An excessively extravagant inauguration

This week, the Bush administration will spend an estimated $40 million in private funds on festivities surrounding the president's second inauguration. These celebrations include, but are certainly not limited to, nine official balls, many unofficial affairs, a youth rock concert, a parade and a fireworks display. In light of recent world events, Bush should scale back the resplendently lavish plans to commemorate his reelection.

The federal government has stuck the cash-strapped District of Columbia with much of the tab for inaugural security costs. For the first time in history, D.C. will be forced to cover all of its police expenses for this week's festivities, about $17 million in all. To pay for everything, the city has to drain its own tax funds and divert $11.9 million in federal grants earmarked for other homeland security requirements. As it has in the past, the federal government should reimburse the District for its security services. Inaugurations are, after all, a federal responsibility.

Given the tsunami tragedy in Southeast Asia and Africa that claimed over 150,000 lives and that fact that American troops are dying almost daily in Iraq, Bush should have followed the precedent set by wartime President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. As he was sworn in during a time of unspeakable peril in the world, FDR decided to take the oath of office in a simple ceremony at the White House. No extravagant parties or magnificent parades followed his brief 1945 inaugural address. Just propriety.

If the president wants to demonstrate America's sensitivity for the world to see, he should redirect much of the $40 million raised largely from special interest groups to tsunami relief organizations. Or to the Pentagon, so it can provide troops in Iraq with the body and vehicle armor they so desperately need.

Mr. President, give your speech to thousands on the Capitol steps, take the oath from Judge Rehnquist, but don't dishonor the people who lost their lives in one of the worst natural disasters in modern history or the valiant soldiers who gave their lives fighting for freedom by holding an inappropriate and excessively luxuriant celebration of your victory in November.