This week's presidential inauguration ceremonies are expected to cost over $40 million dollars when all is said and done. In all fairness, this money is all provided by private donations, and inauguration officials have reassured us time and time again that taxpayer money is not directly involved.
But still, how much is too much?
There's a thin line between proper and unnecessary -- one that President George W. Bush and his inauguration committee may be crossing in this time of such great need around the world.
Not to mention the very country which he is leading is in the midst of a $5 billion-a-month war, according to the Associated Press.
Across the globe, 220,000 are now confirmed dead in the horrid aftermath of the Dec. 26 tsunami. It seems slightly insensitive for America, meanwhile, to throw itself a multi-day celebration. A celebration that includes nine Inaugural balls, one of which, to Bush's credit, honors some 2,000 U.S. troops.
Is the U.S. planning on throwing this massive of a celebration in Iraq after its U.S.-inspired Jan. 30 election?
We didn't think so.
Regardless of whether this money could have been spent on tsunami aid, national debt or Super Bowl advertisements, there is still a bottom line.
Is the spending really necessary?
Look at the required money needed for such large-scale, high-security events such as this. The capitol city's security expenses add up to $17.1 million dollars, not to mention other federal costs -- most of which, inevitably, fall back on the taxpayers.
Now, this is not to say that Bush does not deserve a celebration for his victory, or that he should never have won to begin with: This argument is about economics, not politics.
That is what we would like to think, anyway.
It seems that most of the $40 million being donated has come from major corporations, many of which claim to give to each and every inauguration regardless of party affiliation. Their intentions are clear: company executives get time to meet up with Washington's elite to entertain, wine and dine.
Or, should we say, "whine and dine." In reality, it gives America's largest and most wealthy corporations a chance to help lobby and influence votes in Washington for the coming four years.
Meanwhile, the president has reportedly dismissed suggestions that this week's inaugural spending is a bit over the edge. "People are going to come from all over the country who are celebrating democracy and celebrating my victory, and I'm glad to celebrate with them," Bush told the AP.
He's glad to celebrate with those who are lucky enough to get those coveted seats, anyway. Of course, for a $100,000 donation, corporations could receive ticketed seats to the swearing-in ceremony.
And you thought Super Bowl tickets were bad.