None dare call him a “cult leader”: Who says Glenn Beck is just an ordinary megalomaniac? Oh Sweet Jesus… last week Beck gave his audience a look at what’s been rattling around in his feverish noggin’ lately: He wants his own city! Beck even has a name already picked out for his proposed “visionary” hybrid amusement park cum Libertarian city dream project: “Independence, USA” (for what else could he call it? “America, USA”?)
Taking his cues from Ayn Rand (Beck says Independence will be his very own “Galt’s Gulch”), Walt Disney and the survivalist movement, Beck is proposing his city-theme park (to be built in Texas) to be a fabled land where all of his empire’s interests—live events, stores, educational projects, charity, entertainment, news, and technology R&D—would come together in one place. American ideals of hard work, personal responsibility, and freedom would form the bedrock of Beck’s fantasy separatist city.
They would, of course, grow their own food there. Schools would “deprogram” students under the guidance of Christian “historian” David Barton! Politicians could visit Glenn’s very own city “to learn the truth” (Beck’s words, not mine).
Did L. Ron Hubbard himself ever have such grandiose plans? (Oh, yeah, he had his sights fixed on being the king of Rhodesia).
From Beck’s website, The Blaze:
The ambitious project, projected to cost over two billion dollars, has been heavily influenced by Walt Disney. As Glenn has been explaining throughout the week, Disneyland was originally intended to be a place where people would find happiness, inspiration, courage and hope. Over time, Walt Disney’s original vision has been lost. While hundreds of thousands still flock to the town, it’s become commercialized and the big dreams and the heart have been compromised.
Glenn believes that he can bring the heart and the spirit of Walt’s early Disneyland ideas into reality. Independence, USA wouldn’t be about rides and merchandise, but would be about community and freedom. The Marketplace would be a place where craftmen (sic) and artisan (sic) open and run real small businesses and stores. The owners and tradesmen could hold apprenticeships and teach young people the skills and entrepreneurial spirit that has been lost in today’s entitlement state.
There would also be an (sic) Media Center, where Glenn’s production company would film television, movies, documentaries, and more. Glenn hoped to include scripted television that would challenge viewers without resorting to a loss of human decency. He also said it would be a place where aspiring journalists would learn how to be great reporters.
Across the lake, there would be a church modelled (sic) after The Alamo which would act as a multi-denominational mission center. The town will also have a working ranch where visitors can learn how to farm and work the land.
Independence would also be home to a Research and Development center where people would come to learn, innovate, educate, and create. There would be a theme park for people to recharge and have fun with their families.
People would also have the option to live in Independence, with a residential area where people of different incomes could all come together and be neighbors.
That last bit is probably the most outlandish part of the whole thing. In the video, Beck makes a curious aside about the reason why mansion dwellers don’t want to live next door to the poor in the trailer park because, well, it would just look weird. Of course, he’s got a plan to fix all that and rich and poor will live side by side in Glenn Beckistan!
In any case, Beck and his real estate developer buddies might want to start with building just a few of the more modestly priced homes first, and then try to gauge how much interest the wealthy might have in living side by side with his less successful in life fans before they go all in. I mean, can you fucking imagine???
As one wag quipped at TPM, “Atlas puked”! That about sums it up.
There has to be a documentary made about this!!! If it ever happens, of course. Let’s hope it does so we’ll know where they all live and can keep an eye on them. Don’t miss the brain-addled comments on Beck’s site. Howdy neighbors!
If you can’t help yourself, catch the rest at The Blaze.