Family Business or Monarchy

"This isn't personal. It's strictly business." -- Michael Corleone

America First does not mean Family First.

   Unlike many monarchies, America is not a family business. Historians will be hard pressed to find another presidency with as many close family members so directly involved in the business of government as the U.S. sees this year.
   But given the tangle of connections -- business and political -- being revealed about the current president's family, one wonders how they perceive their role in U.S. government.
   If monarchy means rule by one, patriarchy means rule by a father, oligarchy means rule by a few, and plutocracy means rule by the rich, it seems that all of these terms may soon apply to America.
   More relevant, it may well be that the so-called "First Family" now inhabiting the White House believes these terms already apply.
   This family has built its business empire through close involvement of each member of the family in key positions in every operation. Now that same tactic is being used to place family members in key government positions, even as they retain their close connections to the family businesses.
   Perhaps the most telling example of this attitude is when the daughter of the president took his seat at a meeting of 20 leaders of major national governments.
   Traditionally, most presidents of the United States have not involved family members in the business of government.
   There have been several exceptions, of course. When Woodrow Wilson suffered a serious illness, his wife fronted for him and was effectively chief of state until the president recovered. Eleanor Roosevelt toured the country gathering information on behalf of her husband Franklin, who was disabled by polio. And Hillary Clinton was a consistent adviser to husband Bill throughout his long political career.
   All three of these examples, however, involved highly intelligent, experienced and competent spouses who had long been involved in politics and government. Moreover, they were the only family members advising the president. Brothers, children, cousins or in-laws were not.
      Unfortunately, the new guy in the Oval Office puts personal and family loyalty above any other qualification for public office. Mixing family business with public policy is at best highly questionable and unethical, and at worst illegal and perhaps an impeachable offence.
   Meanwhile, the evidence is piling up as investigators in Congress, the FBI and in the free press find and expose the complex entanglements of this family with businesses and governments, both foreign and domestic, many of which border on or even overstep the boundaries of ethical and legal behavior.