are we stingy?

Is the US stingy?

"Colin Powel said that...America, the world's richest nation, would contribute $15 million. That's less than half of what Republicans plan to spend on the Bush inaugural festivities."
-http://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/30/opinion/30thu2.html

So...over 110,000 people die, yet we can spend more on a party for the Bush than helping innocent people whose lives have been destroyed?!