Plan for statehood forging ahead
Second of two parts.
If you are reading this, no one has been arrested for secession yet, so let’s proceed with our plan for North Idaho statehood. Recall that last week I argued for the 10 northern-most counties to be split off to form the state of North Idaho due to a lack of representation of our area in Congress, and a lack of interest either for or from Boise.
So far, the idea seems sound. However, I’m in a quandary. This is a political process, so expecting it to be logical or practical seems counterintuitive. Some have, in fact, argued that a lack of congressional representation is probably not a bad thing. There’s less to be embarrassed about.
Some have even suggested that an alliance with British Columbia and Alberta, perhaps forming a new country, would be in the region’s overall best interest. But let’s continue with the idea of statehood, at least for now.
By the way, I was reminded that immigration policy is a federal government prerogative, despite what you may see happening in Arizona and New Mexico. So the issuing of green cards to stem the flow of Californians into North Idaho won’t work. Perhaps another argument for a whole new country.
Next, it seems, we’ll need a state capital, wherein to build our state capitol. I had at first considered both St. Maries and Bonners Ferry as likely candidates due to their relative remoteness. The more out of sight, the better, I’d say.
But then I remembered that Lewiston had been wrongfully stripped of the capital title by Boise back in 1864, so Lewiston should have first claim. Perhaps they could renovate an unused grain elevator for the capitol. If a more central location was desired, perhaps an abandoned barn at Tensed would work.
Next we’ll need a constitution but I’m not so sure we should begin the uncertain process of representative government. Why not stick with what we know works and simply name a dictator to run North Idaho. There are several candidates who I know would have our best interests always at heart.
How to choose, however, between Duane Hagadone and Marshall Chesrown? Perhaps there would be a good compromise candidate among the new crop of golf-course developers that have been sprouting up all over northern North Idaho lately.
A dictator would be more practical in many ways. It would be a lot more efficient if lobbyists had only one office to attend to. Also a lot of money could be saved by doing away with city and county planning commissions. The money saved might even be used to decrease taxes. No – silly idea. But at least our tax money would be wasted here rather than down in Boise.
Even more importantly, well need new symbols of our state. Let Idaho keep the mountain bluebird for their state bird. It’s a beautiful bird, but it flits in and out of the state, always leaving just as the weather gets bad. That’s not very good symbolism, but I guess that it does fit an ever-increasing segment of our North Idaho population.
So, perhaps snowbird should be our state bird. Even more appropriate, I think, is a bird that spends the whole year here, no matter how severe the winter or how many tourists it must share its summer breeding grounds – the lake – with. It’s the well-named red-necked grebe.
State flags are a tricky issue. Most that I have seen, including that for Idaho, have long since outlived their symbolism. Idaho’s flag has the Great Seal of the State of Idaho on a blue field and the title State of Idaho beneath. Its logo isn’t even in English, Spanish or French. Oregon and Montana both have blue fields and Washington has green.
Other states have various designs representing their unique symbolism. California has a white flag with an extinct bear. Wyoming has a blue field bordered with red and a domesticated bison. There are lots of eagles and lots of state seals similar to Idaho. Alabama and Florida have a large red X, Arizona and Texas have one star; Tennessee has three stars. New Mexico has a bright, uncluttered design. None of these seem right for us.
I’d suggest a flag with a bright blue lower half, to represent the lakes of North Idaho; a white upper half, to represent the snows of North Idaho; and the Great Seal of the State of North Idaho in the middle, a diagram of the floating green of the Coeur d’Alene Resort golf course. Or as an aid to the salmon fishery of the Columbia River, we could adopt the sea lions that are proposed to be killed at Bonneville Dam, put them in our lakes and declare them our great seals.
Have I made a convincing case for statehood? Do I have your support? Shall we declare our independence from Boise? Join me as we forge ahead, finding our dictator and celebrating our grebes. In the meantime, I’ll start checking with British Columbia.