I was at work all day today and I only caught a little bit of the inaugural parade on the internet when my coworker showed it to us during a release meeting. I did read Obama’s speech online and here are some of my thoughts.
First of all, Obama’s speech was very well written and that is no surprise because it was probably slowly crafted by a team of highly skilled writers including Obama. I actually liked it because it was more realistic than what I would have expected. He acknowledged that this country is in a crisis and that “the challenges we face are real, they are serious and they are many”. He also saluted immigrants and soldiers as people “who have carried us up the long, rugged path towards prosperity and freedom”. He also seemed optimistic that America will bring in a “new era of peace” and that American people will need to enter a “new era of responsibility”.
Obama also did not promise too much policy in his speech, and I think that is wise. However, this the excerpt where he talked about the role of the government, and I think it was somewhat sad:
The question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works, whether it helps families find jobs at a decent wage, care they can afford, a retirement that is dignified.
Where the answer is yes, we intend to move forward. Where the answer is no, programs will end.
And those of us who manage the public’s knowledge will be held to account, to spend wisely, reform bad habits, and do our business in the light of day, because only then can we restore the vital trust between a people and their government.
Basically it says that the government will determine whether its programs are useful and move forward or end them. This brings up the question of who watches the watchmen. How will those in power be held accountable? I think many Americans today feel powerless to do anything about the situation they are in, and I am not sure if the government is the answer. Generally, people have less freedoms as governments grow larger, and I don’t see that changing under Obama. Case and point are the newly released $350 billion TARP funds and the proposed $825 billion stimulus. This rampant government spending is obviously not being controlled and more government spending generally increases the size and influence of the government.
Finally, I saw on many blogs and news outlets that say that the inauguration costs somewhere around $160 million to $170 million, and I think that’s just a bit too much no matter who is getting named president. $160 to $170 million could fund many companies here in the Valley, but instead its being spent on a big party in Washington D.C. How is that for spending wisely? I do hope that Obama will usher in a government that’s moral, wise, and frugal, but I don’t know how much one man can do to change this giant lumbering institution that is the United States government. I also don’t know if Obama wants to actually make the government more efficient because he is pretty much the CEO of a giant non-profit organization. This organization has no need to be more efficient because it has a giant endowment in the tax revenues of the American people, and its CEO acquires more power as it expands.
Will we see a new era? Only time will tell. Meanwhile, the parties rage on in Washington D.C.
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2 comments ↓
About $50 million of those costs were paid for by private donations, and the federal government expected to pay another $50 million; the nearby states and DC expected to spend millions more for police services.
That said, well over a million people took metro to the event, and probably as many got there other ways. The balls, the television advertising dollars, the hotels, the restaurants, the gas stations, the airlines … they all benefited greatly from this event.
It was like the superbowl of political events, a mini stimulus in the middle of winter that not only helped bring in cash for many businesses in that part of the country, but also brought people together for parties and events all over the country.
Not to mention that feeling of optimism and need that seems to be bringing us together as a nation right now and inspiring some of us to volunteer work and service.
Anyway, my point is, it was most definitely an expensive party, but I disagree that it was spent unwisely.
And the bulk of the cost was security, which was, indeed understandably , the highest ever. If that had not been so much higher, the cost would have fallen in line with other inaugurations. I think altogether it was only (ha only) like 3 million more than Bush’s last.
To me, the inauguration is very important because we are the sole country that has this kind of peaceful basically “regime” change. It was intensely watched internationally and really, makes a statement of our position. It’s too bad that that is necessary, but it is. It assures other nations that we are a rich nation and in most countries, that is an important signal.
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