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The Everglades Florida and the Politics of Paradise: An Exposé of Environmental Destruction and Political Corruption

John Parker

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The Swamp: The Everglades, Florida, and the Politics of Paradise

by Michael Grunwald

4.7 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1151 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	480 pages

The Everglades: A Paradise Lost

The Everglades is a vast, subtropical wilderness that covers over 1.5 million acres in southern Florida. It is home to a diverse array of plant and animal life, including many endangered species. The Everglades is also a vital source of water for the state of Florida.

For centuries, the Everglades has been under threat from human development. In the early 1900s, the federal government began draining the Everglades to make way for agriculture and development. This drainage caused the Everglades to lose much of its natural water flow, which led to a decline in the plant and animal life that depends on it.

In the 1940s, the federal government began building a system of canals and levees to control the flow of water in the Everglades. This system was designed to prevent flooding in developed areas, but it also had the unintended consequence of further damaging the Everglades. The canals and levees disrupted the natural water flow, which caused the Everglades to become even more fragmented and isolated.

Today, the Everglades is a shadow of its former self. Much of the original ecosystem has been destroyed, and many of the plant and animal species that once thrived there are now瀕臨滅絕. The Everglades is also facing new threats from climate change, which is causing sea levels to rise and saltwater to intrude into the freshwater ecosystem.

The Politics of Paradise

The destruction of the Everglades is not simply a consequence of human development. It is also a result of political corruption. For decades, politicians have allowed developers to destroy the Everglades in exchange for campaign contributions and other favors.

In the 1960s, for example, Governor Claude Kirk allowed a developer to build a massive housing project in the Everglades. This project was built on land that was supposed to be protected as a national park. Kirk's decision was later overturned by the courts, but it set a precedent for other politicians to ignore environmental regulations in favor of development.

In the 1980s, Governor Bob Graham allowed a developer to build a golf course in the Everglades. This golf course was built on land that was supposed to be used for water conservation. Graham's decision was also later overturned by the courts, but it showed that politicians were still willing to sacrifice the environment for development.

In the 1990s, Governor Lawton Chiles signed a bill that allowed developers to build a large shopping mall in the Everglades. This mall was built on land that was supposed to be used for agriculture. Chiles' decision was not overturned by the courts, but it showed that politicians were still willing to put the interests of developers ahead of the environment.

The destruction of the Everglades is a tragedy. It is a loss for the people of Florida, for the nation, and for the world. But it is also a crime. The politicians who have allowed this destruction to happen should be held accountable.

The Everglades Florida and the Politics of Paradise

The Everglades Florida and the Politics of Paradise is a must-read for anyone interested in the environment, politics, or Florida history. This book exposes the decades-long destruction of the Everglades, one of the world's most unique and valuable ecosystems, and the political corruption that has allowed it to happen.

The book is well-written and researched. It is full of fascinating details and insights. It is also a powerful indictment of the politicians who have allowed the Everglades to be destroyed.

The Everglades Florida and the Politics of Paradise is a must-read for anyone who cares about the environment. It is a book that will make you angry, but it will also give you hope. It is a book that shows that it is possible to fight back against the forces that are destroying our planet.

The Swamp: The Everglades, Florida, and the Politics of Paradise

by Michael Grunwald

4.7 out of 5