The 51st State: The State Of Jefferson

A dozen counties in southern Oregon and northern California have been poking around with an idea since the early 1940's, but it's now gaining some serious traction:

Whereas: the government in Salem is completely nuts, and

Whereas, the government is Sacramento is completely nuts,

Therefore, we resolve to remove both from the equations that have hitherto dominated our lives and our prosperity.

We, the citizens of this new State, declare our freedom and sovereignty as citizens of the State of Jefferson.

That's right: talk of secession is building on both sides of the Oregon/California border, and it can be done (though they'd need approval of both states and the feds as well).  It's apt to be a tough sell, but with overwhelming approval from the residents of affected counties, it stands to send one really strong message to Salem, to Sacramento, and to Washington.

Bergeron's first goal is to gather 1,200 signatures in Siskiyou County to put an advisory secession initiative on the county ballot in 2009. At the same time, he is urging the 51 Grange Halls in Jefferson territory, and those on the mailing list of www.jeffersonstate.com, to gear up for collecting 1 million signatures to take the advisory measure statewide.

If nothing else, the new effort may shake things up.  And if it works out, it guides a blueprint for establishing a 52nd state, as well.  In Oregon, everything in the Willamette Valley should be its own state.  Everything east and - for the most part - west should be another state.  The divisions already are there, so we should simply formalize them.  We can call the Valley "Portlandia".  It can be the 52nd state.  Everything else, aside from Jefferson, can be called what it is: Oregon.

 

Comments

[OregonGuy]

First, I offer you "Typee", by Melville. There is, and has historically been, an impulse to evangelism in America. I refer to these people as "nosey-parkers". Parking their noses in other people's business. It is a part and parcel of being an American.

Second, you and I both know that this won't happen. Ever. Why? I refer to my first comment. There's no way the urbanites would ever allow one section of the state to have economic freedom. No judge would ever allow it to occur. No Court of Appeals would ever allow it to occur. And I'm not sure that the federal courts would be at all ameniable to the notion of secession, given our nation's history.

Why is my first point my first point? Because the impulse to power is the power to tell others what they may, or may not, do.

The evangelical impulse is held at both what is referred to as the "Left" and the "Right". On the Left, reference to God has been expunged, but is still as noxious. On the Right, reference to God is still proffered, but unabashadedly so. (I have previously commented that the natural impulse of the religious Right and the evangelical Left are natural allies. It has been the proscription against "establishment" that has allowed the Left to accept billions of government dollars to propagandise their beliefs (since God isn't mentioned) while religious (centered upon a belief in God) propaganda has only the tax exemption offered holders of land.

Watching tonight's debate I'm led to the conclusion that Senator Obama will win this election. This election isn't about freedom, or personal rights. It's about "Change!" And we're about to step into the greatest increase in state power that we, as American citizens, have ever experienced.

Just getting out of Oregon isn't, or wouldn't be, enough.

Now, on the brighter side, remember...we lived through four years of Jimmy. The big difference? The billions of dollars that "the other side" receives from the federal government. Call them community organizers. Call them "education campaigns". Bottom line is, we, the tax-paying, wealth increasing minority, are, and will increasingly be, the source of funding for these organizations and campaigns, against our will.

Listening to Senator McCain tonight, I realized that he has absolutely no idea what it means to be a Republican. He didn't fib when he told you that the economy wasn't his strong point. Hell, has he ever made two bucks?

Hang on, Maxter! We're going on one hellavu ride!
.

[Max]

If nothing else, the new effort may shake things up.

It's apt to be a tough sell, but with overwhelming approval from the residents of affected counties, it stands to send one really strong message to Salem, to Sacramento, and to Washington.

I'm not saying that it has a chance of success, OG, just that it makes a strong statement. That's better than the status quo.

It's time that people started taking some action. And nothing says "action" like "secession". Whether it works or not is irrelevant. It's already starting to garner attention in the mainstream press.

That's a good thing.

On the debate: McCain didn't hit his stride until it turned to foreign policy and later subjects. It looked to me like another tie between Obambi and McCain. Neither impressed.

I did, however, find it amusing that Obambi criticized McCain's long career in politics - because his veep running-mate has a longer history in that rarified field than does McCain.

[Patrick Joubert Conlon]

Oregon Guy's comment was a nice surprise - and I couldn't agree more.

I've had a link to that "Jefferson" site on my sidebar forever. Of course it won't happen but we can dream.

[eddie]

No... please... don't leave us! The three of us conservatives in Portland have nothing going for us except the fact that much of the rest of the state is sane.

[cc]

That sort of "choice" is far too threatening - without serfs, how will the lords eat?

[Bobkat49]

I used to listen to the Jefferson Exchange on the radio every day but after a couple of years I gave up. When I started Jeff Golden was the host and he was your garden variety Liberal willing to listen to descent but basically tie-dyed in the wool. Things improved when he quit to run for state senator and was replaced by James Adams who was from England and had tremendous knowledge in many different areas but he soon quit probably because he couldn't cope with all the attacks by the local "Jefferson" callers. These "rebels" are anything but. They talk about freedoms and the evil government but support the Democratic big government all the way. Like just about everywhere, the local conservatives have been pushed out by the hoards of liberals fleeing the "Liberal Utopia" mess they made of Southern Cal.