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Is this idea not a silly one? Secession from the state or the union is not legal, by virtue of the constitution, Supreme Court Decisions and executive action.

The perception of rural Oregonians that they are not listened to is misplaced. Until recently the state legislature was dominated by rural interests. Conservative voter concerns define the political paradigm of the state. Progressive urbanites may be pushing the limits toward a more "liberal" understanding, but populist conservatives have controlled the agenda for thirty years.

So far none of the "Easterners" have presented a cogent, much less convincing argument that there is any reason from them to feel under represented, except the reactionary conservatism typical of groups who are being by-passed by time. The world, in its entirety is moving away from resource extraction and agriculture to tech manufacturing or services. The economics of living wage jobs, at least from the perspective of corporations only works if the wage we are talking about is in Mexico: Pendleton Woolen Mills for instance. There is really nothing the West side has done that leads to this, it is in fact the direct result of a national political leadership dedicated to free-trade.

Some of the other issues: limitations on logging, irrigation etc. are similarly not the result of urban west side voters, it the result of federal intervention which the state has at times worked with and against.

The children of the east side will migrate to the cities, not because rural living is backward or stupid, but because the jobs are located on the west side. Not because the west voted to keep those jobs on this side, but because the quality of life issues employers consider when locating a facility find that the east side simply does not meet their needs. We are however expanding outward, Hood River is as much an extension of Portland as Tualitan. Bend and Roseburg are changing in the same way; less resource extration jobs that require minimal education to manufacturing and services that require specialized work force training.

posted 5 years ago
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