Priorities

The San Francisco Chronicle released an article this week talking about the amount of money being donated to the upcoming inauguration of president-elect Barack Obama titled "Obama inauguration very much a Hollywood production." As I read through the article I was surprised at how much money would be put into next weeks inauguration, over $42 million. California leads the pack with its citizens donating around $6.4 million with New York following at $3.9 million. Now the Obama campaign has put a cap of $50,000 per individual and has also made public those names who donated. Among them are top Hollywood directors and actors, university professors, physicians, professional athletes, and more. Barred from donating are corporations, labor unions, and registered lobbyist, however, individuals from these groups may donate not representing their organizations.
Isn't it great to see that, in this time of financial crisis, so many "respectable" people are donating their money to a single event that will do absolutely nothing to stimulate our economy? Especially surprising to see is that Californians, who recently have been considering asking for part of the bailout check due to the bankruptcy of their state, are found as the top donors. Wouldn't it be great if those same people would instead put that money into paying off their state's debt instead of helping to fund an event that could easily be televised to the whole world without costing $42 million? ANd why are these people donating? Tax breaks, public recognition, personal gratification, and every other self absorbed reason.
Why does this inauguration, or any for that matter, have to cost so much money? Do people really need to attend in person the swearing in of our elected officials? Why can't the nation just sit at home and watch it on television. I guarantee it is not costing $42 million to broadcast it. But it will cost $42 million to accommodate the more than 2 million that are expected to attend, security to enforce the crowd and calm the masses, and of course, the huge party afterwards.
Now there will be some jobs created for the hosting of this event and some of that money will trickle back into the community but its effects will be short lasting. Maybe instead of limiting each donations to $50,000 or less the Obama campaign should tell its constituents, especially those from California, to donate their money back into their own state to help it out of its own financial crisis. I thought our president-elect had a plan to help the U.S. out of its current financial crisis. This doesn't seem like a step in the right direction to me.