Post by The_Realist on Jan 19, 2005 17:28:02 GMT -5
$40 Million Presidential Party Proves Them Thats Got Shall Get
Date: Sunday, January 16, 2005
By: Deborah Mathis, BlackAmericaWeb.com
The 55th presidential inaugural – the first since 9/11 – is shaping up to be a real wang-dang doodle, at least for two groups: those who like George W. Bush and those who don’t mind blowing a lot of money to have a good time while millions of Americans are quaking over terrorism, wracked by grief, wondering where their next paychecks are coming from, ailing without health care or simply wondering how they’re going to get around in a city that will soon be blockaded and armed to the teeth.
The official events include three concerts, two prayer services, a parade, a reception, a brunch, the swearing-in and nine inaugural balls, where the president and his elegantly adorned first lady are expected to make at least a brief appearance. The White House notes that Mrs. Bush will pay for her own designer gowns and suits.
Inaugural festivities are always a costly affair, increasingly so, and Thursday’s will keep that trend aloft. Most of the $40 to $50 million tab will be paid by the acolytes – those who favor Bush or those who want to win his favor, like the huge corporations that owe GWB a debt of gratitude for helping fatten their bulging pockets and which are hoping only for more in the coming quadrennial.
Some of it will come from the unwitting citizens of Washington, D.C., who have no say in the matter. Even D.C. Mayor Anthony Williams, who does not always work in the best interest of his constituents, tried to raise a little Cain when informed that the Bushies will not – repeat, not – cover the estimated $17 million that the District government will shell out for security, traffic control, overtime and other costs required of the extravaganza’s host city.
Because of that, the city will have to eat nearly $12 million – money it intends to take out of the homeland security fund.
That not only breaks tradition – inaugural committees have always reimbursed the city – but it betrays peculiar reasoning. Along with New York City, Washington D.C. is considered the hottest target for a repeat of September 11, 2001. Since it is the nation’s capital, you would think the folks who run the show would want to make sure they can afford the best in security and not blow part of the escrow on what, in the end, is nothing but a super-sized, unnecessary party.
Requiring an endangered city to dip into its homeland security account for such puffery is, in effect, robbing Peter to pay Peter. Paul gets nada.
Indeed, Paul can’t do anything about it, but sit on the sidelines and watch. But what else is new? More than 560,000 people live in the District. They have the second highest income tax rate in the country and pay the 20th highest sales tax. Yet they have no voting representation in Congress, the public schools need work, hospitals and affordable housing are in low supply, violent crime is bedeviling and joblessness is particularly rife among the 60 percent of citizens who are black.
Many of the major thoroughfares in the city will not be accessible to them come Inauguration Day, to say nothing of the events themselves, which carry high-priced tickets and invitation-only restrictions.
The situation is only aggravated by the realities of our time. To everything there is a season, and this is not a time to party. Not when thousands of Americans – and tens of thousands of faceless Iraqis -- are dead, dying or maimed, far from home and whose families are financially, logistically and emotionally strained to keep hearth and home together in their absence.
The White House argues that tradition justifies the high-rolling celebration. It conveniently ignores the tradition of paying your own way.
Them thats got shall get.
www.blackamericaweb.com/site.aspx/bawnews/mathis117
Date: Sunday, January 16, 2005
By: Deborah Mathis, BlackAmericaWeb.com
The 55th presidential inaugural – the first since 9/11 – is shaping up to be a real wang-dang doodle, at least for two groups: those who like George W. Bush and those who don’t mind blowing a lot of money to have a good time while millions of Americans are quaking over terrorism, wracked by grief, wondering where their next paychecks are coming from, ailing without health care or simply wondering how they’re going to get around in a city that will soon be blockaded and armed to the teeth.
The official events include three concerts, two prayer services, a parade, a reception, a brunch, the swearing-in and nine inaugural balls, where the president and his elegantly adorned first lady are expected to make at least a brief appearance. The White House notes that Mrs. Bush will pay for her own designer gowns and suits.
Inaugural festivities are always a costly affair, increasingly so, and Thursday’s will keep that trend aloft. Most of the $40 to $50 million tab will be paid by the acolytes – those who favor Bush or those who want to win his favor, like the huge corporations that owe GWB a debt of gratitude for helping fatten their bulging pockets and which are hoping only for more in the coming quadrennial.
Some of it will come from the unwitting citizens of Washington, D.C., who have no say in the matter. Even D.C. Mayor Anthony Williams, who does not always work in the best interest of his constituents, tried to raise a little Cain when informed that the Bushies will not – repeat, not – cover the estimated $17 million that the District government will shell out for security, traffic control, overtime and other costs required of the extravaganza’s host city.
Because of that, the city will have to eat nearly $12 million – money it intends to take out of the homeland security fund.
That not only breaks tradition – inaugural committees have always reimbursed the city – but it betrays peculiar reasoning. Along with New York City, Washington D.C. is considered the hottest target for a repeat of September 11, 2001. Since it is the nation’s capital, you would think the folks who run the show would want to make sure they can afford the best in security and not blow part of the escrow on what, in the end, is nothing but a super-sized, unnecessary party.
Requiring an endangered city to dip into its homeland security account for such puffery is, in effect, robbing Peter to pay Peter. Paul gets nada.
Indeed, Paul can’t do anything about it, but sit on the sidelines and watch. But what else is new? More than 560,000 people live in the District. They have the second highest income tax rate in the country and pay the 20th highest sales tax. Yet they have no voting representation in Congress, the public schools need work, hospitals and affordable housing are in low supply, violent crime is bedeviling and joblessness is particularly rife among the 60 percent of citizens who are black.
Many of the major thoroughfares in the city will not be accessible to them come Inauguration Day, to say nothing of the events themselves, which carry high-priced tickets and invitation-only restrictions.
The situation is only aggravated by the realities of our time. To everything there is a season, and this is not a time to party. Not when thousands of Americans – and tens of thousands of faceless Iraqis -- are dead, dying or maimed, far from home and whose families are financially, logistically and emotionally strained to keep hearth and home together in their absence.
The White House argues that tradition justifies the high-rolling celebration. It conveniently ignores the tradition of paying your own way.
Them thats got shall get.
www.blackamericaweb.com/site.aspx/bawnews/mathis117
