With parades, pyrotechnics and parties, President George W. Bush celebrated what is undoubtedly one of the most significant moments in any president’s life Thursday.

However, this was more than the typical inauguration. With a price tag close to $40 million, this was the most expensive in U.S. history.

Most of the $40 million used for the celebration was raised privately, coming mainly from wealthy supporters, according to the CNN.com Web site.

Still, with rising concerns over budget cuts, the war in Iraq and funding tsunami relief in Southeast Asia, using this much money on an inauguration is, especially during a time of war, unnecessarily extravagant.

With the money raised for the celebration, the United States could have given more to aid tsunami relief efforts.

In addition, there have been recent concerns that soldiers in Iraq have been forced to use outdated and even dangerous equipment.

Instead of using so much money on a celebration, much of that money could have been used to armor Humvees and improve the safety of the troops, especially given the president’s recent emphasis on honoring troops.

The need for funding is not only great at the international level, but at the domestic level as well. Raising federal funding for education, for example, would have also been a better use of the money.

In December, Bush passed a law that would decrease the amount of students eligible for Pell Grants. In addition, those who will remain eligible can likely see a significant decrease in the money they receive.

That is not to say that some of the funding raised was not necessary. Some of it was used to pay for security, which was at a higher level than ever before.

However, using that much money when there are so many other needs to fulfill is, at best, completely irresponsible.