Posted: 4/20/2006 10:34:30 AM EDT
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There was a jest in another post about securing our border with people in recliners, laptops, and rifles spaced 100 yards apart. I found this somewhat amusing and wanted to run the numbers on what this might cost. Our border with Mexico (according to wikipedia) is 1951 miles. This turns out to be 34,33,760 yards. Requiring 34,337 of these stations if spaced 100 yards apart. If we are to have our armchair commandos out on the boarder we should make them comfortable. Below our the estimated one-time costs of each station. $200 - 15ft stand for elevation $500 - Lazy Boy, cant have an armchair commando without $100 - Umbrella, for shade, weather $1,500 - Gun, for the protection of our nation $1,000 - Laptop, to kill boredom, our other enemy $1,000 - 200w Solar panel, to make the laptop and most other equipment work (charge batteries for night) $500 - Wifi repeater/network, to surf and communicate All in all about $5,000 per station. Now we have some reoccurring monthly costs: $600 - Provisions, for a little food and water (hopefully workers will bring their own) $15 - Internet, to go with the laptop $200 - Ammo/Targets, for practice, and more $200 - Other, for anything missed. This turns out to be about $1,000 a month rounding up per station; $12,000 per station per year. Assuming that the people manning these stations will want to be paid, the average armchair commando will not do very much in their typical day. Lets keep it simple and pay them $10/h. We will probably run a 3-shift day. In any case we should have 24 hour-a-day protection at each station. Again, you will be paying out about $7,500 per station per month, or about $90,000 a year. Of course, this covers no pay or additional equipment for managers, repairs, etc. We are strictly looking at the stations themselves. A station by itself doesn't look too bad. But lets look at the numbers remembering we will need 34,337 stations at 100 yards apart. Startup cost of all stations: $172 million Yearly reoccurring fees of all stations: $412 million Yearly payout of all station employees: $3 billion All said and done you are likely looking at about $3.5 to $4 billion for the first year of operation and costs afterward. That might seem somewhat high. However a little research found that the department of homepand security gets approx $42 billion a year and customs and border protection get $7.1 billion in 2007. Alternatives: Build a really good fence Many gun platforms controlled remotely. (good deterrent!)  -Foxxz |
Obstructions such as hills, valleys, and rocks might be an issue. And if you have mutiple targets you need to shoot fast.  Plus, our wifi links might not work that far apart. -Foxxz |
Hills...? In south Texas/AZ?  There may be some, but I do know that most of SW Texas close to the border is VERY flat. |
Hmm someones never been to the Big Bend area. |
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Good work, Foxxz. I also question the close spacing of the towers. Additionally, I think $100 for an umbrella, even a big golf umbrella, is far to much. Maybe $50 each? Resulting in a savings of $1,716,850.
With everyone on the net, we'd just communicate via IM and message board postings, anyway. |
Thats what i was thinking; or some VOIP application. Its all good. Also, space the stations out as you like. However, take into account max wifi range (around 300 yards without pricier equipment) and skilled shooters might want paid more. This sounds like a good summer job for the kids IMHO.  -Foxxz |