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America's First Eco-City: Doomed From the Start
An anonymous reader writes "Despite backing from the Clinton Climate Initiative, and a $111 million investment from Subway Restaurant mogul Fred DeLuca, a planned city for Central Florida called 'Destiny' was doomed from the start, according to memos retrieved from Florida's Department of Community Affairs. According to state officials, despite a great deal of hype about Destiny, Florida, becoming the first fully sustainable city in the U.S., plans to build the city were rejected almost immediately due to concerns over 'possible urban sprawl, energy inefficient land use patterns, the endangerment of natural resources, and the undermining of agriculture.'"
The problem with trying any renewable/conservation experiment in a "real-world" scenario is that almost every angle is now covered by regulation. Green Groups/EPA/Agriculture/Neighborhood Groups/etc, etc. It's getting to the point that the only real way to test theories in a real world scenario is to buy a big Island, build your infrastructure and pay a bunch of people to move there. I think Blofeld may be able to help fund this though.
The documentary in question may have given them an unfair shake, but I doubt there would be a thriving Brasilia, if it weren't for the substantial resources of Brazil propping it up. I think that's a caveat that attaches itself to a lot of these projects - they work, but only if they have a large economy to leech off of.
A lot of things get killed when they get in the way of this industry.
It seems to me that the green movement only sees things one way. When environmental concerns are used to stop industry, thats stopping evil industry. But then when those same environmental concerns are used to stop their own poorly planned out project, its suddenly industry thats the bad guy again.
Then they try to vilify specific right wing groups by name, such as libertarians and the tea party. Proof is on the same page as this post.
"His name was James Damore."
I don't know the details on this Catholic town trying to ban porn and condoms but honestly I can see arguments either way for whether or not that sort of law/ordinance should be legal to make. On the one hand, this is a planned community with a specific purpose so it only makes sense that that should (within reason) be able to set up any sort of laws they want. If you don't like it, don't move there. On the other hand, letting towns make these sorts of rules could set a bad precedent. What happens if that sort of law gets passed in a much larger town that grew up organically (and thus is full of people who are already established there and didn't sign up to live according to the rules of some group they have no affiliation with?).
Honestly, I don't much care for these sorts of special interest communities anyway. Isolating yourself from society so you can live in your own little echo chamber and never have to hear someone who disagrees with you rarely ends well.