Record Setting $150 Million Inauguration Bill for Barack Obama in a Depressed Economy, Not a Great Way to Start Out

Apparently Barack Obama will be signing on as our newest president with a very expensive bang, a 150 million dollar plus, inauguration price tag. That is quite a party. I guess watching the budget in an ailing economy doesn't include something as piddly as 150 million dollars coming out of our pockets. 150 Million spent on a ceremony and series of events where Obama will raise his hand, take an oath and swear in as our next president in a severely depressed and battered economy. It is reportedly the most expensive inauguration ever. It isn't a great way to start out as a new president.

Understandably security will be extremely tight for this inauguration for many reasons. That is a large part of the inauguration bill for Obama's swearing in ceremony. Perhaps the limo, a custom Cadillac with undisclosed price tag was an absolute necessity too. All the fancy party accoutrements are an absolute need too. The concerts, the gatherings are a must have or are they?

Wouldn't you love to see a detailed breakdown of all the costs? Wouldn't you also love to be able to use some of that money yourself for something as mundane as say, for example, paying a mortgage or a power bill or two or filling your non-custom car with over priced gas, that is if you can even afford a car anymore or even have one at all?

But maybe it would have made a much bigger impression if Obama had done this a little differently than all the previous presidents and really made a statement about how much he cares about the economy and the people in this country, by really showing how he would be a different kind of president. Wouldn't it have been simpler and more cost effective in this really depressed economy to have a dignified swearing in ceremony for the inauguration, perhaps inside the oval office and have it televised to the nation and the rest of the world? That would have started his term off with a strong individual statement and a hopeful sign of change. Dare to do something a little differently, since what has been done obviously hasn't worked.

It still would be an uplifting event to finally see our nation grow up a little bit and swear in someone who didn't fit into the stereotypical boy's club model, no matter if the inauguration is a simple classy event instead of an overdone spectacle. A Marriage is a marriage, no matter how basic or outrageously decadent the ceremony is. It doesn't matter how fancy the ceremony is. I guess it really doesn't matter when you aren't footing the bill for your own ceremony. Let the public pay, again. Add it to the tab.

The fact is this particular inauguration is an important positive step for us as both human beings and as a country. It has nothing to do with the issues. But it has everything to do with an improved step for the humanity and dignity of this country. We need hope in this depressed economy. Some of us desperately need hope. We are looking to Obama to lead us on the right road.

Somehow though starting off the trip with an inauguration that costs the country 150 million or more, the largest inauguration price tag in our history is borderline obscene, considering how our country and the rest of the world is faring economically at the moment. Having lived and visited many places I know how people view the excessive spending habits in the United States. This150 million dollar inauguration price tag will feed right into that negative stereotypical image. "Let them eat cake." It is a presidential inauguration and that justifies spending 150 million bucks for a swearing in ceremony? Maybe they could send the leftovers to my local food bank which is growing daily in need. That way I will be able to share in the celebration too in person. I guess the white house forgot to mail me my invitation to the 150 million dollar inauguration events. We already paid the price of admission.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ynews/ynews_pl204