In 1853 President Franklin Pierce, who was mourning the recent loss of his son, asked that the inaugural ball be canceled. Sixty years later, President Woodrow Wilson called for the cancellation of his ball because he felt the event was too expensive and unnecessary. In 1921 President Warren G. Harding did away with both his inaugural ball and parade for similar reasons. President Franklin D. Roosevelt chose to work through the night instead of attending his first inaugural ball in 1933 and he canceled the next three celebrations because of the Depression and World War II.
Some Democrats called for President Bush to cancel any inaugural celebration in 2004. Now of course it's different, yet the economy is worse and we are still at war. It's being stated that millions are heading to DC to celebrate and no one wants them to be disappointed. Yet millions struggle to provide just the basics for their family and while it's true that very little government funding goes into these events, there are still huge costs to the government when it comes to security.
Then there is the message...
1 comment:
I don't have a problem with the big show. Yes, it is a colossal waste of money when either party does it and all that money could go to better causes, even if it is private money, but they can choose where they want to spend. The only part that bothers me is the hypocrisy of the other party that complains.
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