The Greater Idaho 'Talk'

 If you haven't paid attention in the past year.....residents of eastern Oregon have stood up and said 'enough'....they are fed up with the politics and liberal situations brewing in Oregon.  So they want a separation, and to be allowed to form around Idaho instead.  

Basic issues to this?

1.  There are five cities on the western side of Oregon (Salem, Portland, Eugene, Medford, and Bend)....which are probably about 70-percent 'leaning' Democrat, 20-percent Republican, and 10-percent independent.  The rest of the state?  Probably 60-percent Republican, 20-percent independent, and 20-percent Democrat.

2.  I worked with a guy who grew up there from the mid-1980s to mid-1990s.  His description of the Portland region?  Of every ten people who identified as Democrats....at least two were hard-core communists and favored revolution to cure all ills.  

3.  Of the 36 counties in Oregon who chat over the idea of moving to Idaho.....I would suggest that a minimum of fifteen counties are pretty set on moving at this point.  How the map would look (if successful)?  Around 60-percent of Oregon (mostly the eastern rural region) would move to Idaho.  Oregon that is left....would be about two-thirds the size of Alabama.  

4.  Anyone against the move?  That's the odd part.....you have two groups.  Group one says it'll happen (probably within ten years).  Group two says it's not allowed by the Constitution.  Oddly.....no one is really saying its a terrible idea.

5.  Is it possible that five counties of the SW corner of Oregon....along the coast....might fold the agenda toward them as well?  Those five typically vote 60-percent of the time for Republican presidents.  So it's possible....if this is dragged out and unhindered.....that they would slide over.  The Greater Idaho consumption then?  I'd say near 75-percent of the state....leaving Oregon about one-quarter the size of Alabama.

6.  Unconstitutional.  This debate has not yet been settled, and I suspect the Supreme Court....probably in three to four years....will get the case to consider.

7.  If this does occur (I still give it only a 20-percent chance)....it begs the question....where does this stop?  Would the folks of upstate NY be right to desire a break-off?  Would the folks from eastern Washington state be right to desire to be a part of Greater Idaho?

We might as well admit it....there's probably 20 urbanized areas of the US who either want to be off on their own, or the state itself would prefer they go off on their own (Chicago, SF and Atlanta for example).