Oregon Desires A Split In State Lines

[Iscariot]

PENDLETON, Ore. (AP) — A small group of people from Hood River are interesting in making Eastern Oregon its own state.

Consultant Paul Koch, 69, his partner Ernie DeRocher and DeRocher's wife, Rita Swyers, both 82, are pushing the effort. Koch said people in Eastern Oregon are fed up with how Salem has treated them.

If they got their wish, the stateline would stretch from east of the Cascade Mountains to the Idaho border.

Koch has done consulting and strategic planning work for Milton-Freewater, Baker City, the Umatilla County Special Library District and Blue Mountain Community College.

He said during his travels around Eastern Oregon in recent years, he and his partner heard a steady theme of how the western part of the state gets all the benefits.

"We started asking people, 'Gee, why don't we start our own state?'" Koch said.

Some people dismissed the notion, Koch said, but others were all for it.

Koch has developed idea papers and an action plan on creating the new state, and he, DeRocher and Swyers created a list of about 140 people to contact about the idea.

They say some people laughed it off at first, but their tunes changed when they heard they were serious enough to hold public meetings about adding a new star to the U.S. flag. Then, Koch said, people wanted to attend.

The first meeting is being held soon and the group will give an overview of the reasons why Eastern Oregon should be a separate state, discuss how it might operate and consider what the risks could be.

The U.S. Constitution allows for the creation of a new state from an exiting state with the approval of the state Legislature and the U.S. Congress.

Although Koch has done quite a lot of work on this idea, he admits he doesn't have all of the answers, particularly when it comes to the economy and funding for a new state.

"I honestly don't have a clue," he said. "However, in talking to people about this, we're thinking about using some new techniques, new approaches ... and having a very small, centralized state government and relying on cities and counties to deliver most of the services."

He also said he doesn't know which city would serve as the capital.

http://209.157.64.200/focus/f-news/2007702/posts

heard about this on the news earlier tonight

now obviously the chances of this actually happening are slim to none especially given this bit of the article:

Although Koch has done quite a lot of work on this idea, he admits he doesn't have all of the answers, particularly when it comes to the economy and funding for a new state.

"I honestly don't have a clue," he said. "However, in talking to people about this, we're thinking about using some new techniques, new approaches ... and having a very small, centralized state government and relying on cities and counties to deliver most of the services."

He also said he doesn't know which city would serve as the capital.

it's obvious they're just jumping the gun on an idea they don't have the capacity to see through

BUT what do you think would be the key changes in the oregon state government and the federal government if this were to take place

would it be in any way beneficial as it's supporters believe or would it be generally detrimental to regional legislation and so on

[Vulturous]

51 states

that's ridiculous

[Iscariot]

srsly 51 states just doesn't make sense

[siva_chair]

Then we will have to find another state so we can balance out the Union!

[Amit]

imagine the shitload number of flags we'd have to install the hotfix for

**** that

[Aaron]

"It'll be a cold day in hell before I recognise Missouri"

[Seafroggys]

Yeah, I've lived in Portland my whole life and there's always been talk about this....it ain't gonna happen. Though I'd love to get rid of those Easterners, so we could repeal Measure 36 and 37 and all that dumb **** that they like.

Cascadia is more likely to happen than a state split, and we all know how likely that is.

[BridgeToSolace]

Then we will have to find another state so we can balance out the Union!

Or kick one out.

I vote we give Texas back to mexico.

[Otherside]

I vote we take mexico back from texas

[Iscariot]

Yeah, I've lived in Portland my whole life and there's always been talk about this....it ain't gonna happen. Though I'd love to get rid of those Easterners, so we could repeal Measure 36 and 37 and all that dumb **** that they like.

Cascadia is more likely to happen than a state split, and we all know how likely that is.

well actually the last big earthquake (8.0-9.0) was about 300 years ago and geologists estimate that these big quakes hit western oregon every 300-500 years or so

so at any time in the next 200 years our city could collapse and if we're lucky cascadia will become a reality

[Amit]

wtf is cascadia is that like narnia

*googles*

[Seafroggys]

Its like an independence movement in the Northwest, Oregon, Washington, and BC seceeding from US and Canada to form their own nation. I must say it would probably be the greatest nation in the world, would it happen (which it won't).

If people say that we'd have a paltry military, let me tell you that the national guard has a squadron of F-14's at the Portland Airport, plus we have a major Army base up toward Seattle (Fort Lewis I think).

[PerpetualBurn]

This might be even more pathetic than England's Cornish separatists.

[siva_chair]

Or kick one out.

I vote we give Texas back to mexico.

Well a couple of my friends and I decided we were going to take back the parts of Colorado that were originally ours and then wage a guerrilla war on Missouri.

[dei]

Support California independence. Washington and Oregon, you guys can come too if you like.

[siva_chair]

This might be even more pathetic than England's Cornish separatists.

No because this is America and that was in England so it is automatically less pathetic....:smoke:

[Aaron]

Support California independence. Washington and Oregon, you guys can come too if you like.
I'd love to see the social and economic repercussions of this.

[Superfly]

I declare the independence of the Democratic Republic Of Seattle.

TRY AND STOP ME

[Aaron]

Sealand. lol.

[siva_chair]

I declare the independence of the Democratic Republic Of Seattle.

TRY AND STOP ME

Does that mean Starbucks will become an import for the rest of the country?

If so, you can go ahead and keep your overpriced coffee. :mad:

[dei]

I'd love to see the social and economic repercussions of this.

I heard it would be pretty good for California. Something like we'd be the seventh strongest economy in the world on our own, which I think is pretty sweet. But of course this could be lies.

[Smokey D]

You are. But I don't know if that would continue if California was subjected to the various tariffs and such that the US places on its neighbours.

[McP3000]

Texas is the only state that could live on its own

[Amit]

yeah they would just fuel their economy with incest and gunz

[Smokey D]

Texas is the only state that could live on its own

Lots of independent countries aren't self-sufficient though.

[McP3000]

if you want to get down and dirty, no modern country is self-sufficient but thats not the point

[siva_chair]

I heard it would be pretty good for California. Something like we'd be the seventh strongest economy in the world on our own, which I think is pretty sweet. But of course this could be lies.

Also you would have to remove all the federal aid California. Think of the prison system in California and you see there would be big problems with keeping your head above water.

[DekWannaBFlea]

Comparing this movement to the one in Quebec is about the dumbest thing I have heard in awhile.

[spitfirejunky]

I suppose. Quebec has a very tenuous history with Canada, so it's not some superficial expression of independence.

But I have absolutely no idea what splitting Oregon will achieve.

[DekWannaBFlea]

Nothing. If the people in Oregon think that they aren't being properly represented then they need to elect better state legislators.

[J Rad]

Comparing this movement to the one in Quebec is about the dumbest thing I have heard in awhile.

yeah seriously this is way more important who cares about canada anyway

[DekWannaBFlea]

yeah seriously this is way more important who cares about canada anyway

Uh, I was thinking more along the lines that the Quebec movement is based on cultural divides. While Oregon is based on some unhappy Oregonites who elect bad state representatives.

[J Rad]

let's blame the voters instead of voter education that's a really smart move

[Iskandar]

Where the hell did the Cascadia movement come from, anyway?

[J Rad]

idk tbh i just heard about it for the first time not very long ago

it's a cool idea on paper

[descendents1]

They say some people laughed it off at first, but their tunes changed when they heard they were serious enough to hold public meetings about adding a new star to the U.S. flag. Then, Koch said, people wanted to attend.

Oh no, not public meetings!

[Seafroggys]

Where the hell did the Cascadia movement come from, anyway?

Its pretty old, dating back from Lewis and Clark. The most recent incarnation of the concept is stemmed from the book Ecotopia, which was published in the mid 70s.

[MattSharpIsCool]

Nothing. If the people in Oregon think that they aren't being properly represented then they need to elect better state legislators.

It's not all of Oregon that's talking about doing this, just rural Oregon, which is mainly the eastern part of the state.

And that's their whole complaint. A majority of Oregon's population lives in or around Portland (in the west) which is all pretty liberal in general, while the eastern part of Oregon is very conservative. Since the population in the that part of the state is so small they're unable to elect representatives that reflect their views.

[Seafroggys]

^^^Pretty much. There's 5 US reps in Oregon, one of them covers the entire Eastern side and is (surprisingly) the only Republican, the other 4 are Democrats.

I'd venture to say the majority of the valley. Portland and Eugene especially, the two largest cities are very liberal. Salem and the Portland suburbs to a lesser extent. Though driving down I-5 to Salem, you pass by all those farms with those giant conservative political signs all the time.

[stevensonmat2]

This is great. I never knew there was such dissension amongst the states before. ^_^

[DekWannaBFlea]

Boo hoo, work harder. I live in the most conservative states (kansas) in the entire union. My town is the only Liberal stronghold in Kansas, you don't hear about us talking succeeding or emancipating ourself. This Oregon split idea is silly and nonsensical.

[Dave de Sylvia]

Then we will have to find another state so we can balance out the Union!
Rhode Island is just begging to be annexed tbh

There's a similar sort of situation in Upper Michigan, and it's more apathy than actual lack of support that's holding back any push for autonomy.

[SenorBoyce]

It's like this in Washington too. Everybody west of the cascades are snobbish liberals and everybody east of the cascades are inbred rednecks. Every once in a while somebody gets pissed off and tries to get support for one of the halves succeeding but nobody ever takes them seriously.

[siva_chair]

Boo hoo, work harder. I live in the most conservative states (kansas) in the entire union. My town is the only Liberal stronghold in Kansas, you don't hear about us talking succeeding or emancipating ourself. This Oregon split idea is silly and nonsensical.

You must be in Lawrence.

[Kayetan]

well, this one hasn't worked out yet...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_of_Jefferson

[DekWannaBFlea]

You must be in Lawrence.

Yes, sir. Its kind of funny and depressing to look at a county map of the Presidential election and realize that Douglas county (Lawrence) and Wyandotte county are the only counties in Kansas to go for Dem nominees.

[Futue te Ipsum]

Then we will have to find another state so we can balance out the Union!just get rid of Delaware and the problem is solved

[Jaded]

Also you would have to remove all the federal aid California. Think of the prison system in California and you see there would be big problems with keeping your head above water.

We'd probably just legalize drugs, and sell pot to Nevadans and tourists. The gov't would subsidize cannabis plantations so we'd have less mediocre wineries and cheap weed which means about 80 percent of the population would have a lot more money. It'd ease prison overcrowding, and the financial problems of a lot of stoners.

:thumb:

[siva_chair]

Yes, sir. Its kind of funny and depressing to look at a county map of the Presidential election and realize that Douglas county (Lawrence) and Wyandotte county are the only counties in Kansas to go for Dem nominees.

I disagree, but that is only because I don't like the Democrats. But I don't like the Republicans either so meh.

We have a Democrat for a governor though.

Lawrence is a pretty cool town. Plenty of stuff to do there.