By Tom Ryan, Kansas City Star Reader Advisory Panel

It’s not as if we couldn’t afford the catering bill. The city of Pittsburgh and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania would have loved the whole family there. Missing family members at a reunion is always awkward. That top 20 list is stupid.

What good does it serve? This posturing parade of pompous paramours pervades our Pittsburgh panorama pleading and partying. Pleading for everyone to understand the big issues. Partying together without the less-fortunate family members. Pittsburgh had plenty of room.

For countries not attending it’s a time to ponder their place and self-worth, maybe. Size has nothing to do with influence and power these days. Just read all the jargon about asymmetric warfare…listen to the pundits worry you about terrorism…selling well at a screen near you today, by the way. Bigger is not better...too big to fail? Too small to care is what some here.

It’s time to ditch the Top 20 list just as we’ve dumped the Top 40 song list as relevant. There’s a seat for everyone today. Even you, reading this. You should have gotten the memo on this as well as a choice of chicken, beef, veg, or sushi for the luncheon. This G20 A-List is so yesterday.

It’s very un-cool to be flaunting you’re A-List suits and ties these days. Unemployment…Recess(Depress)ion is in the house, people.

The family reunion portrait will make quite a few people unhappy and resentful…How would you like to be number 21?