With the launch of the new radio/online show “Think Out Loud,” Oregon Public Broadcasting is proving they’re not just a Portland-based radio and television station. OPB truly is a statewide entity, making an effort to give all Oregonians a voice.

The show debuted this past Tuesday – the topic of the inaugural program was “Who are your new neighbors?” Host Emily Harris, with a panel of three guests, led a wide-ranging discussion about Oregon’s predicted population growth of one million people by 2025. We were delighted to hear longtime Union County Commissioner Steve McClure’s voice discussing the lack of population growth and the aging of the population in his and other Eastern Oregon counties.

By inviting McClure, OPB highlighted the fact Eastern Oregon and western Oregon will be impacted by the mobility of the American populace in very different ways.

McClure pointed out Union County experienced very little growth – less than half of one percent – in the 1990s. The countywide population hovers around the 25,000 mark despite economic development efforts and one of the lowest unemployment rates in Oregon.

He also voiced his concern about maintaining strong schools – “the heart and soul of those small communities out there” – and a viable economy in Union County when newcomers are not necessarily interested in these issues.

There can be conflict when those who move to rural Oregon for the lifestyle aren’t able to enjoy the same level of services they are accustomed to, McClure said.

Tuesday’s program also touched on the question, “What does it mean to be an Oregonian?”

McClure gave a terrific response: “To me, an Oregonian is someone who tends to be very independent-minded, thinks for themselves, has a very definite view of the world … sometimes it’s conflicted … but Oregonians take a great deal of pride about where they’re at and they take a great deal of pride in their progressive nature about being leaders about things. Being an Oregonian is a bit complicated sometimes.”

Thanks, Oregon Public Broadcasting, for a fine new program – and for reaching across the Cascades to Eastern Oregon and making the effort to include us in discussions that will influence how we go forward as a state.

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“Think Out Loud” can be heard every weekday morning from 9-10 a.m. and repeats each evening from 9-10 p.m. on 90.9 FM in Umatilla County or you can listen over the Internet anytime by going to www.opb.org/thinkoutloud. Thursday’s topic was “The End of Timber Payments?”

The program is not limited to an hour of radio time each day. It has a strong online component as well – listeners can participate by asking question of the hosts and guests via e-mail and also share their views in ongoing online discussion forums on each topic.

Another way to participate is to sign up to be part of OPB’s Public Insight Network. First, you let OPB know your areas of expertise and insight. Then, when OPB plans to address these issues, they’ll ask you to share your knowledge on the topic.