Silverware needs polishin'.
Stainless is more practical.
Pure silver wouldn’t tarnish, but it would be awfully soft. The sterling silver out of which precious utensils are made is an alloy of silver with about 8% copper. It’s harder but it tarnishes badly.
There’s something that rankles about using disposables in Washington — unless it’s an apt commentary on the politicians. I’d imagine that metal utensils would disappear as people sneaked them out as mementos.
I need polishin', too.
But at least I'm compostable.
Silverware and stainless steel, near the hands of congresscritters, is also stealable!
I vote we issue each member of Congress their own personal standard issue WW II mess kit, and make them responsible for its maintenance, cleaning, and return upon their political demise.
Stainless is more practical.
Put a piece of used aluminum foil in the dish washer along with silverware. The aluminum foil will donate electrons to the silverware to remove tarnish. The clean but oxidized foil can then be put in a recycle bin. Of course stainless should be used, because it's cheaper and less likely to be stolen.