(a) lots; (b) you; (c) now you know how we feel about the royal state funeral thing (which admittedly can be a nice day out for the whole family when they do it right)
My understanding is that it's currently about $2.2 million for the funeral & surrounding "extras," costs are expected to rise, and then there is the cost of all the various Fed/State people getting a day off... um... lots and lots.
As for who's paying: the costs for all state funerals are shared among several federal agencies including the Department of Defense, the General Services Administration and Capitol Police.
1. The cost is enormous and staggering and it's not like we're rolling in extra federal tax dollars anyway (see, e.g., Bush plans to cut domestic spending across the board if ["re"-]elected).
2. Yet I have such enormous respect for the office of the presidency that I don't think it's necessarily a bad idea to have a state funeral for presidents when they die. There have, after all, only been 43 in the history of this country; it's a pretty exclusive club, and they are the focus of A LOT of attention, good and bad. Of course, that would mean that ALL of the presidents get such treatment, not just the ones who are the most "popular." I don't like special treatment for the "good" presidents, because this country is divided enough. (Can you imagine the furor after Clinton's death if we still only give state funerals to "good" presidents? Goodlord.) Death shouldn't be politicized -- for denigration OR for gain.
that would mean that ALL of the presidents get such treatment, not just the ones who are the most "popular."
Apparently it's up to the ex-president and/or his family as to whether or not he gets a state funeral. At work, we just assumed Nixon didn't qualify for one, but it turns out that he had said he didn't want one.
And I don't know, but as a taxpayer *and* resident, I don't mind the extra costs -- it sort of comes with having that bullseye painted on your municipal back.
I'm with winema's #2. We haven't done this since 1973. Nixon could have had it but decided not to. There are only four ex-presidents right now, one is young and all four seem to be in fine health. We may not do this again for a few years, but this is a rare event.
It is also an event befitting the office. Finally, my tax dollars are wasted on the a ton of things - this is a lot better than $1,000 hammers, $600 toilet seats and tax breaks to polluters.
We may not do this again for a few years, but this is a rare event.
::nods:: Which is why -- since I'm down here in DC for the summer -- I'm planning to take a spin through the Capitol Rotunda tonight. My politics probably couldn't be much more different from Reagan's, but I'll pay my respects to the office he served.
this is a lot better than $1,000 hammers, $600 toilet seats and tax breaks to polluters.
I'm with you on the third thing, but I've heard enough of Morgan Gower's rants about increased costs for specialized equipment on ships and submarines to respectfully disagree with the first two. She knows whereof she speaks. ::g:: Though if you're just talking bloated contracts (e.g. Halliburton gouging the government for a few bucks/gallon of gasoline), I'm with you. ;)
I Posted my ThoughtsxsabxJune 10 2004, 01:30:57 UTC
...and then promptly deleted them.
M, you may get the response if you have comments on e-mail. If this is the case,then you get to read what I think, and I think that will keep everyone happy.
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(b) you;
(c) now you know how we feel about the royal state funeral thing (which admittedly can be a nice day out for the whole family when they do it right)
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As for who's paying: the costs for all state funerals are shared among several federal agencies including the Department of Defense, the General Services Administration and Capitol Police.
So: we are. Yay.
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1. The cost is enormous and staggering and it's not like we're rolling in extra federal tax dollars anyway (see, e.g., Bush plans to cut domestic spending across the board if ["re"-]elected).
2. Yet I have such enormous respect for the office of the presidency that I don't think it's necessarily a bad idea to have a state funeral for presidents when they die. There have, after all, only been 43 in the history of this country; it's a pretty exclusive club, and they are the focus of A LOT of attention, good and bad. Of course, that would mean that ALL of the presidents get such treatment, not just the ones who are the most "popular." I don't like special treatment for the "good" presidents, because this country is divided enough. (Can you imagine the furor after Clinton's death if we still only give state funerals to "good" presidents? Goodlord.) Death shouldn't be politicized -- for denigration OR for gain.
::is conflicted::
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Apparently it's up to the ex-president and/or his family as to whether or not he gets a state funeral. At work, we just assumed Nixon didn't qualify for one, but it turns out that he had said he didn't want one.
And I don't know, but as a taxpayer *and* resident, I don't mind the extra costs -- it sort of comes with having that bullseye painted on your municipal back.
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It is also an event befitting the office. Finally, my tax dollars are wasted on the a ton of things - this is a lot better than $1,000 hammers, $600 toilet seats and tax breaks to polluters.
Take Care
Mara
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::nods:: Which is why -- since I'm down here in DC for the summer -- I'm planning to take a spin through the Capitol Rotunda tonight. My politics probably couldn't be much more different from Reagan's, but I'll pay my respects to the office he served.
this is a lot better than $1,000 hammers, $600 toilet seats and tax breaks to polluters.
I'm with you on the third thing, but I've heard enough of Morgan Gower's rants about increased costs for specialized equipment on ships and submarines to respectfully disagree with the first two. She knows whereof she speaks. ::g:: Though if you're just talking bloated contracts (e.g. Halliburton gouging the government for a few bucks/gallon of gasoline), I'm with you. ;)
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M, you may get the response if you have comments on e-mail. If this is the case,then you get to read what I think, and I think that will keep everyone happy.
I'll be off now.
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