Unemployment has risen sharply. The economy is dwindling to no avail. The country is still at war, spending millions of dollars a day. Yet, President Obama’s inaugural celebration racked up a $150 million tab.

Around 3,000 students could have had their entire college education paid for with all that money.

Roughly five schools could have been built, providing education for over 5,000 American kids.

George Bush was asked back in 2005 to be more frugal in his celebration spending.

According to a MSNBC article, two lawmakers, Reps. Anthony Weiner and Jim McDermott wrote a letter in which they stated, “President Roosevelt held his 1945 inaugural at the White House, making a short speech and serving guests cold chicken salad and plain pound cake.

“During World War I, President Wilson did not have any parties at his 1917 inaugural, saying that such festivities would be undignified.”

The country then was at war, resources were scarce and such festivities were unnecessary.

Today, our country is again at war, our economy is going through the worst recession since the 1930s, yet our president still generously celebrates his inauguration, a-la-Grammy awards.

Obama’s inauguration was without a doubt a historic event, but many historic events have taken place without the luxury of a star-studded gala.

A quieter, subtler celebration would have greatly helped his idea for economic restructuring.

With so much negative press about exaggerated corporate spending, perhaps spending three times the average American income on a party was bad planning.