• Front page
• Receive this content on your RSS reader

The Rocky’s July 13 editorial bemoaning Army expansion in Piñon Canyon is misguided and wrongheaded both for Colorado and for its future (“The senators’ chance”).

Regardless of the fact that expansion would bring $500 million in construction spending and 8,000 new jobs to southern Colorado, the Rocky and local residents are willing to forgo the economic benefits to keep their land and maintain their “way of life.”
On its face, this has great emotional appeal. But there are other, equally compelling facts that responsible elected officials and community leaders must consider. Not only are there other “ways of life” at stake — there are lives at stake.

Setting aside for the moment the lost economic benefit and the very real long-run danger of losing Fort Carson and consequent benefits for our state, the Army’s new force structure and combat doctrine require nearly double the training acreage of the Cold War force.

Without the necessary training ground, our soldiers will go into battle with less of an edge, putting their lives in greater danger.

These are the lives at stake. Proper military training for our troops translates directly to their security and ours as well.

The Army has repeatedly stated that it will only use eminent domain as a last resort.
It will first deal with willing sellers, who themselves obviously have a right to sell their property.
Even so, eminent domain may be used to purchase land, at a fair and reasonable price, for a public purpose.

The Army is not proposing to take land to distribute to another private interest or simply to provide some economic benefit. The Army is not in that business. Its business is national security.

Even so, some our state’s leaders remain unconvinced of the Army’s needs and believe that the maintenance of a way of life trumps the Army’s judgments on national defense.

What then about other areas in Colorado that will suffer the consequences of this decision?
The ranchers, and others, have argued that the only area to benefit from this expansion is Colorado Springs, as Fort Carson creates 21,500 jobs there. These are not simply Colorado Springs jobs. They are Colorado jobs.

Without them, our economy would lose sales of $2 billion each year along with $200 million in tax revenue. Is it really a responsible decision to place that many jobs and their related economic impact at stake?

All Coloradans’ education, transportation and health care will suffer. Whether you live in Denver, Boulder, Ft. Collins or on the Western Slope, your quality and way of life are at stake. $500 million in construction spending and 8,000 new jobs will absolutely improve the economic health of our state.

On the other hand, if the expansion does not move forward, the potential loss of our largest military installation would be devastating.

At the very least, Sens. Wayne Allard and Ken Salazar should support funding for the Army to move forward with its environmental impact studies.

Furthermore, we should assure that residents of southeastern Colorado are fairly compensated and that the federal government does whatever is necessary to alleviate the impacts on their communities.

Our leaders would be remiss to let emotion rule the day and turn their backs on the larger impacts for all Coloradans’ way of life, as well as the lives of our soldiers who protect it.

Bob Gardner, a Colorado Springs Republican, represents House District 21 in the Colorado General Assembly.

READER COMMENTS

While I respect the opinion of the Represenative, I feel he's over exaggerating one point: that this affects all Coloradans. I am a resident of one of the citys he mentioned, Boulder, and I feel that this issue (at least on an economic basis) is not NEARLY as important as he makes it seem. The "education, transportation, and healthcare" in Boulder, like in all counties in the state, is paid for primaraly by the residents of thier respective county. It was my taxes that paid for renovations to Boulder schools, not Colorado Springs or Denver or Fort Collins taxes. It was my taxes that paid for road repairs from last winter in Boulder. What goes on in your fair city, Mr. Gardner, has very little to do with my day to day life.

With that knowlage, I would suggest concentraiting on getting support from your own consituants, insted of appealing to the rest of Colorado for backup.

(Oh, and yes, I do have to add my typical Boulder liberal slant: The expansion of the military only serves to weaken the more important things, like "education, transportation, and healthcare". This expansion would only bring a benifit for a limited time, to a limited area, and a limited types of people)

THE WEALTH OF COLORADO SPRINGS MEANS NOTHING TO ME-THE HEALTH OF MY BUSINESS AND EVERY OTHER BUSINESS MEANS EVERYTHING.JUST SO A FLAT BUTTED OLD DESK JOCKEY GENERAL CAN SAY HE HAS THE LARGEST POST IN THE WORLD .CAN THAT FOOL AND THIS BAD IDEA WILL DIE.I HAVE SEEN FIRST HAND WHAT IMMENENT DOMAIN DOES-THE BIRD REFUGE IN MONTE VISTA RUINED OUR RANCH AND THE ECONOMY.THE SAME HAPPENED IN MAXWELL,NM. FOR THAT REFUGE .REAL GREAT ECONOMY THERE DOWN TO A C-STORE AND A BAR.THESE FOLKS LIE WHEN THEY OPEN THEIR MOUTHS EVERY TIME.THIS EXPANSION IS NOT NEEDED AND WILL KILL SE COLORADO

THE WEALTH OF COLORADO SPRINGS MEANS NOTHING TO ME-THE HEALTH OF MY BUSINESS AND EVERY OTHER BUSINESS MEANS EVERYTHING.JUST SO A FLAT BUTTED OLD DESK JOCKEY GENERAL CAN SAY HE HAS THE LARGEST POST IN THE WORLD .CAN THAT FOOL AND THIS BAD IDEA WILL DIE.I HAVE SEEN FIRST HAND WHAT IMMENENT DOMAIN DOES-THE BIRD REFUGE IN MONTE VISTA RUINED OUR RANCH AND THE ECONOMY.THE SAME HAPPENED IN MAXWELL,NM. FOR THAT REFUGE .REAL GREAT ECONOMY THERE DOWN TO A C-STORE AND A BAR.THESE FOLKS LIE WHEN THEY OPEN THEIR MOUTHS EVERY TIME.THIS EXPANSION IS NOT NEEDED AND WILL KILL SE COLORADO

Rep. Bob Gardner is a responsible and responsive representative to his constituency (Colorado Springs). I respect him for his work, but I believe him to be wrong in his stance about the expansion of the Pinon Canyon Maneuver Site (PCMS) in Southeastern Colorado.

In his recent editorial he seems to be saying, “The needs of the many far out weigh the needs of the few.” This is the seminal statement of Communism (and other totalitarian systems). This will chip away at the foundation of the American system of government.

The individual and individual freedoms are strengths of our system. To jerk a Coloradoan’s chosen life away from them for the perceived needs of a totalitarian ideal is not American. America is a platform from which Americans can stand. The government should not stand on the labored and broken backs of her people. It is a government of, for, and by the people. It should guarantee the rights of the individual.

The original PCMS between Trinidad and La Junta has brought little or no economic benefit to the local communities of Southeastern Colorado. The troupes don’t buy gas, pop, or candy bars in our communities, and don’t shop in our stores. They don’t stay in our hotels and motels, or live in our communities. Because of the lack of density of population (something we like) very few tax dollars come to the region.

Rep. Gardner suggests that the Federal government do “whatever is necessary to alleviate the impacts on their communities.” In a free market system is he asking our government to prop up what it destroys? Will the ranchers get cattle allotments, paying them not to raise, or sometimes raise, cattle? This idea sounds like more spend and debt philosophy from the current administration.

The U.S. military is one of the largest landholders in America. Are we really being told that they need more land…and that America needs more military-debt? I struggle to believe that there is no land on Texas, New Mexico, Utah, or Nevada military or government reservations that is not suitable for the proposed training purposes. Troupes and equipment are moved by railroad, anyway. They could still use Ft. Carson as home base, and rail them a bit further.

One concern of some local residents was the focus of the military mission as a whole. We win the big battles with big weapons. We can’t seem to quell the urban warfare, though. Perhaps Ft. Carson should stay closer to home and condemn, by eminent domain, South Nevada Avenue, in Colorado Springs. Of course I am not serious, but if that were the military’s plan would Rep. Gardner back the good people of C. Sprgs. or the military?

The lives of a free and unencumbered populace make America worth fighting for. “These are not simply Colorado Springs jobs. They are Colorado jobs.” I would answer by saying these people aren’t simply farmers and ranchers in Southeastern Colorado. They are patriotic Americans. Many of them are veterans, as were their parents and are their children. They have given their blood, sweat, and tears. Don’t make them give away their land.

The needs of the individual are as important as the needs of the many. The support of the few (not judging either acceptance or tolerance) is integral to this grand experiment called the United States of America. We should not lose our great vision, historic and futuristic, in the heat and smoke of battles.

I would like to add to Steve's response to Chris.
Think about how much people this land feeds. Think about our trade deficit in food and beverages. Exports of food, feed and beverages totaled $65.9 billion in 2006 vs. $74.9 billion in Imports, a $9 billion deficit. Further:
January 2007 import statistics show Increases occurred in foods, feeds, and beverages (a negative$900 million) When will it stop?
We as a nation cannot continue to reduce our agricultural community’s ability to produce food by reducing, productive land in our rural communities.
We are increasingly becoming as dependent on food from outside the US as we are on oil.
This is an important Homeland Security threat.
If our food imports were cut off, we in Southeast Colorado produce food and have water. What happens to the Metro areas?

20,000 jobs for Colorado? That many or more unemployed from other states will come to Colorado to try and get them. In case anyone has forgotten, Colorado is not it's own country.

Got a great win/win idea for the citizens of Colorado and the Army. Move Ft. Carson and it's current Pinon Canon operations to the Southern Border and give them a 5 to 10 mile track from the border north and the length of Arizona. Now the Army can really have desert training (Mideast conditions) and provide security along the border, and the people of Colorado can begin re-building our environment and economy for tourism and the like. No military required. Oh, and take NORAD, Buckley, Falcon and all the rest with them. Then Colorado is also off the top 5 bombing list of Russia, China, etc. when the #@*+ hits the fan.

By the way, for anybody else who wants to see the data for the region, IT IS OUT THERE. It is public information and if you are posting here then you have access to the internet. Use it for your own research and don't be ignorant!

Here you go Chris. This is just for Las Animas county (the most affected county):
Number of Farms/Ranches: 567
Land in Farms/Ranches: 2,304,766 acres
Market value of production: $20,887,000
Crop sales accounted for $761,000
Livestock sales accounted for $20,126,000
Cattle and calves sales accounted for $19,758,000 of the $20,126,000 in livestock sales. Market value of production, average per Farm/Ranch: $36,838.
Cattle and calf inventory: 41,227

Note that this does not take into account the trickle down economics to other struggling businesses. Estimates have been made that 40% of these struggling businesses will also close down.

As for wanting to see how much money has been spent on 'bailing out' the region I can guarantee you it is a fraction of the cost that other regions of the state have received (look at the welfare numbers in Denver or Springs for starters).

Now I ask you Chris, what numbers has the military produced? Do you even know what you are talking about or did you just decide this seemed like a good place to post?

I would like to see the data for how many times this great and productive farm and ranch land has applied for government assisstance (i.e. BAILOUT) money. I would also like to see true data on how much revenue the farms and ranches in the region have brought to the state. I hear everyone complain but no one wants to display the true data of the region. At least the military has produced verifiable data.

Bob, I know you are a politician but can you please twisting facts to fit your agenda? When you say "that expansion would bring $500 million in construction spending and 8,000 new jobs to southern Colorado" don't you mean that Springs would get about $500 million in construction spending and 8,000 new jobs? What real benefit is there for Southern Colorado to go through with this? You make it sound as if all this spending will be taking place in the economies affected by this land grab but this is false. Please make an effort to be honest when presenting facts!

Yes Bob. Let's do what is right for all Coloradans. What about the economy of the area you are taking the land from? There are kids in this region who have to go to school as well. Now there is less tax base to run these schools so these kids will suffer – are you even remotely concerned of this? And you speak of a fair and reasonable price in dealing w/ imminent domain? Land prices have flattened out or fallen w/ news the army may take land this way. So now that our land is depressed the army should be able to come in and lowball us? (see the first expansion for more on this)
Ask yourself one thing Bob. Why are the politicians from the Springs the only people really pushing for the expansion? Right, because CS and El Paso county and in line to benefit the most. So how much do you get out of those 30 pieces of silver to sell out SE Colorado? Way to be a good neighbor. Lamborn/Gardner for president in 08!!! Seriously, the sense of entitlement and righteousness shown by our ‘neighbors’ in El Paso county is sickening…

Thank you Bob!

That is a very well reasoned letter on this subject. I believe there is always a solution to a problem if the two parties can set aside emotion and do what's in the best interest of each side through reasoned discussion and a small amount of compromise.
I understand the position of the families, but I also see the needs of the Army as significant as well. I believe the Government has an obligation to provide at least twice the value of the property to the landholders as ample compensation. This compensation is reasonable since many of these properties are businesses and these people are being asked to sell their properties and start over. The landowners have an obligation to at least consider the offer if it's reasonable.

OK, but. Our troops are dying because they are "sitting-ducks", targets, and woefully undermanned, outgunned, and outnumbered. We need the military draft. The GOP lacks the "moral" authority to initiate the draft, because the starters of Iraq-NAM, Bush, Lott, Frist, and lard-a$$es Cheney and Hastert, are "ALL" surrender monkeys, commnist-siders, BENEDICT ARNOLDS, and draft dodgers. For the past 60 years, America's wealthy families have been great at starting wars, however, when the stuff hits the fan, their "blood and treasure" break for the shopping malls, ski-slopes, college, NFL, etc. St. Elway and the Masterrmind. America isn't at war, America's poor and working class families are funding this war, and supplying the "BODYBAGS".

POST A COMMENT

• Time might be ripe for the idea of a rotating regional primary
• CSAP fails to convey worth to students
• Qwest’s cable-franchise complaints
• Single payer cost-effective, viable
• Rocky not helpful in furthering health-care discussion
• Green to a fault
• City relying on suspect voting machines
• Economics increasingly vital