Debt and Taxes

The next president of the United States of America, will be sworn in tomorrow, but looking at the price tag of this little get-together, you would think he was getting crowned as King of America.

The estimated cost of the party surrounding the 90 second actual "swearing" part is rapidly approaching $150 Million. There are people that are spending $50,000 on front-row seats that were all in a tizzy about the cost of President G. W. Bush's inauguration that totaled a little over $42 Million.

Sure, 42 Million dollars is a lot of money. Shoot, right now, 10 dollars is a lot of money for me.

How much is $160 Million dollars exactly? I feel like I've been brain-washed when it comes to that much money. I hear these huge amounts thrown around all the time on the news, but it's just such a staggering number, I can't really wrap my head around it.

I wouldn't mind someone spending that much money on something that they believed in, but I have a problem with it if it's MY money they are spending.

I'm about to file taxes, and I expect a fairly large return this year. I made a steady amount of money, had a kid, and claimed zero when I could have claimed 3. But, I'm still paying a lot of money to the government. Not only April 15th, but every time I buy diapers or milk. If that money is going toward keeping our borders safe, then I am happy to pay it. If those tax dollars are funding medical research that will keep my family healthy, great, I support that. Even if I don't directly support what the money is going toward, but it helps the greater good (the greater good), such as wars and political campaigns, I'm even cool with that. Bottom line, I pay taxes, and I'm proud to support my country through it. But, if we are going to be spending $160,000,000 of mine, and my children's money to throw a party for a man who just said that we are in the worst economic crisis of our lifetime, um, I'll pass. If I only could.

Despite the clear and obvious corruption in our government, I am American, and I am proud to support my country's leaders. But I know I'll be paying for it later.