It has all the makings of a new tourist trap including hot, humid, swampy land.
And certainly, many people asking themselves, WTF?
I just stumbled across two articles in the online edition of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that are both disturbing in what they mean for the future of this country.
The first involves Domino's Pizza.
According to the AJC, The founder of Domino's Pizza, Thomas S. Monaghan, is bankrolling a real estate development in the deep in the Florida scrubland. 17 miles east of Naples, Ave Maria will be built upon the strict tenets of the Roman Catholic Church. That means no abortion, porn, nor birth control. Oh, lest someone be tempted to sin by having sex that is not for procreation, no condoms are going to be sold either. Presumably they'll be filtering the internet access in town since they will be doing the same by getting nekkid women off the cable teevee.
Monaghan has teamed up with the Barron Collier Company with an initial investment of at least $250 million dollars. In an interview recently with Newsweek, he said, "I believe history is one big battle between good and evil". Despite his contribution to obesity in America and elsewhere, he feels his new venture is simply "God's will". When asked an imaginary question from a DKos diarist, he said he felt that obesity in America is God's will also.
The real estate developer, Barron Collier is well known in Florida. They constructed the road commonly known as Tamiami Trail. Stretching from Tampa, through SW Florida and across the Everglades to Miami, the Trail was instrumental in the sprawl development of the region. Well that, and air-conditioning helped.
Other Barron Collier endeavors in Florida include extensive Everglades draining agricultural holdings, and more draining of the everglades oil and mineral holdings.
They unfortunately have yet to figure out how to make fresh water out of sand to continue to sustain their growing empire which also include resorts, office parks, strip shopping centers upscale malls. In case their serfs tenants run of space in their BCC homes to store the crap they've purchased at BCC strip centers, they also are involved in the personal storage business.
Of course, you can't build a development for god-fearing individuals without some concern all that pizza will eventually cause health emergencies. So, they've also conned Naples Community Hospital into being a partner, along with Collier County, The Collier County Sheriff's Department (in case anyone gets caught downloading porn or having sex with a condom), and the Immokalee Fire Department (in case of fire from reheating yesterday's pizza). Interestingly, the Collier County Schools are also involved so I guess that takes care of teaching evolution creationism and sex education abstinence.
There's no word on where the single teen mother's home will be built hidden to store all the expected pregnant teens.
Joining in the groundbreaking, was former Methodist, unwashed heathen, the Roman Catholic convert, Governor Jeb Bush. Standing near his side, was his wife Columba, adorned with jewels recently smuggled in from South America purchased at a BCC strip center jewelry store.
Of course, those who still believe in the constitution are stuck on the outdated history and meaning of a little piece of paper were quick to raise alarms. Howard Simon, Director of the ACLU in Florida said, "If they attempt to do what he apparently wants to do, the people of Naples and Collier County, Florida, are in for a whole series of legal and constitutional problems and a lot of litigation indefinitely into the future,"
The aptly named Attorney General of Florida, Charlie Crist, put his faith in the courts of Florida, "The community has the right to provide a wholesome environment," he said. "If someone disagrees, they have the right to go to court and present facts before a judge."
He added that if they disagree with him and rule against the holy Ave Maria, they be considered activist judges and promptly fired.
Meanwhile, and apparently insuring success for the burgeoning Ave Maria, FL, a hapless researcher is saddened to discover that more Americans know the names of the Simpson family members than the five rights guaranteed by the first amendment.
Waaaaayyyy more...it's not even close so vote fixing can be ruled out.
The survey by the McCormick Tribune Freedom Museum found that 22% of all those surveyed knew five names from the Simpsons but only one of the 1000 or so they talked to knew all five freedoms guaranteed by the first amendment.
There's no word on whether any of the Simpsons will join the happy family at Ave Maria.
It is guaranteed that the Freedom Museum will not be invited to exhibit there lest the pious residents discover the five freedoms contained in the 1st Amendment are freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of the press, and freedom of assembly. The final one, freedom of redress of grievances will not apply to the 20 percent of those surveyed who believed that freedom to own a pet is included.