Two wars and a double dip recession should dictate less glitz.

[grasswire]

To everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven.

In a democracy that is in deep peril, I think it is wrong to display great excess no matter the occasion, no matter the attendees.

I love Michelle Obama. Her dress for the state dinner was made by forty people working three weeks in a workroom in India; family members of the designer. Made from the finest silk, woven by hand and embroidered by hand for the occasion. It was beyond beautiful. Fit for a queen.

But fit for the spouse of a Democrat in America today? A man elected to bring help and change that can only happen if he forces the wealthy to rein in their greed so that the "American Dream" will not die -- so that children will not hunger and parents will have work and everyone will afford health care?

A higher road, a more inspiring example to the world, a stand of more integrity, would be a scaling down of ostentation in the Obama White House. This is a somber time for the planet. Optimism is welcome, but optimism is not best communicated through a show of wealth. Optimism is best communicated through dedication to policy change that puts workers first.

Perception is everything. And there's a deep growling out there from those who can't sleep at night and fear the future -- a dangerous growling that can be exacerbated by symbols like a soiree and a silk dress.