YES WE CAN! [have a $150 million inauguration party]

Before I risk coming across as a complete curmudgeon, I voted for Barack Obama.  Yes I did.  I believe in the man and I think that his charisma alone may be enough to restore at least some semblance of normalcy to our American dream and our ideologies as seen by the rest of the world.  But why is everyone OK with taxpayers floating the lion’s share of a $150 million party for the man when our economy is hemorrhaging jobs and the banking industry is in shambles?  Despite the general excitement over this historical change in administration, shouldn’t Obama use this as an opportunity to prove to the people that “Yes we can” is about everyone doing their part to be fiscally responsible, including executive management?

I’ve always believed in that old, very cliché’ statement, one must lead by example, or as Ghandi put it, “Be the change you want to see.”  And this seems like it would have been a great time for Obama to do just that – to tell Beyonce, Stevie, Fergie, the Boss and Bono (especially Bono), “Thanks for your support, but I think it would be best for America to exercise some moderation here.  Scale back the festivities so that I can show the American people that I’m just as serious about pulling this country out of financial peril as I’m asking them to be.” 

It reminds me of a story about my girlfriend’s father.  He became the Superintendent of a hospital in Taiwan in his later years.  Upon accepting the job, the Board told him to choose between a new Lexus and a Mercedes for his company car.  Instead, he chose a modestly priced minivan.  On his watch, there were no extravagant perks for executives, no first-class flights, not even preferential parking spots. His choice of car became a powerful symbol of his dedication to being the change that he wanted to bring to the hospital.  In return, the employees were ferociously loyal to him and to the hospital.  After fourteen years and expanding the hospital beyond anyone’s wildest dreams, he retired and his replacement chose the Mercedes.  The employees at the hospital regard the new Superintendent with indifference. 

And I’m not suggesting that Obama do something unprecedented in American history.  In 1945, President Roosevelt held his inauguration at the White House and served guests cold chicken salad.  Woodrow Wilson didn’t have any party in 1917 because he felt any party held while the country was at war (World War I) was “undignified.”

Perhaps Wilson’s 1917 party abstinence is a bit out-dated and extreme for a presidential rock star like Obama, but couldn’t we have just kept the party budget to the $41 million that his Inaugural Committee was able to raise?  Does the American taxpayer really have to pick up the $109 million slack while we’re losing our jobs?  And although I’m paying for it, I don’t seem to remember getting my invitation.  Perhaps it was lost in the mail because I had to move to a cheaper apartment BECAUSE I LOST MY JOB WHILE YOU WERE ORGANIZING A FRIGGIN’ PARTY WITH MY MONEY.

I know, I know, in the grand scheme of things, $109 million isn’t a ton of money for the taxpayer to cover, but it’s the symbolism.  It’s Obama choosing a Mercedes when the rest of America can’t even buy a new minivan.