In his inaugural address, Barack Obama told us that ”What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility — a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation, and the world, duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task.”

Rahm Emanuel, Obama’s Chief of Staff, told NBC’s Mee the Press, ”We need that culture of responsibility, not just to be asked of the American people, but its leaders must also lead by example.”

So we find it quite telling that here we are, at the precipice of the worst financial climate since the Great Depression, with scores of Americans getting in financially over their heads and not paying their bills, that the new administration is showing Americans that it’s okay not to pay your bills.

According to Philly.com, the Obama campaign owes nearly $24,000 to the cash-strapped city. “Calls to the White House press office were referred to Democratic National Committee, which sent [us] back to the White House.” But wait, there’s more!

The Chicago Sun-Times reports that the city of Chicago, which is $50 million in the red, is still owed $1,740,000 by the Obama campaign to cover the expenses ran up for his victory celebration. “On Dec. 9, the day the Sun-Times disclosed the $1.74 million tab, Obama spokesman Ben LaBolt referred questions to the DNC.” We’re guessing the DNC then referred them back to Obama’s people which then referred them back to the DNC….

Since the Obama presidency is “too big to fail”, perhaps there’s a few million stashed away in the “bailout” bill to cover his tab? After all, Mr. Obama says we as Americans have a duty to “shared sacrifice”, right? But before every taxpayer in America winds up paying for Mr. Obama’s extravagance more than we already are, we here at FiveBoxes have a better idea: Every person in America that voted for Mr. Obama, simply send $1 to the City of Chicago. This is one sacrifice we all shouldn’t have to share.