Military bases - where are they?

[question everything]

As I am reading how states are trying to muscle their ways to keep their military based from being closed - I wonder where they are.

For example - how many are in red states - states that support the GOP platform of small government? What is the difference between individuals and states when it come to dependence on "government handout?" Shouldn't states get off the "welfare dole" and learn to make a living on their own?

According to Newsweek, Jeb Bush is paying a lobbyist $50K a month to assure that his bases are protected.

And this brings me to the next question: how much of the work force is composed of government employees - at all levels?

In our individual states we hear calls to trim the number of public employees and, depending on who is in control of the Assembly - some succeed and some do not. But what about Federal payroll? Oh, forgot, this is justified based on the 9/11, of course..

I wonder if many more were were dependent on the public sector for making a living, whether there would be a stronger push for wages that provide decent living, for wages - or government plans - that assure access to medical care and to decent retirement.

[illflem]

1. Map

Larger image here http://www.cr.nps.gov/nagpra/DOCUMENTS/BASES.PDF

[question everything]

2. Thanks. Wonder what's the difference between a base point

and a base location..

[illflem]

6. My take was that point is probably the base headquarters

while the location (shown in red) is the extent of the entire base.

[LimpingLib]

3. All over Europe "The Russians are coming...The RUSSIANS ARE COMING!!!!!"

Thank to the Democratic party elites packing the Senate.

[Lexingtonian]

4. it's not quite that easy

A lot of bases are where they are for historical reasons. The ones in the Southwest deserts reflect the massive training in the air and on the ground needed for the war effort in the Pacific in 1942-45. The slew of big ground warfare bases throughout the South are a result of the Civil War- before that war, the U.S. Army was a tiny organization and after it, during Reconstruction, it was a much larger, occupation, force that needed to be distributed around the Confederacy. These became the infantry and armor training grounds when the military became hugh during WW1, WW2, and the Cold War- there was also a lot of land to be had cheaply then, around the post-Civil War bases that conveniently during the Cold War resembled- in being hilly, wooded, and cold plus very muddy in wintertime- central Europe. The bases in the Northeast are a result of the war in the Atlantic and the air supply 'bridge' to Europe during the Cold War (and now via Europe, Iraq), as well as where the technological cutting edge- avionics and missile guidance- is/was centered. Florida's bases are a result of the 1898 Spanish-American war, WW2's obscure fighting in the Caribbean against German U-boats, and then the Cuban conflict(s). The Northwest's bases are about Cold War control of the Pacific.

The places to look for hypocritical or grotesque government and corporate welfare are the weapons contractors. Those seem all to have relocated from Blue to Red States in recent years.

[question everything]

7. I understand that

And I don't say that we need to close all of them.

Heck, I think that they are good for boot camp to train some young kids who are not exactly certain of what to do with themselves. A good place to instill some order in their lives, train them to be contributing citizens - they can always rebel later - while channeling all that levels of testosterone to fight an enemy..

But I think it is hypocrite of GOP elected officials to vote for cutting, say, veteran benefits and school programs and Medicare programs with the excuse of limiting government spending, while at the same time lobbying to send extra spending to their districts.

I don't remember the specifics, but I think there was some program that the military said it did not need, but it got funded, anyway, because it was in an important district.

Can we say pork?

[sinkingfeeling]

5. Also think there are about 1500 US bases in 162 other countries.

Think that came from 'Sorrows of Empire'.