The name of the book/movie mentioned the yesterday is called the Milagro Beanfield War by John Nichols, it takes place in my state of New Mexico and is a comedy, but also puts a great deal of truth about the corruption in this state about water rights and choking out the farmers to make room for the ranchers and tourist tycoons. Example being Ladd Devine you would recognize in the book, he buys up all the land in good ole boy deals and turns it all into a massive uberstate hunting preserve and resort with “planned” golf course (book takes place during this time).
Read the book, even shows how they shut the water off on everyone to stop them from growing… Beans so they could appropriate it for the golf course through hinted at bribery. If you ever read it this will spoil some of it: The entire WAR in the book is over the poor peoples right to have access to water so they can grow food and make enough income to provide for their families while the good ole boys and state/fed say otherwise. All kinds of insane hilarity in the book about corruption and what fed agents REALLY do in this state, read it, has some ECK parts but still a good read.
Sincerely,
Vekar
Thanks for posting this! One of my fave movies ever! first time I saw this a student of mine in Presidio, Texas, during spring semester finals brought this in to watch after all students completed their finals. Plus, northern New Mexico near Chama and El Vado lake–anything north of Taos, really–is one of my fave vacation and travel through spots.
This movie is a must see, IMHO.
DL, I enjoy watching new, good movies, so this one and The Big Country are on my list to watch soon.
I found …Beanfield War on VUDU for 2.99, that’s Walmarts movie streaming.
Lived near Chama (about 30 minutes away, 2001) for a year, that whole area is a Milagro Beanfield War area except the farmers LOST hands down. The whole area was bought up by Ladd Devines and is now one giant hunting reserve for those who can cough up $3000 minimum for a permit. Here is an irony: Did you know Chama is not listed as having ANY gun stores anywhere near it? They even opened up a damn ART CENTER (remember gulag archipelago’s “cultural centers?”) and other socialist crap. The sad irony is that the book has come TRUE in a DARKER way in that the people LOST against the communists and government yuppies. The Chama valley now tries to push for “culture and tourism” rather than what they used to do: Grow BEANS!
That whole area of the state and going up into Colorado is a NIGHTMARE when it comes to corruption and masons/communists owning EVERY STINKING INCH of land. My GOD the shit I saw when I lived near there and even had a neighbor who was the daughter of one of those “Ladd Devines” and even SHOWED me on a trip once just how out of control the situation is, irony is… Her own FAMILY is causing it! They own a HUGE hunting resort on the NM/CO border that sell elk hunts for around $15k a pop minimum and rent cabins to hunters for around $500 minimum a day. I got to see the places the fat ass masons go to hide and shuck and jive while hocking more money in a week than you or I will ever see in five lifetimes.
Chama valley is a gorgeous place, that is true, but pull off that fake veneer and it is like Henry describes: It makes you PUKE when you see whats REALLY going on.
I hear you, believe me! Because the beginnings of the same scenario are happening here in far west Texas, which is also becoming a tourist mecca–of the artsy-fartsy variety! In fact it is virtually impossible now for a lower middle-class (30K-60K a year) person or family to buy a house that, in many places, would be considered a “shack”, in the town of Marfa, Texas. One of my husband’s fellow paramedics there–making about 70K a year–can barely afford his mortgage! Marfa is now mainly wealthy or upper-middle-class artsy-fartsy residents..Marfa is split in half: wealthy or almost wealthy residents on one side of the tracks, and poor Mexicans on the other side. Like the old south.
But at least no bean fields will be screwed over!
Then you have the Davis Mountains…ranches are being bought up left and right by Nature Conservancy types…Hollywood Celebs (three movie stars own large lands out here..can’t remember which ones…Housing in Fort Davis is also nearly beyond the means of most residents in this area as well. And the problem with all these Nature Conservancy folks buying land is this–if your POA is surrounded by these types, eminent domain for ‘environmental reasons’ could be right around the corner! And this is in an area where there is staunch opposition to the Nature Conservancy!
Make sure to read the book, it has a WHOLE lot more that they edited out of the movie.
I will try to get a copy. I love reading stuff like this! And why hasn’t the so-called concerned left been all over this?