Should Wyoming Build an Aircraft Carrier?

[amerikat]

On Friday, the Wyoming House of Representatives advanced a bill to set up a task force to prepare for the total economic and political collapse of the United States. Per the bill, the panel would investigate things like food storage options and metals-based currencies, to be implemented in the event of a major catastrophe.

Then it goes three steps further. An amendment by GOP state Rep. Kermit Brown*, calls on the task force to examine "Conditions under which the state of Wyoming should implement a draft, raise a standing army, marine corps, navy and air force and acquire strike aircraft and an aircraft carrier." As the bill's GOP sponsor, state Rep. David Miller, explained to the Casper Star-Tribune, "Things happen quickly sometimes."

Buying an aircraft carrier is, as a rule, a great idea, but there are a few hiccups, not the least of which is that Wyoming is currently landlocked. Its largest body of water, Yellowstone Lake, is frozen from December through June and sits in the middle of a giant volcano that stands about as good a chance as anything else at triggering the aforementioned societal collapse. In that sense, Wyoming has a lot in common with another mineral-rich, landlocked, mountainous territory—Bolivia. Bolivians, who have a national holiday honoring the day in 1904 they lost their coastline to Chile, have made the best of their situation by maintaining a small flotilla on Lake Titicaca. No aircraft carrier, though.

More at the link.

http://motherjones.com/mojo/2012/02/should-wyoming-build-aircraft-carrier

They are going mad.

[Warpy]

1. Sure, then they can dig a pond to float it in.

Conservative states are all going stark, staring crazy these days.

[DJ13]

2. Maybe they plan on turning it into an Ark and wait for a flood?

[hobbit709]

8. Wonder how well it would do with 200 feet of ash from Yellowstone.

[krispos42]

3. I think it would be an excellent idea.

Institute a flat tax, and build an aircraft carrier. And of course, they'll need suitable escort ships... guided-missile cruisers and destroyers, antisubmarine frigates, and of course at-lake underway replenishment.

I think the entire population of 500,000 people should labor 70 hours a week on Wyoming Aircraft Carrier Construction Odyssey (WACCO) for as long as it takes.

This should keep them too busy to do anything else this damn stupid.

[Historic NY]

4. Jobs plan for Wyoming..

[mazzarro]

5. This article reminds of a story a friend told me in college long ago

A friend from South America and told me this story of a politician, back in the late 1980's, who came to her village to campaign for election to her country's national legislature. In his zeal to appeal for votes from the villagers the politician said, "vote for me and I'll build a bridge for you people". One of the villager elders responded , "Sir, but we do not have a river to need a bridge". The politician not giving in so easily to the challenge responded, "then vote for me and I will make a river and then build a bridge for you". But the villagers realizing how stupid the politician sounded, bursted out laughing at the politician and his absorb comment.

[leveymg]

6. ++1 ;)

[AsahinaKimi]

7. If they could build a giant Aircraft carrier and put it on wheels...

it just might work!

[quaker bill]

9. They could then park it at a Wal-Mart

[Are_grits_groceries]

10. Yah sure!

The turning radius is nothing and it turns on a dime. It will make a nice casino.

[lunatica]

11. That's one way of creating jobs

Why stop at an aircraft carrier? They could build a Great Wall all along it's many borders to keep 'them' out. That's more jobs! And think of all those tanks and weapons needed to defend The Wall. I think they should go for it.

[Ganja Ninja]

12. I can't see any reason why they shouldn't. n/t

[maxrandb]

13. I think this could be an excellent debt reduction opportunity

The federal government should sell Wyoming an aircraft carrier. That's $15-20 Billion right there.

Wyoming would also need some properly trained Sailors to man the ship. 2500 Sailors with proper training in Engineering, Nuclear Propulsion, Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance, Supply, Admin, Disbursing, Medical/Dental etc., would be nearly $10 Billion.

Of course, what is an aircraft carrier without aircraft? Let's sell them an Air Wing. Four 12-plane F-18 Squadrons, a VRC, E2 Hawkeye VAW, Prowler VAQ, and HS Helicoptor Support Squadron would set them back another $6-10 Billion, plus another $2 Billion to man, train and equip the Air Wing.

And what are planes without pilots. Throw in all the pilot training for an additional $250 Million.

Maintenance and operational costs over the 50-60 year life of the carrier adds close to a trillion.

Hell, we could cut the federal deficit by 1/4 with one deal...and I haven't even counted the DDG, FFGs, CG, AOE and SSN that encompass a Carrier Battle Group. After all, you'd want to make sure you protected the carrier.

Now let's talk Ohio Class Ballistic Missile Submarines....

[DippyDem]

14. Wyoming aircraft carrier makes sense... check this submarine out

[MineralMan]

15. Well, it would create jobs. There's that.

[DippyDem]

16. Well on second thought, maybe not. A drunk aircraft carrier admiral at Greater Yellowstone Falls.

A potential waste of Wyoming tax dollars.

[slackmaster]

17. Fitzcarraldo

[Nuclear Unicorn]

18. Maybe he's counting on

climate change submerging the West Coast.

[JHB]

19. Two words:

Giant Robots!

[sofa king]

20. I've got the perfect thing for them.

http://supcom2.wikia.com/wiki/LEGS_Land_Emergence_Galleon_System

Who needs a port when you can walk to the water, spreading devastation the entire way?