End of the world as we know it...

...but they feel fine:

The country is in the middle of the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression, which isn't stopping rich donors and the government from spending $170 million, or more, on the inauguration of Barack Obama.

The actual swearing-in ceremony will cost $1.24 million, according to Carole Florman, spokeswoman for the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies.

It's the security, parties and countless Porta-a-Potty rentals that really run up the bill.

The biggest group of donors were none other than the recently bailed-out Wall Street executives and employees.

"The finance sector is well represented, despite its recent troubles," Ritsch said. "Those who worked in finance still managed to pull together nearly $7 million for the inauguration."...

"They are not the $20 and $50 donors who helped propel Obama through Election Day," said Massie Ritsch, communications director for the Center for Responsive Politics. "These are people giving mostly $50,000 apiece. They tend to be corporate executives, celebrities, the elite of the elite." ((well, ex-ca-USE me!))

I don't begrudge Obama his day--it was hard work schnookering as many Americans as he has, so I suppose he's earned it. But this just shows the lack of leadership culture we have as a nation. Isn't there a single President-elect, CEO or "elite of the elite" who can see the value of example? Our "betters" keep telling us if we don't take action (i.e. let the government rob us blind), there'll be economic disaster of biblical proportions. Americans would rally behind an Administration that said "we don't need the party--we need to get to work, while individual Americans roll up their sleeves to solve the problems government is ill-equipped to."

Instead, they want to party like it's 1969. But hey, it's not their money they're spending--particularly the bailed-out Wall Street firms that can still manage to cough up $7 million for the world's largest block party. Remember that the next time CEOs come to Congress, hat in hand...