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Developers
    The plague of the west is not locusts (though there may be a relation here), but developers. These people would build condos along the sides of the Grand Canyon, if they were allowed to. My biggest problems with developers is that they will often take over an area and change it to the extent that whatever originally attracted people to the area is now gone. The other thing they do is build up developments which over tax the abilities of the land or the people, compelling municipalities, or government organizations to take up the slack. So really, the developers leave much of the cost of their development on the shoulders of taxpayers, while profiting handsomely. They also take much of the beauty from the land.
    The Sedona area is a great example of this. There is little water here, so it must be brought in by state and municipal projects. It is hot here, and there is no nearby source of electricity for air conditioning, so it too must be brought in. These are all problems are are not handled or paid for by the developers. What is also not paid for is the destruction of a unique natural area, and it's subordination to the wants of developers, and of the few people who profit alongside them. Actually, this wasn't too bad, as developments go (the area of the Dells in Wisconsin is far worse), but it is still disconcerting to see.

	For too many visitors, particularly those who come to shop, or who come over from California to escape to the desert, these pictures show the familiar face of Sedona.
	Cars, traffic lights, and all the other accouterments of what passes for civilization, stand alone here in the middle of nowhere.
	This resort seems to merge into the surrounding formations, partially obscuring them.
	More low slung structures, along with a few transplanted trees which could not survive without watering.
	The influence of nearby California is very evident here.
	New age meets the old west. Psychic readers, liquor stores, and an Indian (this word is still allowed out here) market.
	Magnificent cliffs tower over designer strip malls.
	Houses also top jumbled rock formations. I would love to see what some of the driveways look like.
	Except for the stunning rock formations, this could be the urban sprawl of Los Angeles, or any other major city.
	We are in an outlet mall parking lot, getting ready to do some shopping.
	It was actually sort of a surprise to see an outlet mall here. This area, as a rule, is very upscale. people do not come here to look for bargains.
	Yet another designer outlet shop. We spent a couple of hours at the mall, and ended up with clothing, and several books, as well as having had lunch here.
	The mall was actually pretty well designed, and seemed to at least acknowledge the architecture, and scenery of the area.
	One last look at the outlet mall. We have similar malls in Wisconsin, around Kenosha, and Johnson Creek.

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