Public Interest vs. Self Interest

The history of the United States is filled with prominent families who achieved wealth, power and influence through legitimate and/or nefarious means.  But in the two hundred thirty year history of this nation, no two families have ascended to the apex of American politics like the Bushes and Kennedys of today.  And while both families have amassed enormous wealth and unparalleled notoriety, they couldn't be further apart ideologically or share more different views of America, being American, and the importance of public service.

For the Bush family, public service is principally an exercise in self-interest.  It's the effort to make the nation and the world suitable for Bush family values by using the highest positions of government to amass vast personal wealth.  Holding office is not public service for the Bushes.  Election to office inspires no allegiance to the electorate or commitment to honor its requests.

To the contrary.  Election to office is part of the Bush family's perverse sense of destiny, backed by a well "oiled" campaign machine.  What an extraordinary shock for the Bushes when Bush, Sr. lost his '92 bid for a second Presidential term to that 'hillbilly Governor from Arkansas'. 

This unexpected loss inflamed the Bush machine, which vowed to retake the White House at all costs.  Even though George W. wasn't up to the task, the Senior Bush still permitted him to be groomed to be President.  Knowing full well the gravity of the office of President, Bush-the-father still didn't dissuade his untraveled, unworldly, inarticulate, untested son from taking the most important job in the world.  A job he was then, and is now, incapable of doing.

George Herbert Walker Bush is as guilty for the disastrous six years of his son's Presidency as Karl Rove, Dick Cheney, Condoleeza Rice, Donald Rumsfeld, John Ashcroft, Colin Powell and the rest of the W. Administration cabal.  In fact, George, Sr. holds even more guilt because of his intimate knowledge of the gargantuan demands of the job.

Seeing what little consideration the Bush family has for the public-at-large, and for participating in financially uncompensated public service, it's not surprising the family doesn't embrace social causes, remaining steadfastly in the capitalist realm.

Neil Bush, the younger brother of W., is actually profiting off the No Child Left Behind Act by selling his educational program, "Ignite! Learning," to forty different school districts.  According to the Los Angeles Times, "Most of Ignite's business has been obtained through sole-source contracts without competitive bidding. Neil Bush has been directly involved in marketing the product."

Smells like a conflict of interest to me!

W.'s brother Marvin served on the board of directors of Securacom, now known as Stratesec, which provided electronic security for the World Trade Center, Dulles International Airport and United Airlines, right up to the day the twin towers fell. The company was backed by the investment firm, the Kuwait-American Corp., which has been linked to the Bush family for years.