Greater Idaho June 2023

United States Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, was correct last week when he said the Greater Idaho movement probably will never reach a stage where a section of our state is carved out and becomes the responsibility of Idaho.

The grassroots effort to move Idaho’s state boundary to cover large sections of Oregon — including Eastern Oregon — should get kudos for generating interest and sending a signal to Oregon state lawmakers regarding a growing schism between rural and urban sections of the state.

The concept, though, is a huge lift. The legislatures in both Oregon and Idaho would need to approve such a move and then the concept must clear Congress.

Then, of course, there are all the details — such as Oregon’s Public Employee Retirement System — that would have to be worked out if the Gem State did, indeed, suddenly expand and take over a host of Oregon counties.

Yet the Greater Idaho movement isn’t just about moving the Idaho border. The effort is very much about sending a message to Oregon lawmakers that there exists a large gap in culture and perception between certain sections of Oregon. What seems to be fitting and right in one part of Oregon doesn’t fit in another part of the state. There is a definite east-west divide in Oregon, and Merkley admitted as much last week during his visit to La Grande.

He also said that the divide is aggravated by cable TV and social media.

Merkley was right on both counts.

The ability of Americans to be able to discern what is political rhetoric — essentially people regurgitating slogans without actual facts — has diminished over the past few decades and become acute in the past 10 years.

A great deal of time now is spent demonizing political views rather than listening and then seeking solutions.

Divisions are now amplified where only those who shout the loudest are heard.

Merkley also said the divide in Oregon should be addressed by those who are elected to lead the state. Yet, that’s just the trick. Even now, the Oregon Legislature is essentially stuck, after a walkout by Republican senators. The focus remains, it seems, on fighting and neglecting the people’s business rather than working together to seek solutions for all Oregonians.

At some point, though, lawmakers will be forced into a corner by public opinion and will need to address the urban-rural divide. We hope they rise to the challenge.