyways. The east side is desolate, run-down, and just generally the middle of nowhere. I doubt Idaho’s gonna want them. This whole “Greater Idaho” thing, sometimes called Jefferson, is so dumb. They claim it isn’t fair their votes are never heard when they’re a tiny, tiny minority of the state. That’s just how democracy works. They need to grow up and deal with it, rather than demanding a whole new state getting drawn up just to accommodate them.

[@ricoatthebeach]

Just because a bunch of neo-cons did something drastic quickly, does not mean anything long term is going to come of it. Reactionary nonsense is the hallmark of today's conservative movement. There would have to be drastic changes to the legislature for this to happen. Those disgruntled Oregonians should just move to Idaho and make everyone happy, except Idaho.

[@nathanlaiko2933]

god this is litterly gerymandering at the highest level

[@dionbaillargeon4899]

@varalder freyr You have no idea about what gerrymandering is. Do you?

[@nathanlaiko2933]

@varalder freyr do you know what gery mandering is ?

[@NixonsHead]

redrawing district lines and creating new states aren't the same thing

[@iansammis5265]

As a style point: “Democratic” is the correct way to use the party name as an adjective. (Democratic counties, Democratic voters, etc.). Republicans use the bare “Democrat” that way as a petty insult, which I’m fairly sure wasn’t your intention.

[@sebastianlavallee706]

To be fair using "Democrat" as an insult says more about the authoritarian nature of the current Republican party than anything else...

[@sccur]

I live in the Portland area and there is zero chance after Roe was overturned that any democrat in any state would willing vote to put women in conservative counties into a conservative state.

[@patinsley]

This is an idea from the same people that stated "if you don't like it here then leave"... so childish

[@ChronicAndIronic]

They should give them that corner of Nevada for aesthetic reasons so it’s less of an awkward shape

[@NixonsHead]

Western Europeans dividing Africa be like:

[@ChronicAndIronic]

@@NixonsHead real

[@edsiles4297]

At this point in time, I call this a pipe dream

[@PendeltonWhiskey]

I like to call it a CRACK PIPE dream

[@Alister22ful]

The map of Great Idaho looks like a middle finger.

[@billkallas1762]

Idaho is one of those Nothing States.

[@nathanaeld.striker7191]

Yay, an episode about my State. Nice coverage of this issue.