The sorry state of government in Oregon makes me angry. I've already said, here and elsewhere, Portland, let's secede from Oregon. But that's not going to happen. So now what?

Another instinct is a symbolic tax protest. You know, have everyone hold back, say, $25 from their state income tax and send it to the Portland School Board or the County Mental Health program.

That's a really bad idea. I have the world's greatest job, and if I willfully screw around with my own taxes, I'll lose it. Tax protest: not cool.

But I do think some sort of loud consumer boycott by Portlanders of the regions of the state where the bad legislators live is worth trying. Let's see, the state senators from Hillsboro, John Day, Klamath Falls are behaving like bad boys? Let's not do business with companies in their districts. Folks from places like Hood River and Ashland would be particularly disturbed, I think, by a group in Portland telling folks not to vacation there. Perhaps then the hardness of their positions in Salem would soften a bit.

Who's going to lead the charge? I can't, at least not based on what I know now. I probably couldn't name half the 30 state senators or 10 of the 60 (I think it's 60) state representatives. Indeed, I've deliberately closed my eyes and ignored what goes on in Salem. It's too ugly. But it's clear that the problems there are starting to impact my daily life. So it's time for Civics 101. I'll share what I find here.

Perhaps in the end, the best tactic for the rural vs. urban battle in Oregon is a peaceful one. We've got to know our enemy better, and figure out ways to make him like us more. Portland should probably treat the rest of the state like a needy country that has a resource which we need. (That resource being a fair shake in Salem.) There may be some untested ways to build bridges, and somebody ought to be trying to dream them up.

But first we need to get their attention. And a consumer boycott sounds like a good way. Don't vacation in [fill in the blank]!

The other main thrust has got to be the Portland suburbs. Measure 28 was killed off in places like Oregon City and Tigard. Folks in these cities just don't get it. They need to. And on this front, there's no excuse. Portland needs to work on the minds and hearts of its near neighbors.

People are dying out there. Let's stop sitting around whining and start working.