I (22M) have lived in Idaho since I was 5. I recently married and my wife (22F) is about to graduated with her bachelors. I also graduated last semester with my bachelors in History. We both want a career and a family and do not think that Idaho is a conducive environment for either.
I used to be proud to call myself an Idahoan. I will consider myself an Idahoan for the rest of my life. But now, when peple ask where im from, I have to look down and sigh. I am afraid to have a kid in Idaho. The risks that come with pregnancy are worse now that Idaho has changed its laws regarding abortion. I do not feel I would be finncially able to raise my kid. I fear their education would be subpar. And the general lack of access to healthcare worries me and my wife. Kids can get sick really easily.
Heres some statistics:
48% of idahoans are pro-choice
49% of us support gay marriage
75% support medicaid and 68% believe it should be expanded
83% support legalization of medical marijuana
All of these are majority opinions held by idahoans.
The top issues for Idahoans are Housing, followed by education, and then tax relief. Only 35% of Idahoans say they are doing fine financially. 43% say they are just getting by. 20% say their financial situation is difficult. 53% of idahoans believe that if ICE increased it's presence in Idaho, that it would hurt our agricultural economy.
All of these opinions are popular, and yet we are stuck with the senile leadership we have now.
I do not want to move, yet I feel as if I have been forced to. I am moving to Spokane Valley so that I can still be close to Idaho.
I loathe when people say, "well, if you dont like Idaho, then just leave! We dont want you here!"
These people will never know what its like to have a home. To have a family. To have a community. They do not love Idaho like we love Idaho. They see Idaho as a means to an end, we see Idaho as our equal, our partner, our home and our land.
These people left their states and settled in ours thinking they could take it over. And they are. I love Idaho. I love the people here. I love the nature, I love being out and about in the trees. I feel a strong sense of connection to the land that I dont think I could have anywhere else. I have loved and lost and grew up in the same place practically my entire life.
And now I have to leave.