Photo: WitheyesThe Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies wants the January 20 Obama inauguration to be “one of the most accessible in U.S. history.”
But the the laws of supply and demand are making accessibility hard for the average citizen.
To get a free ticket to the inauguration ceremony, you either need to know someone (a senator or representative from your state, the president-elect, the vice president-elect, etc.), or you need a lot of money: ticket brokers are asking as much as $20,095 for a single ticket, reports CNN.
Tickets along the parade route, meanwhile, where Biden and Obama will walk between the White House and the Capitol, were only $25 apiece, but they went “blazingly fast,” reports the BBC, and if you want one now, you’ll likely pay a dear price.
Even if you do secure a ticket, you’ll likely encounter overpriced and scarce transportation and hotel rooms: some area hotels have as much as quadrupled their prices, reports the Boston Globe.
Some would-be inauguration attendees are even canceling their trips due to concerns about travel and expenses, reports FOXNews.com, and Washington’s officials have reduced the estimated number of inauguration attendees from four to five million to two million.
If you were given a ticket, would it be worth your while (and money) to go? Or if you’re one of the people who does have a ticket, what’s your survival plan?
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Sixteen years ago, Robert Reich presented a piece on NPR’s Market Place show. Reich, who became Clinton’s first Labor Secretary, told the story of a “friend,” close to one of the candidates, who was trying to reserve a room for the inauguration, pre-election, before all of the rooms were gone.
The hotels were double or triple their normal rates; there was a four or five day minimum stay, and there were no refunds or cancellations. The friend really had to think long and hard about making a reservation. If his candidate won, he’d surely be invited to the festivities. But if his candidate lost, he’d have no interest in traveling to DC.
He decided to book. The last question the hotel asked was, “What’s your political party?” which he thought was an odd question. Then he realized that they hotels were double booking, and possibly even triple booking (remember Ross Perot) the rooms betting that losers wouldn’t show up.
Just for some scope, the fourth of july is considered an enormous event in Washington, DC. Estimated about 500k tourists. This is apx. 2,000,000. It will be a fun weekend in DC, thats for sure, especially with the law passed letting bars stay open until 5am for the weekend.
and as a side note, the top of the washington monument would probably be the most amazing view you could have given the sea of people that will most likely be beneath it.
So where is the “approved” protesting section located – Gaithersburg, MD??? I would love to see that.
Obama is just another in a long line of empty suits- he just gets a big boost from the public as the first multiracial American to be elected president. (He is not African American as in the descendant of former slaves but African American as in the child of Kenyan and American citizens…)
If people could understand that the journalism industry is business controlled then maybe they would understand that this industry never reports on alternative political parties because those parties are not “news worthy” (ie will sell papers, magazines, or generate web advertising).
The public should be educated tp vote for someone who would actually change things not just “say” they are going to change things…and then do all the same stuff again.
I was in Grant Park for election night, but only because I couldn’t sell my ticket (sold my guest pass). If I had a ticket, I would certainly sell, plus rent out my apartment, etc. Even adding the benefit of being able to say “I was there”, it’s not worth the price tag.
As a high school student, I was given the opportunity to attend the inauguration as a participant in Close Up, a program to show high school students first hand how the government operates. Tickets were free, hotel was booked through the program, and everything is already planned. The only drawback, as far as I’m concerned, is the sheer number of people who will be there.
I’d go. This is an incredible opportunity and I would love to be a part of it!
I’m going. I don’t have a ticket, but I live in Baltimore and have family in Washington. I’m driving down this weekend, sleeping on the floor, and walking the five miles to the Mall.
If I had a ticket I would certainly use it for the better seats. But if someone offered me $20,000 for it, I suppose having to stand all day would be worth it.
twee,
I admire your participation in the Close Up program and the fact that you will get to attend the inauguration.
One thing to be aware of is how the donars to the program seek to influence political policy or politicians. Someone has probably spent alot of money for you to attend the Close up program so you should look for sponsorship influence or freebies and ask deeper questions.
If our (and later your) government keeps acting like as a business and removing legitimate alternative opinions from discussion (re: non-partisan Commission on Presidential Debates which created self limits to 3rd party candidates) because these opinions are not “marketable” to a certain two political parties goals then we are done for as a country.
Politicians should serve their country in the same respect that soldiers do. Again, just be aware and concious of those who seek to influence your attitudes while you attend the program.
Have fun along with your work.
e