The coronation -- excuse me, inauguration -- of George Bush reminded me of the "let them eat cake" days of the French monarchy. Forget mounting casualties in Iraq, tsunami victims and thousands facing starvation in Africa, let's party! After all, it cost only $40 million; that's less that a buck apiece for American families living below the poverty line or without health insurance.

While I suppose some sort of ceremony is in order for the beginning of Bush's second term, it seems unconscionable that such a celebratory mood exists in Washington today. Young kids in their 20s continue to die daily in Iraq, tsunami victims try to reassemble their lives, heavy storm victims in California do the same and dysfunction throughout the world seems at an all-time extreme.

George Bush now embarks on his second term. I and many millions vociferously disagree with Bush's policies. We did all we could to prevent this man and his handlers from continuing their xenophobic, nearsighted march toward a scary future. And we have failed.