WORLD VIEW: Dynastic politics deep-rooted in US also

In India families dominating the political arena is neither scoffed at nor shunned. It is taken for granted that political posts and positions become the birth right of the kin of those who already hold high elected offices.

Unlike the Indian public’s magnanimous acceptance, people in many countries of the West just do not approve of this dynastic politics.

But when one carefully observes the political scenario prevailing in the United States of America, it can be noticed that dynastic politics has firm roots, though if counted in Indian terms it may look miniscule.

The general perception that Americans do believe, practice and follow the best democratic traditions might go in for a huge toss in the 2016 presidential elections if Hillary Clinton or John Ellis ‘Jeb’ Bush become POTUS (President of the Unites States).

The founding fathers of the US, who penned the constitution, vehemently objected to the concept of power flowing through blood rather than ballot. It was effectively enshrined in the sacred document that "no title of nobility shall be granted by the United States".

Therefore dynasty has become a dirty word in the US.

But that noble ideal has not been taken seriously by several families in the US of A. In the pursuit of power and glory through politics, eminent families have slowly made it to office over several generations.

The Kennedys, the Rockefellers, the Bushs’, are some of the prominent names that figure in the dynasty list. This is because many in these families have risen to top political positions and have attracted media attention. But like in India and many of the Asian SE Asian countries there are many families in several states across America that have enjoyed political power for decades and generations.

In America, dynastic politics is generally used when at least three generations successively have gained political office.

But ironically some families have dominated several states and cities for decades but people there seem to have no objection.

“As a democracy the United States ought presumably to be able to dispense with dynastic families,” wrote Arthur Schlesinger junior, one of America’s best-known historians. Political dynasties were supposed to fade as ordinary people got the vote. That does not seem to be happening. The big dollar question is -- why? Ordinary folks are too busy struggling with life and living. There is too much happening that is overwhelming their capacity to analyse, think and weigh the pros and cons of each candidate’s strengths and weaknesses. Political dynasties have a powerful mixture of brand names and personal connections built like a matrix or spider web. All these connections are well maintained through business links or ‘crony capitalism’.

Politicians all over have the same uncanny knack to propel the voter to their side either through ‘tricks’ or promises.

The results of the 2016 presidential elections may well be unique in the sense if Hillary wins it will be truly all in the family and at the same time historic as she would be the first woman president. If Its Jeb gets the job (he has not yet decided in putting up his name for the job), it will be like father, like son and also like brother.