Now it’s time to get back to work. The fun is over.
I guess this is the first time I’ve really paid attention to the presidential inauguration, but I was helped by the fact that both of the twins are still sick and needed to stay home from daycare. So I had the inauguration festivities on, and believe it or not, but Sean and Daniel were at least mesmerized by the actual swearing in ceremony. They paid attention starting with the musical piece and then into the swearing in of the vice president and president, which is a long time to sit still for essentially boring speechmaking.
But as the afternoon wore on, and there is a private luncheon, and then a bunch of speechmaking — get your photo next to these one-of-a-kind crystal bowls to honor this occasion — that this whole endeavor started to take on the worst aspects of a wedding reception. Honestly, the ego stroking going on serves very little purpose. I’m sad to say that the luncheon (which is something only started in the 1950s) and many of the activities before the parade appear to be absolutely useless.
And then to invest the millions upon millions of dollars in the inauguration balls seems to me to be the height of lunacy in a time when we’re going to be asked to make sacrifices. If people want to party on their own, let them. But to give the seal of significance on these events by organizing and attending them continues to reinforce for me that they’re just trying to repay (no, it’s really not that, they say) the contributors (more ego stroking) and ask them to shell out more money for their lobbying efforts. After all, who gets the invitations to these balls or can even afford them?
Oh, baloney. I don’t think I need to answer that.
I’m not sure why I’m so mad about it at this time. Honestly, I came into today feeling fairly upbeat. I want to believe that it’s all going to make a difference and make my life easier. But I’ve lived through enough of these administrations — Republican and Democratic — to feel pretty certain that it’s a lie. I’m willing to give Obama a chance, because gosh darn it, he comes across as such an optimistic and likable fellow. Or at least, that’s what his body language says.
But also call me torn on the prospects at this time. Because neither party’s kool-aid is all sugary-sweet. And I haven’t seen enough of the ability to lead and make the tough compromises from the leaders of either party to give me great hope for the coming years of our Government.
Good luck, Mr. 44th President — Mr. Obama. There’re a lot of challenges out there to make things right for all of the generations. I pray that you make the right decisions.
I don't think the Government pays for the balls, and they may even be cash-bar (according to Cheryl). So while it may seem extreme to still have them when the economy is doing poorly, at least the Government isn't paying for them.
Actually, Curt, that's my point. These are private affairs, and paid for with millions of dollars in contributions to fund these things. I can see having a single one to celebrate it for the president - that's nice. But to have at least a couple dozen of these things, with the president visiting most of them, is beyond excessive. That's the imprimatur that bothers me.
And it really bothers me no matter who is in charge. This is largely about access. Please don't give me claptrap about no-lobbyists-allowed-in-my-administration when you can almost guarantee that was the source of much of the donated funds and purchased tickets. (I know a bunch are given to volunteers, too.)
I have a similar problem with the conventions, because we're talking tens of millions of dollars just to put on each one. If people don't have use for that money and think that they're just giving the money because they have no better use of it and don't expect any reverse consideration (yeah, right), there are lots of charities that could really use some backfilling to help people in need.