Chirping Crickets During the Bacchanalia

"When the American people spoke last November, they were demanding change--change in policies that helped deliver the worst economic crisis that we've seen since the Great Depression."
--President-elect Barack Obama, speaking to reporters on January 6, 2009.

"In the short run, we face the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression..."
--Peter R. Orszag, testifying before Congress as President-elect Obama's nominee to head the Office of Management & Budget, January 13, 2009.



Now, let's leave aside the obvious fact that the economic situation in the late 1970s and early 1980s was far worse than the economy is today (thank you, President Carter). Historically high interest rates, unemployment rates hovering between 8% and 11%, "stagflation", the oil crisis.... But, I digress.

Obama and his crew continuously warn of trillion dollar deficits, trillion dollar stimulus packages, trillion dollar bailouts, scaling back tax cuts, massive unemployment, and other economic horrors since Election Day. "Talking down" the economy is Obama's strategy to lower expectations so that any success--and even less significant failures--will be seen as a huge victory. Smarter, more efficient government is the order of the day (where have we heard that one before?)...but somehow we get there by lots of additional spending. Gird your loins.

So where's the belt tightening? Americans everywhere are limiting or downright eliminating unnecessary expenses and extras from their budgets. Suddenly, that $4 latte is not so refreshing. Most of us have stopped traveling, spending on big ticket items, and splurging on big parties. Most of us are learning to live with less...except, of course, the New York Yankees. Shouldn't the federal government take the lead in reducing excess? Shouldn't the Change We Deserve include trimming the fat from discretionary spending and scaling back the upcoming inaugural?

And, let's not forget there is a war going on. American soldiers are giving their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan. Of course, Obama is backtracking on his 16-month Iraq troop pull-out pledge, too, instead saying he will consult with commanders to devise a safe withdrawal strategy. Duh! That's been the only reasonable approach all along, even though saying so would not have gotten Obama elected. You didn't really think The One was truly committed to that firm timetable, did you? Don't be naive. The Change We Deserve includes Changing One's Positions when it's expedient.

In sum, according to the Obama-ites, the economy is abyssmal--certainly far worse than, say, when President Bush was inaugurated in 2005. And war, as always, is hell. Agreed. Shouldn't these facts dictate a more somber mood and frugality for the upcoming inaugural festivities? Some Mainstream Media (MSM) liberals chastised Bush in 2005 for the "huge cost and unprecedented security", expressing reservations over the extravagence when compared to more noble on which the money could be spent, and were wringing their hands over celebrating the peaceful transfer of power during wartime.

Today, the only reservations the MSM has for the Obama inauguration celebration are for limos, fine DC restaurants, and fancy balls. The cost for Obama's inauguration is currently estimated to exceed $150 million. That's $150,000,000.00. More than 3 times the cost of Bush's 2005 inauguration and 5 times more than Bill Clinton's 1993 inaugural. Yet instead of caterwauling about unrestrained luxury in hard times--or letting the crickets chirp as they disregard the issue this time--the MSM is giddily anticipating the bacchanalia of A-list parties, balls and concerts with the most famous of the famous. Three times the cost of the last inaugural during "the worst economy since the Great Depression" and nary a criticism from the MSM.

But the spending doesn't stop there. Congress generously allocates $100,000.00 for "household transition costs" for each incoming administration. That doesn't sound like much but it is a lot in these times. Remember, Obama raised $750 million during the campaign. That's $750,000,000.00. More than was raised by all the 2004 presidential candidates of all parties combined.

Here's a suggestion for the Obamas: Take, say, $25,000.00 of the money from Congress, buy some new furniture, stuff for the kids' rooms, and some new china, and then take the remaining $75,000.00 and return it to the Treasury. And scale back the coronation. Take the roughly half of the $150 million paid by taxpayers for the inaugural celebration and use it to fund scholarships for the children of fallen soldiers and law enforcement officers. Or lower our taxes. Or don't spend it at all.

Now that's change I can believe in.