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Blogs by SHERRY G HEIM
Inaugural 1/18/2005 5:04:35 PM
First, I want to say that our tax dollars pay for very little of the inaugural. We pay for the swearing in ceremony, the inaugural reception and a few other of the smaller events. The balls and all the hoopla are mostly privately funded and...you guessed it, ya gotta buy a ticket. Tickets start at around $150.00 each if you buy ahead and a minimum of $200.00 upwards to $5000.00 at the door. The profits generated by the events usually are delegated to go to charities. It is only fitting that the country has a ceremony for our President for his instatement(Even the Pope has a huge party when he is instated). I suppose we could cut back in some other ways too, not do such things as have a National Christmas tree, that might save us a few bucks and stop with the national fireworks show for the 4th of July. What the heck, why should we allow any of our people to take pride in America and enjoy the celebrations of those things that freedom affords us?
Bush's inauguration is going to be paid for by private donations from the Republican party not our tax dollars. Our tax dollars are only going to the actual inaugural ceremony; which would be the same cost had Kerry won. If people want to make private donations to the troops or to the tsunami victims, fine. No one has the right to tell anyone what to do with their donations or their money. It is really nobody's business but their own. If you have given up all that you have and have done not one thing for yourself in the last few years because you have sent every penny you have to the military relief fund or to the taunami victims, then please feel free to cast the first stone. The percentage of these (usually wealthy) individuals private funds that they donate to the inaugural galas is probably about the same percentage that the rest of us spend splurging on Starbucks coffee or dining out. Who is to say that they have not given generously to charities, too? My guess is that they have. If private individuals or even corporations want to throw a party for the President, why should we have any say in the matter?
