S O U N D   O F F

December 19, 2007

Wednesday, December 5, 2007, Mike Steeves column  "Eminent domain, conspiracies, and Biblical inerrancy,"  (Published in the Tribune-Democrat.) addressed the Pinon Canyon vs Army matter.

I'd like to extend a  "Thank you" to Mr. Steeves for putting the Pinon Canyon matter in evening's slanted light that always brings out the tracks.

His illumination of this matter, will at least move people to investigating whether or not the   Nature Conservancy is  involved in Army's pursuit of the entire Southeast corner of Colorado.

We recently asked  a fine young man with the Nature Conservancy, "Is it true former Congressman Hefley and Senator Allard secured 7 million dollars for TNC to partner on Army's plans to expand?" He replied, "No, that's not quite correct, it was more like 17 million."  He further explained that because Army may exercise eminent domain, TNC withdrew their offer leaving TNC with several million unused.

Mr. Steeves comment, "Army needs a lot of contiguous land," followed by, "aren't going to get it in Nevada," left me wondering -"How's he know this?  Does he have an inside track with maybe Senator Harry Reid on perhaps striking a deal with TNC and  feds to keep them out of his state?"

Our federal government should exercise "do no harm" to its citizenry.  But, if the feds are put into a place where they have no choice but to bring harm to its citizens, than it should at least choose the least number to injure.  And because most of the federally owned land in Nevada supports nothing more than a few lizards doing pushups, ranchers in that state would realize less harm than those in Colorado. 

I studied Steeves article thoroughly, but did not find him offering up any answers, or at least clarification, as to why the withdrawal of  troupes and shutting down military bases, while simultaneously going after land and water that is privately owned and in production agriculture to beef up practicing war.

Although I was at the same "Good Neighbor" forum Steeves referred to, his recount was foreign from what I witnessed.  For example, Mr. Steeves emoted, "we were treated to Kimmi Lewis's conspiracy theories..."  What really happened was; someone from the audience asked about conspiracy (Someone in EVERY audience asks about conspiracies. Even Hillary puzzles over right wing conspiracies.), but Ms. Lewis neither brought up the idea nor embraced it when it was. 
Instead of ridiculing folks who...ever so rough around the edges...sacrifice their time and money helping their neighbor, shouldn't we applaud and thank them? 

I remember well, how my father would climb off his tractor, clean up, put on a suit and drive into town to work on community projects.  As is evidence by Mr. Steeves writing, today's rude, with their endless hunger to entertain and be entertained,  would denigrate and scorn this fine man's way of going.

While Mr. Steeves gave us entertainment with his verbal gymnastics, we cannot live on entertainment alone.

Being tickled to death doesn't strike me as a very appealing way to go.

Having said all this, shouldn't we all work together...to encourage the Army and the federal government to do what they believe they must... but in ways not to injure us?

Roni Bell Sylvester