In rural Colorado: a way of life in peril
Down in southeastern Colorado, the farmland, low buttes and meadows are more than geography. The land is a way of life.
And the Army wants it.
Dick Foster reports:
"People don't understand the tie to the land. People don't realize there are fourth and fifth generation ranchers, and their families homesteaded there," said Otero County Commissioner Kevin Karney, who ranches 16,000 acres south of La Junta."There's ranchers out there who you could offer any amount of money, and they'll say no," he said. "It's not about the money. It's their way of life."
Their way of life is now at risk.
In February the Army confirmed long-standing rumors, announcing that it would acquire another 418,000 acres adjacent to its current 238,000-acre Piñon Canyon Maneuver Site northeast of Trinidad.
Along the fenceline of every road in Otero and Las Animas counties, owners have posted large signs: "This Land NOT 4 SALE to the Army."
The Army considers it acquisition, but the ranchers call it a land grab.
The army is based in Washington. They have no feeling for people who have lived here generations. My grandmothers grave is located on the Timaps unit, as are a number of homesteads. Isn't there anywhere else that the army can play war games?
Posted by David on May 22, 2007 05:31 AMHere's a list of 79 projects in 21 states, including Colorado (Grand, Mesa, Montrose, Morgan, and Otero Counties), that use over $75 million taxpayer dollars.
http://www.fws.gov/endangered/grants/private_stewardship/FY%2007%20PSGP%20Award%20Summaries.pdf (18 pages; 78 KB)
15 of these projects pay The Nature Conservancy to do this:
"The grants are for Land Acquisition and Conservation Efforts on Private Lands."
Private property owners could and would do a far better job of stewarding their own lands if that money stayed in their pockets instead of being "laundered" by "grants" into such "non-profit" coffers.
Bush wanted to move radioactive waste to Nevada. But they said no.
And the waste is piling up east of the mississippi. So...
Betcha Colorado gets to store it .
Just like rocky flats, we get dirt that glows in the dark for years.
The Nature Conservancy is the new Sheriff of Nottingham. Keeping all the goodies for the king. don't let the people who lived there use
it, they might actually cut a tree or leave a footprint. HOWEVER, it;s Ok for our Board Members and BIG contributors to carve out
their own little enclaves on TNC lands.
While Military bases are being closed else where, why despoil another natural area. The Department of Defense already sits on some of the worst toxic messes in the country.
Posted by Larry Hutchins on May 20, 2007 07:54 AMThe Army is used to getting what it wants. They just ignore or walk over anyone that gets in their way. The expansion of the Pinon Canyon Site involves big corporations and special interests that work with the Army.There will be a lot of money flowing into Colorado Springs as they increase their troop numbers . The expansion is just a part of the expansion at Fort Carson at Colorado Springs. This is where three of our elected officals come into play. I am sure that they are working with the Army to see that it gets what it wants. First there is Senator Wayne Allard a puppet of big corporations and special interests. Senator Allard introduced S. 2761 on May 8, 2006 that authorized the Army to acquire land for the expansion of The Pinon Canyon Maneuver Site. Senator Ken Salazar was a co-sponsor. One last favor to the Army and their corporate buddies. Why should Senator Allard care if he sells out a few people in Southeast Colo? He is not running for re-election. Senator Allard by himself introduced S. 135 0n Jan. 4, 2007 which is much the same as S. 2761. The next official to sell us out is Senator Ken Salazar. He hasn't had the time yet to develop the corporate and special interest ties that Senator Allard has. He is getting there fast though. He needs votes and campaign money for his re-election. Where is that at? Colorado Springs and the big companies that work with the Army. So it is easy to see why he would sell out the people in Southeastern Colorado . More money, more votes in the Colorado Springs area. The third official to sell us out is Congressman Mark Udall a man who purports to care about the enviroment. He wants name recognition for his run in the next Senate race. Never mind if the Army acquires 416000 more acres of land in Sotheast Colorado to destroy training their troops on. Votes are more important than the enviroment. These bills sponsored by the above congressmen all have conditions attached and they mean nothing. They are there to make the public think that they care about the people in Southeast Colorado. What a lie. They approved of the expansion with the bills they introduced. They could stop it by opposing the expansion. It is not too late. Somehow I don't think the people in the area of proposed expansion are going to count for much to these three people that are in the process of selling us out.
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The war on terror is Bush's distraction for Americans while he institutes his program of globalization and the destruction of America. The UN and Bush's power broker handlers need a paramilitary to eliminate any objections from our citizens as this moves ahead. I didn't think it was possible, but I despise the Bushes as much as I do the Clintons, John Kerry and Al Gore. In fact, I don't think there are more than 10 people in congress with integrity.
Posted by montana on May 19, 2007 02:01 PMHolier Than Thou............
Yup, I voted for Bushie. That was then and this is now. I've come to the conclusion that GW is starting to think like King George III and wants to leave some sort of legacy, but he's totally confused. The spooks have led him astray, his VP used him like ass wipe and the Congress is diddling him out the door. On the other hand the democrats have a bunch of power mad folks like Kennedy, Pelosi, Schumer and a raft of crooks just waiting to take over. This bunch in Washington is as crooked as any before. The Army taking over property is no different than before. Let me cite the Mexican American War. A set-up job if there ever was one. Manifest destiny blows everyone away with the arrogance of that! I won't go any further. The bottom line is how far are the citizens of this country going to bend before they break? I say apathy has set in and they just need someone to throw dirt on them to finish the job. My generation is on its way out the door and our kids, the next generation, is a bunch of wimps. Hey, to get blown-up for a useless college education doesn't require many marbles in the bag. If you know what I mean.
Posted by on May 19, 2007 01:40 PMYou voted for George W Bush.
You voted for Wayne Allard and Doug Lamborn to rubber-stamp the fascist Bush agenda. And you voted for other Republicans because they called themselves more conservative than the other guy.
Now you're complaining when they come to take your land and rob you of your heritage? Welcome to the club!
How many lies about weapons of mass destruction and threats to your freedom must you approve? When are you going to wake up and realize that the real threat to your freedom is your own ignorance and stupidity?
Bush is your fuhrer. He controls what the army does. The Nature Conservancy is a ruse because they won't show up at your house with a tank to blow you, your family, and your livestock to smithereens. The army will do that, and they will do it under the orders of the same fascists that you foolishly empowered to rob you because you were afraid of shadows and dust on the other side of the globe.
Posted by Holier Than Thou on May 19, 2007 09:59 AMTrain for National Security? My ass! When did the rest of the US look like SE Colorado? There is not one place in that area that looks like a US Port of Entry. Everyone seems to focus on the US /Mexican border. What about Florida? New York City? Los Angeles? Canada? The East Coast? The West Coast? I resent being spoken to like a kid by the government.
In all reality it may well be for an internment camp just like the good old days of WWII when the Japanese were put in camps. Then there is also the camps for the German POW's in Nebraska. They used to be allowed to help the neighboring farmers. Ya, those German boys came off of farms and knew what to do. Most Americans are in the cities and completely useless. Yup, those rascally American dissenters will get the old heave ho' by the government. Just a tad better than the way the Chinese deal with their dissenters. That will keep the rest of the sheep under control. You betcha'.
The Army seems to have the open terrain warfare under control. It is the urban guerilla type warfare where they are having problems. Instead of taking all this open country they should take urban areas from private citizens in San Francisco or New York.
Posted by on May 19, 2007 07:33 AMLooking back you should have seen this coming. The government has become too large and now it will eat you. Jefferson wanted a small government and an agrarian society while Hamilton wanted a large government controlling American society. Greed and the Industrial Revolution has created too much wealth, too many mouths to feed and more on the way. I'll bet the Native Americans are laughing their collective asses off.
I think the taking of property by any government entity is a great reason for another Civil War. But I don't think anyone will act because this country has gone over the edge and is slipping quickly into the slime like every other Third World country. You voted for the bastards, now you get to live with them.
As for me? When Texas succeeds from the Union I'll be going there.
In discussions with the Army, they have always pointed out that they need the expansion to train for our National Security.
When confronted with the 2.8 millions acres they already own, the fact that the U.S Trained for WWII with a little less than 1 million acres, They just stare, and hope someone changes the subject.
It's NOT about supporting the troops, I'm a SE Colorado Rural Native, and I served 3 tours in Vietnam. My Dad and Uncle were in WWII, My Grandfather served in WWI,
SOme of the loudest objectors are veterans, who served their country, and now have to fight the Army just to keep what they fought for. Well, it's clear.... They fought for it once, what makes the Army think that they won't fight for it again.
Well, they are,. And they will continue to do so.
Being raised on a farm, I understand what the ranchers are going through. What everyone needs to consider is, this is a result of the “peace dividend” our politicians gave us after the end of the Cold War. With all of the base closings and realignments, what are the alternatives? Do we send our young men and women into war unprepared and allow them to suffer high mortality rates or do we get them the facilities to train?
When we the voters of this country allow our representatives to barter away long term security for short term gain, how can we blame the government? We must blame ourselves for voting for those like Patty Schroeder who brought us the "peace dividend”.
I met Kimmie Lewis about eight months ago and respected her grit and gumption from the git-go. When the time comes, and it will come, I will stand shoulder to shoulder with this lady.
Posted by Joe Delk on May 18, 2007 11:26 PMLand that belongs to the People should be sole possession of the People. The Gov't should honor that. Taking land and displacing the land owners is a disgrace and one reason why America is dying as a World Leader.
Posted by Fred on May 18, 2007 10:16 PMThe sad thing about the military wanting to take control of the land is that the majority of the America’s population lives in urban USA. The average American truly can not comprehend what rural life is all about. They are too caught up with the hustle and bustle of there every day life. We live in the best country in the world and we are watching it slowly slip away right before our eyes. Most Americans don’t realize that less than a century ago our country was 98% agriculture based and 2% urban. Today it is completely the opposite. If we loose track of our roots and our culture we will surly loose track of the very way of life that grew this country to where it is today.
The expansion of Piñon Canyon Maneuver Site is simply the result of greed. It’s the very sickness that will cause this country to fall. Big government and the lack of the American publics involvement, is to blame for the greed of our need for the expansion. It is also to blame for our over-involvement in “American Interests abroad.” One day this wonderful and powerful country we live in will no longer be the country it once was. Our ancestors worked hard to build this country and today we are watching it crumble right before our eyes.
I pray for our leaders and the Americans that place them in those leadership positions. It is up to you and I to determine the fate of the Ranchers and Farmers of Southeastern Colorado and the other areas that are being lost to government greed. The American people have choice to make a difference in our country and I hope they make the right one. American lively hoods depend on it.
With one son serving in the Army, and another joining the U.S. Military this summer, I'm a staunch supporter of our troops. That said, as a native of southeast Colorado, I think it is a massive mistake for the Army to try and acquire private ranch land that has been owned by private farmers and ranchers for the last few centuries. Our congress and military leaders have complete lost touch with reality, and with the American people whom they are supposed to serve.
Posted by Ed on May 18, 2007 06:49 PMMuddy Valley Ranch is home to so much more than cattle. It is home to a family of generational land stewards whose responsible exercise of private property rights has provided not only for the family itself, but for people all over Colorado and beyond. The lands belonging to Muddy Valley Ranch and other ranchers, over which The Nature Conservancy and its partner, the Army, lust, hold treasures that belong in ownership that keeps access and actually DOES provide that will-o'-the-wisp "buffer" against development that is the carrot held out to the public as an excuse for an insatiable appetite for land, water and resource control.
It's not about helping America's military.
It's simply about GangGreed. If you're curious about who fits this nickname, do a bit of searching using "Nature Conservancy" "Army" and "acquisition" on the Internet. Make your search specific to ".mil" and prepare to learn a lot more about the real GangGreed. TNC and its partners aren't the plant/animal lovers they purport to be.
What is loved is Control and Closed To All Access in the form of chains, padlocks and gates.
Does this sound like something you want in your back yard? If the answer is no, consider that your tacit acceptance of these "buffer" land acquisition plans amounts to forcing exactly this on your rural neighbors in this special part of Colorado.
The good folks at Muddy Valley Ranch aren't condoning such actions in your neighborhood. You have no right to condone such actions in their neighborhood!
Keep these rural counties rural and thank the good folks living and working and providing food for you there. Tell TNC and the Army to take a hike: on lands they already control.
Posted by Julie Kay Smithson on May 18, 2007 06:45 PMMuddy Valley Ranch is home to so much more than cattle. It is home to a family of generational land stewards whose responsible exercise of private property rights has provided not only for the family itself, but for people all over Colorado and beyond. The lands belonging to Muddy Valley Ranch and other ranchers, over which The Nature Conservancy and its partner, the Army, lust, hold treasures that belong in ownership that keeps access and actually DOES provide that will-o'-the-wisp "buffer" against development that is the carrot held out to the public as an excuse for an insatiable appetite for land, water and resource control.
It's not about helping America's military.
It's simply about GangGreed. If you're curious about who fits this nickname, do a bit of searching using "Nature Conservancy" "Army" and "acquisition" on the Internet. Make your search specific to ".mil" and prepare to learn a lot more about the real GangGreed. TNC and its partners aren't the plant/animal lovers they purport to be.
What is loved is Control and Closed To All Access in the form of chains, padlocks and gates.
Does this sound like something you want in your back yard? If the answer is no, consider that your tacit acceptance of these "buffer" land acquisition plans amounts to forcing exactly this on your rural neighbors in this special part of Colorado.
The good folks at Muddy Valley Ranch aren't condoning such actions in your neighborhood. You have no right to condone such actions in their neighborhood!
Keep these rural counties rural and thank the good folks living and working and providing food for you there. Tell TNC and the Army to take a hike: on lands they already control.
Posted by Julie Kay Smithson, property rights researcher near London, Ohio on May 18, 2007 06:43 PMIt is imperative for people to stand up to the Army until and if the Army can make a good case for taking the land away from the ranchers. If the Army can't make a persuasive case to the ranchers, then they shouldn't be thinking about taking the land.
Posted by King of the Cowboys on May 18, 2007 06:05 PMI here the land in the 9th ward in NO is for sale cheap.
Posted by Hogar De Vuelta (العودة) on May 18, 2007 04:09 PMWhat people gotta realize is, if you say no to the Army, then you're an anti-patriotic liberal Taliban-loving baby killing terrorist.
If you say no to letting the Army buy your land, then babies will be aborted, gays will marry, soldiers will die and the terrorists will win.
If you think setting a timetable for withdrawal as a prerequisite for a funding bill is un-American, what would you call not letting the Army take your land away??
Posted by DubyaDubyaDubyaDotStupidDotGov on May 18, 2007 03:27 PM