The Independent Nations of America: Spotlight On: FLORIDA

Florida
(The Florida-Disney National Corporation)

AREA
39,000 sq.m. (17th)
POPULATION
14,601,000 (10th)
DENSITY
374 people per square mile. (2nd)

CAPITAL
Orlando, Kissimmee
STATES
St. Augustine (Jacksonville), Kissimmee (Orlando), Cypress (Fort Myers), Biscayne (Miami), The Keys (Key West), Tampa (Tampa)

RELIGION
Catholic, Jewish, Protestant, Various
LANGUAGE
Spanish, English, Various

NATL INCOME
718 billion (estimated)
MEDIAN INCOME
$49,202 (10th)

ECONOMY
Florida is unique in that it is a nation owned entirely by a corporation: in this case, the Disney Corporation. The nation’s economy is co-dependent with that of Disney since 1990. Generally the economy is strong, maintaining a membership and free trade with the American Northeast Trade Union. Its big cities, including Miami, Tampa and Jacksonville, are centers of light industry and electronics, but the vast majority of the nation’s income depends on international tourism. Unlike most other ANTU nations, it has struck extensive deals with Russia for free trade of natural resources, and in return, Florida has become one of the most popular tourist destinations for middle class Russians. Florida has risen to a place of prominence in Caribbean trade, and has a crucially important trade agreement with Cuba. It is also the largest North American exporter of citrus. Its mostly service economy does make it susceptible to the economies of other nations. The cost of living is middle-to-high.

OVERVIEW
Originally part of Dixieland, the Florida panhandle was sold by President Fob James to the Disney Corporation in 1990. Dixieland had been struggling financially, and was promised favorable trade and other amenities with the new corporate nation. Florida is now governed by an elected Executive Governor, but the Governor’s actions and decisions are largely subject to the whim of the Board of Disney, making the un-elected Executive President of the Disney Corporation the effective leader. Florida is run like a corporation along the governing mandates set by long-term Executive President Michael Eisner (now President Emeritus). Under the leadership of Eisner and numerous Executive Governors, Florida made extensive trade deals with Cuba and Russian Alaska, and joined ANTU, on which it is highly reliant. The popular perception of Florida is a nation with an almost completely content populace; in reality, the government has come under heavy internal criticism from revolutionary, progressive, anti-capitalistic, and independent parties aimed at returning the nation to a non-corporate system of government. In addition, some other nations have cited Florida with quality of life crimes like excessive curfews, draconian laws and the forced deportation of the nation’s criminal and homeless populations.

HEAD OF STATE