Ma Hamatzav? (Was' Up?)

Inauguration (over) spending

January 9, 2009 at 9:43 pm Leave a comment

Peter Overby of NPR reported yesterday that the Obama inaugural committee is some $50M short. I was half-heartedly listening to the radio on my way to work but this report got my attention. I know that in the grand scheme of the economic crisis and budget deficit $50M is a drop in the bucket. But if they’re $50M short what is the total ticket for the entire inauguration? It’s a rhetorical question – I don’t really want to know.

I am an ardent Obama supporter. However, this seems the perfect opportunity for him to ‘put his money where his mouth is.’ We need to celebrate his inauguration, no doubt. It’s a historic, healing episode in American history. For some (me included)  it’s also a celebration of the end of an autocratic, divisive regime. But there’s so much that we could do with $50M, starting with housing, feeding and clothing those in need. Call me a bleeding heart liberal, but waste is waste when there are those who need. Barack, take a stand for change and keep the partying reasonable – donate the rest to charity.

Entry filed under: Politics, Social Justice.