Much of the discussion about fixing the fiscal cliff has been at the abstract level: the need to cut federal spending by $2.5 trillion and raise $1.6 trillion in revenue over the next decade.
But those big numbers obscure real pain that could be inflicted at the local level where federal spending in some places is a huge part of the economy and where the government is the only employer in town.
A look at how federal spending cuts would impact local and state governments shows how difficult spending cuts will be politically: both big red states and blue states benefit from federal largesse. (Read More: What Is the Fiscal Cliff?)
It also highlights the potential economic pain: some states with high unemployment rates like California and South Carolina, will shoulder the added burden of federal spending cuts.
Drilling down to the county level, there are places like Liberty County, Georgia, where the federal government employs one out of four workers because of Fort Stewart. The spending cuts may not hit active duty personnel, but the 3,000 civilian workers attached to Fort Stewart could face cutbacks. (Read More: Complete Coverage of the Fiscal Cliff)