Defense: FY2012 Budget Request, Authorization and Appropriations
Summary
President Obama’s FY2012 budget request, sent to Congress on February 14, 2011, included $670.9 billion in discretionary budget authority for the Department of Defense (DOD), of which $553.1 billion was for the so-called “base budget” of the department (that is, the cost of routine, peacetime operations excluding the cost of ongoing operations in Iraq and Afghanistan). The remaining $117.8 billion in the DOD budget request was to cover the cost of so-called “overseascontingency operations (OCO),” including operations in those two countries.
The Overseacontingency operations is what will cease once the deployments to Afghanistan ends. There will be some left to deal with in places where troops are currently deployed in Africa and Turkey. So, we aren't finished completely with the OCO after the troops come home from Afghanistan.
The "base budget" is out of control. This is free money to the state budgets of the states in receipt of them. The 'base budget' has to be replaced by local economies and tourism.
Before getting into the BCA, one has to realize why it is healthy for local governments to move into local economies based in tourism where there are military bases. It is called a diversified economy that demands respect. Has anyone actually spend a weekend or a few days in a military town? It is interesting. The local governments are lazy. Very lazy. There are all kinds of entertainment for MEN. If you know what I mean? There are car dealerships, too. I wouldn't call that a healthy economy.
So, when a local economy has to answer for a higher purpose the local government isn't so darn lazy anymore. The local government has to clean up the streets and drive out drug dealers, too. The local bars and alcoholic beverage joints need to clean up their lots and have real value rather than cheap gin for sale. Or better said, 'A good time by the barrel.'
The idea 'the military town' is actually a good one is hideous and ridiculous. Try to raise children in those neighborhoods rather than 'living on base.'
There is much to be done and I have no doubt by the time the local economies are rehabilitated there will be a change in those elected.
That said, we go forward unafraid. As a matter of fact, the leadership of the military base should REQUIRE quality of life in a healthy way for the cities surrounding any military base. The base leadership needs to have a diplomatic contingency that seeks these dynamics for their enlisted.
However, the Budget Control Act (BCA) enacted in early August 2011 set ceilings on FY2012 discretionary budget authority that required a reduction of $35.7 billion from the total requested for so-called “security agencies”—a category that includes the DOD base budget, the Departments of Veterans Affairs, Homeland Security, and State as well as the Energy Department’s Nuclear National Security Agency and the international activities of other agencies.
Below is a link to the BCA. "The Sequester" is Title I.
TITLE I—TEN-YEAR DISCRETIONARY CAPS WITH SEQUESTER (click here)
Sec. 101. Enforcing discretionary spending limits.
Sec. 102. Definitions.
Sec. 103. Reports and orders.
Sec. 104. Expiration.
Sec. 105. Amendments to the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act
of 1974.
Sec. 106. Senate budget enforcement.
Long standing military base towns have history. That history can and should become a part of the town's identity.
Example: Georgetown, South Carolina. I know about this town and can comment, it has nothing to do with sounding like "W."
Georgetown's main street has incorporated it's history into it's economy. At any point along the waterfront and the main street there are shops for tourists. There are historic economic sites on the main street that have really interesting shops on their first floor. These shops sell local artist expressions as well as vending machines of refreshments along with historical documents for sale. What I found most interesting were two wooden boxes of post cards from 'time periods' of the past. To read the actual words of people of 'a time gone by' on post cards delivered by the US Post Office to family and friends was fascinating. Talk about understanding the past culture, it was an eye opener.
Being a sincere tourist is what is the most rich experience of the time one spends. Taking the time to spend on growing knowledge is most rewarding. It adds immensely to conversations, then and later. When one engages the shop keepers, they can even provide more insight than anyone expected.
On this day in 1781, (click here) Patriot commanders Lieutenant Colonel Light Horse Henry Lee and Brigadier General Francis Swamp Fox Marion of the South Carolina militia combine forces and conduct a raid on Georgetown, South Carolina, which is defended by 200 British soldiers.
Marion won fame and the Swamp Fox moniker for his ability to strike and then quickly retreat into the South Carolina swamps without a trace. His military strategy is considered an 18th-century example of guerilla warfare and served as partial inspiration for the film The Patriot, starring Mel Gibson....
This is an article from "The History Channel." Any city with a military history can develop pride in their history. It isn't that difficult. It is there to find.
I am confident everyone has heard about "The Lewis and Clark Trail."
Route 66 ?
The Historic Route 66 web site is dedicated to provide free information for those who want to learn more about Route 66....
These projects linked cities and towns and experiences into a 'travel vacation' idea. They are great ideas, especially for bus tourist companies.
There is no reason why there aren't travel experiences along the East Coast of the USA either. So, there are economies to conquer and perfect. Accessible economies by a wide variety of incomes. They can even include places like Atlantic City and it's historic place in the country's growth and expansion. Time to get busy.
Governors and mayors, where are you?
According to Title I of the BCA this defines where The Sequester is suppose to happen.
‘‘SEC. 251. ENFORCING DISCRETIONARY SPENDING LIMITS. Governors and mayors, where are you?
According to Title I of the BCA this defines where The Sequester is suppose to happen.
‘‘(a) ENFORCEMENT.—
‘‘(1) SEQUESTRATION.—Within 15 calendar days after Congress adjourns to end a session there shall be a sequestration to eliminate a budget-year breach, if any, within any category.
I'll start their next time.
