I have been paying attention to the idea of merging eastern Oregon with Idaho. I don’t have no stake in the game just admire the way they are going about it in merger as maybe a hypothetical recipe for other states. I know we have seen the term balkanization, civil war, un-united states etc… This seems like a decent more civil move than the alternatives.
I highly doubt it will happen but I see it less damaging than adding states or seceding as both states would retain their two senators and I was reading about how this started and the people who brought this up talked of capping the house of representatives so that republicans wouldn’t gain seats in the house. Basically at least according to the proposal both states would keep their numbers in the house and Senate unless I am reading this wrong as the representatives from Eastern Oregon would either merge into bigger counties in Idaho or not have house representatives as not to increase the house numbers at the national level. Again maybe I am reading the wrong source but that’s what they were proposing.
Eastern Oregon is more conservative and let’s face it Portland Oregon is about as progressive as you can get. I am sure we could go down the list of states and find similar examples of states voters that feel marginalized both democratic and republican voters that shifting of borders keeps the union in tack yet gives them a chance to feel heard, or at the very least living in a state similar with their values and culture. For instance like D.C. merging with Maryland the possibilities are endless and as I said this looks a lot more civil than all of the secessionists movements and break away movements I have about. It probably won’t happen but I don’t disapprove.
I am under the impression for this to occur it would require a positive vote in each states’ legislature for it to happen. It seems to me that two of those states, Oregon and California, would not vote in favour of this proposal.
Presumably there would be areas in Republican controlled states where Dems would feel some angst over their minority status and vice versa. Would they also be able to move, albeit not physically, to a more compatible state? I am not sure this is a viable proposal.
Why no chance? Oh right, everyone knows, once the left has you in its clutches it will never let you go without blood being spilled. Consent of the governed is a foreign concept to them.
