The New Arizona Desert

[eyesup]

Jbee, it looks like that philanthropist Bill Gates is about to be philanthropic to Arizona and invite another 190,000 people to live in the desert next door to Phoenix. I only heard about this recently, but apparently it was announced last year.

One article each from, the business side.

I was not surprised at the text in the article that states;

“Belmont Partners said in a statement that the city "will transform a raw, blank slate into a purpose-built edge city built around a flexible infrastructure model."

This from a writer from an east coast metropolitan area. The mistaken belief that hot deserts are blank slates or worthless land is again at the root of more development plans to TRANSFORM the desert into a livable “space” (I hate that word). The desert is actually alive as is and doesn’t need a developer to improve it. It is the way it is because it has reached equilibrium. Something developers feel compelled to change.

There is a link at the end of the article that is interesting. It’s title, “Bill Gates and Steve Jobs raised their kids tech-free, and it should've been a red flag.”

The other article is one from, the other side.

The question that seldom gets asked, about the water resources, is at least mentioned here. This author is at least familiar with the specific issues in the desert southwest.

I only heard about this recently, but apparently it was announced last year. Have you heard anything about it?
Unfortunately for Arizonans, Gates has noticed Arizona as a prime site to do field testing for all the wonderful tech he has foisted on us and the new tech that is planned. Everything will be run by computers.

Maybe they should name the town Stepford instead of Belmont.

Duane

[Greenbare Woods]

This from a writer from an east coast metropolitan area. The mistaken belief that hot deserts are blank slates or worthless land is again at the root of more development plans to TRANSFORM the desert into a livable “space” (I hate that word). The desert is actually alive as is and doesn’t need a developer to improve it. It is the way it is because it has reached equilibrium. Something developers feel compelled to change.
Duane

The underlying problem is not the "developers," but the immigrants.   American citizens are under breeding replacement so without immigrants there would be nobody to occupy all those houses and no "developers" wanting to lose money.   

The same people who support open borders and mass immigration also pretend to object to object to the results of their immigration program.   Raging hypocrisy.

Bob

[BlueTrain]

You should visit Minnesota then. The countryside is being depopulated. They're moving to Arizona. Only American Indians should really object to immigration. Nobody else has a leg to stand on.

[jbeegoode]

Phoenix is a shithole, a polluted, urban sprawl like L.A. I can't care as long as it is kept away from Tucson. West Valley is out by the Nuclear Reactor, where the temperatures are even higher. That is why the land is cheap. Nobody wants to live there, unless they live in energy burning artificial environments.

DF and I did have fun out there, when we visited the hot springs of Tonopah. No telling exactly where this spot is:

https://thefreerangenaturist.org/2017/05/05/tonopah-a-trip-report/

https://thefreerangenaturist.org/2017/05/12/tonopah-continued-a-trip-report/


Yea, it does sound like "progress," "good for the economy"," inevitable change." and a city orientated beehive mentality.  To each his own....
Jbee

[BlueTrain]

I've been to both Phoenix and Los Angeles and I don't agree with your opinion. I've also been to London, Frankfurt, Paris, Edinburgh, Berlin, Munich, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Pittsburgh, New York and Minneapolis. I've also been to Oklahoma.

[jbeegoode]

Didn't Woody Guthrie sing that?
Jbee

[BlueTrain]

Well, I've never been to heaven
 But I've been to Oklahoma
 Oh, they tell me I was born there
 But I really don't remember

 In Oklahoma, not Arizona
 What does it matter?
 What does it matter?

 Oh, I've never been to Spain
 But I kinda like the music
 And so on.

[jbeegoode]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ov4epAJRPMw

Been there, too.

"Crossed the desert bare, man." What does that mean?
Jbee

[eyesup]

I’ve been to Phoenix a couple times and as big cities go, it’s no different. It’s big and spread out. And flat! I guess the damage is done and not much can happen that will make it worse. The new I-11 will basically overlay US 93 through Wickenburg to Wikieup, along with all the development that goes with it.

I’ve lived in enough big cities to know that I no longer care for it. My next move will be to a small community.
Not sure where yet.

Duane

[eyesup]

I’ve been to New York, it was fun for 5 days but I have NO DESIRE to live there.
I’ve been to Chicago, same response.

I’ve been to LA several times and every time it’s an annoying, irritating experience and I can’t wait to leave.
Above a certain size, once you’ve seen a big city, you’ve seen them all.
They’re all pretty much the same as far as I’m concerned.

But as Jbee pointed out, “To each his own”.

Duane

[eyesup]

Not Woody, that was Three Dog Night. “Never Been to Spain”.
What that has to do with Oklahoma, I don’t know.

Duane

[eyesup]

I’ve been in the desert south of Winnemucca. It’s open range and a lonely place.

“’Cross desert’s bare man”, maybe he walked without any supplies or maybe naked.
Or maybe it’s a description of the desert. “It’s bare, man!”

The Johnny Cash version of the tune was written by Hank Snow. Not too familiar with his early exploits. He was from Canada. But Johnny Cash was heller when he was young though.

The original version was by an Australian with all Aussie names and it had those words about the desert in it.
Who knows?

Duane

[jbeegoode]

Maybe he was aborigine, or part.
Jbee

[jbeegoode]

Okay, here is the Woody Guthrie song that occurred to me, but for those across the pond.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjJLDjjYXMM
Jbee

[BlueTrain]

Where would you have people live, then? I think there will be someone to object to a new house no matter where it might be built, even on a vacant lot in the city.