Thinking Out Loud - Inaugural Price Tage

In 1917 Woodrow Wilson declined to party after his Inaugural events. In 1945 Franklin D. Roosevelt also declined to enjoy similar festivities. Their reasoning is that the United States was at war. In 2005, Democrats Weiner (NY) and McDermott (WA) called on President Bush to forestall any celebratory events after his second term win for the same reason. They stated that it would "undignified" to hold such celebrations during a time of war.

Now it is 2009 and the Democrats are planning a plethora of celebrations estimated at about $150 million; this coming not only during a time of war but during a time when the economy of not only this country but the world faces serious woes. So where are the Democrat claims of it being "undignified"? No where to be seen. This is, after all, such a momentous historic event; the swearing in of the first African-American president. (I guess that is sort of true unless you note that Barack Obama is of mixed race, and you believe the reports that President Garfield had African-American ancestry.)

Yet where is the change? I think that if Barack Obama (I can't wait to drop the nonsensical and heretofore unused honorific of President-elect) really wanted to show change in DC, a change from the way politics has been conducted, he would have eschewed the grandiose gestures, just got sworn in and moved onto conducting business Day One.

My wife had a landmark birthday last October. I would have loved to have celebrated this special day with a big party. I would even have loved to take her out for a wonderful dinner, maybe a movie. But we could afford little more than a few modest presents and a cake. The economy has been rough and we have had to make many sacrifices. Why is it that our politicians, ala Rep. Nancy "SanFranNan" Pelosi, ask us to make many sacrifices yet decide that they are more important than us to do so themselves?

I think if the politicians were truly serious about getting us out of the current economic crisis, they would make such sacrifices themselves as an example to the people. Gone would be the cars paid for out of the pockets of average American citizens, most of whom can not even afford a good used car let alone the latest models from Detroit that the politicians drive. Gone would be the free haircuts and the taxpayer paid lunch room and the gas for those cars and the multitude of other free perks they receive. Also, if they really wanted to cut wasteful spending, how about cutting their own salaries? And what about those jets used for non-government reasons? (I consider going back and forth to see your family on weekends a non-government expense. After all, if we had a job outside our home town, we would be expected to make our own way home for weekends.)

But what can you expect from a group of people who think that throwing money after a problem is the way to fix it? It never is the solution, has been proven to be a wasteful solution, and never will be the way to go to solve a problem. Yet time and time again this is the response of government. Throw money at it and it will go away. My guess is the people who are supposed to be in charge have never even once opened a text book on basic economics. If they had, they would realize that not only has history proven that such wasteful spending and big government actions been the downfall of an economy, but that given the chance to work the free market system will correct these problems in a swift and decisive manner. Of course there will be painful situations along the way. Some businesses will fail and others will be forced to make some tough decisions in order to survive. But on the other side of the tunnel America will, and has in the past, come through a stronger and better nation for it.

When will someone with some guts step up and speak not only for the American people, but for the future of America? If you're expecting it to be Barack Obama or John McCain or any number of inside the beltway politicians, you will be absolutely disappointed. I think it will take someone truly outside the DC realm of influence. I think it will take a Sarah Palin, who actually made such statements during the campaign trail of 2008. Or it will take some visionaries such as Governor Bobby Jindal of Louisiana or Governor Mark Sanford of South Carolina to lead the way. We need someone with fiscally conservative smarts to speak up loud and long, get others to listen and follow, and lead this country out of the harsh economic climate we find ourselves in. And if America leads, the world will follow.

You may think this a harsh commentary in light of the historic events of the day. Or you may be getting out your old banners and waving them cheering "Amen, brother!" Either way, I suggest you crack open a book from the library on basic Economy 101 (get something written before 2000) and read up on how things are supposed to work. Agree with me, disagree with me, it makes no matter. I am just here, hoping to enlighten and make you think, whilst I am just thinking out loud.

Have yourself a great day!