?!

Today was the day that we inaugurated a new person to be the President of the United States. This is something that happens at least once a decade with lots of pomp and circumstance.

My question: What’s the point?

Perhaps I’m becoming more cynical than I’d like to admit, but isn’t all of this a waste?

I’m not just suggesting that it is a waste because my vote didn’t go toward the winner of the Presidential contest. Instead, it’s because I’ve paused to think about the whole circumstance through a different perspective than before.

During the day today, my Twitter feed was filled with comments from people that were tracking the events from work, home, or wherever they were. For weeks I’ve heard and read comments in various places about how exciting the event will be. I keep ignoring comments about all of the wonderful performances that will take place. It all just seems like too much.

Today, during typical business hours, and while our company is in “cost-conscious mode”, one of our branch offices killed their internet connection entirely because nearly everyone was trying to watch the ceremonies live over the internet. This meant that the few people that were actually TRYING to keep their jobs were literally unable to work. Are you convinced yet?

How many people, do you suppose, skipped work today to watch the ceremony on TV? How many people went into debt to travel to Washington, D.C., to see it live? How much money has been spent on the entertainers and entertainment? Our economy is hurting, right? I realize that the tourism economy in D.C. is probably loving this, but that’s about it.

Again, this isn’t just about WHO is going into the office. It’s merely about HOW it’s all going down. We keep living our lives in excess and then wonder why there’s nothing left… I don’t get it.

Now, just to vent a bit on a similar topic, I wish that our celebrations surrounded GOOD things, not the promotion of crooked people. Regardless of who the national politician may be, he/she is bound to be crooked. I swear – they must take an oath when they first get their petitions signed that they will do everything they can to abuse their power. If they DON’T currently have such an oath, then maybe they should start doing this… at least then they would have a way to show the slightest bit of integrity…

So why celebrate? I suggest that when people take public office, we should hold a solemn ceremony that shows our respect to that office. These kinds of celebrations just further the notion that our elections are more of a competition than a selection of the best leader/representative.