Laura Bush has unveiled two sets of china she has chosen for the White House, both paid for from private funds, I understand. The fancy set (320 14-piece place settings, at $492,798--that's $1539.99 per place setting) cost much more than the estimated worth of our current house (even before the housing market crash), and the casual set (75 seven-piece place settings, at $74,000--that's $986.66 per place setting) cost more than we paid (each, not combined) for our first and second homes, and, if I remember correctly, our third home, as well.
According to a story from ABC News, "only two term presidents have time to order custom china," so I guess it takes a long time to have the custom china made. I have two responses to this event, one negative, one positive:
1) Ummmm.....why spend that much on china, especially when the country is in terrible financial difficulties? The Bush administration inherited a budget surplus and is leaving the White House with over a trillion dollars in budget deficit: U.S. BUDGET at the beginning of the Bush presidency: +236.2 billion (2000, Congressional Budget Office); and now: -$1.2 trillion (projected figure for 2009, Congressional Budget Office). (h/t to Steve Benen) Okay, Okay, the President of the United States hosts state dinners that should be elegant. Also, what's half-a-million dollars compared to the billions spent in our government? Still. . . .
2) On the other hand, Laura Bush demonstrates a practical turn of mind which I can admire (while not particularly admiring the cost) in deciding that the family of the president needs a "casual" set of china for everyday use rather than the formal state services.
