The Greater Idaho Movement leads to further political polarization in the Pacific Northwest

By Michael Hayes, a student at Oregon City High School

What's the problem?

Arguments at the dinner table, physical altercations, violence, disputes, the collapse of friendships, family relationships, and the distancing from other people are all common in today’s world when it comes to the topic of politics and political opinion. It has been increasingly common among families to distance themselves from friends and other family because of this, and it’s a growing problem in our society today, specifically in the Pacific Northwest. 

Political division itself is an overly broad topic and can branch off into multiple other topics, and takes place all over the country. In the world today, and especially in the United States, political opinion is a sensitive topic to discuss. Families disperse, friendships collapse, and disputes may be constant with any confrontation between two people of different political affiliation.

One popular event in the Pacific Northwest that falls under the topic of political division is the “Greater Idaho Movement,” where the state of Idaho is trying to expand their western border into the state of Oregon. 

Antonio Sierra, a reporter for Oregon Public Broadcasting said in an interview on The Takeaway, Ballot measures in 11 counties in eastern Oregon have passed in hope of a plan that would move the Oregon/Idaho border, and have those counties join Idaho. The Idaho House legislature recently passed a bill that would open the door for talks between Idaho and Oregon to move the border.

Politics can easily get out of hand and can lead to dangerous situations because of how passionate some people can feel about their aligning political party. This leads to divisions among people and geographical border changes. It can also lead to violence and extremism.

Why such a division? 

Many people are for this, and many people are against this. One of the reasons why the “Greater Idaho Movement” is taking place is because republicans are trying to escape Oregon’s legislation. It’s the opposite for individuals against the movement.  

“People actually believe in their side of the issue and aren't just doing it to meet political ends.” Portland State University Political Science Professor Richard Clucas said in an interview, “Politics is the way we solve conflicts.”

Individuals that adhere to the Greater-Idaho Movement believe that Oregon is infringing on their rights and letting hard drugs flourish throughout the state. Regarding rights infringement, recent legislation such as the banning of the sale, production, and manufacturing of illegal firearms are making their round across the media in 2023. 

Oregon is separated into two halves geographically, the eastern part being sparsely populated while the western part being more densely populated.

The bill discussing the borders of Oregon and Idaho that has passed onto its state senate points out that “the Portland metro area is home to approximately 47% of Oregon's voters, while accounting for less than 4% of the state's land mass, according to Antonio Morales, an editorial cartoonist for the Daily Emerald.

Maxwell Black, a student at Oregon City High School said, “Division of political opinion is not a positive outlook. It’s something that’s dividing so many families and breaking apart so many friendships. We need to look at one another beyond the line of who we voted for, but rather as human beings with thoughts, feelings, emotions, and personalities. If this isn't accomplished, we’ll never get anything right in this nation because we’ll all be in constant conflict.” 

Oregon isn’t going to hand over so much land just like that; and if this movement came to pass, Idaho would assume a share of Oregon’s $11 billion dollars in state debt. It would have an impact on the presidential election, Norman Williams, a professor of Constitutional Law at Willamette University College of Law said in an article published by the Oregonian.

Has it always been this excessive? 

Divisions like these aren't a new thing. Divisions like these have been happening for years. For example, adherents to Donald Trump’s movement believed that the 2020 presidential election was stolen, which led to the January 6, 2021, United States Capitol breach, which failed.  

One example of a similar past event was the state of Jefferson. It was a movement by individuals living in Northern California and Southern Oregon, who believed their needs and opinions were being neglected and wanted to form their own state between the two states along the west coast, said Clucas.

Andrew Selsky, an Associated Press reporter, wrote in an article published by AP News, “Democrats are pushing laws concerning guns, more specifically those that raise the legal age to carry firearms and they’re more concerned about people dying to assault weapons. Republicans argue that protecting the right to bear firearms should be a priority.”

Political divisions can very easily get out of hand as it has in the past. These divisions can reform into Political Extremism, and it has long-plagued Oregon with the presence of the Ku Klux Klan in the 1920s. 

Bennett Springer, another student at Oregon City High School said, “A significant event in the past relating to political division would be the Civil War. It was a division between the United States of America and the Confederate States of America about the disagreement of slavery.”

What does this mean for the future?

The founder of That Oregon Life, Tyler James said in an article, “It remains unclear what the future holds for the movement, as the process of changing state boundaries is complex and requires the approval of both state governments and the US Congress.”

Eastern Oregon’s annexation by Idaho would require a 2/3 vote in both states. Oregon’s political scene is vastly made up of the democratic party and Idaho’s political scene is vastly made up of the republican party making this a very polarized movement.

Morales said, “Oregonians need to learn to live in harmony with one another as we can find common ground in our shared environment and experiences. We should not give up on unity.”

Political Division can become a big problem if it isn’t already. We are lucky enough to have ways to fix it and rebuild what is broken. United we stand, but divided we fall. All things can be done whilst united as one, but division is poverty.

Photo by Will Francis on Unsplash