Where the ruling elite go to socialise


Rick Lyman and Anne Kornblut in the NYT describe how the current ruling elite of the US use ranches like the Armstong's in Texas to socialise while they are away from Washington DC. Here, in the privacy of a trusted family friend's property, deals can be made, issues of the day discussed, and strategies for staying in power and rewarding the interests of one's friends can be made. George W.'s father preferred the old north eastern family properties in Kennebunkport. The son prefers the ranching and oil money families of Texas. In the words of Bruce Buchanan, a professor of political science at the University of Texas at Austin, the greasing of the wheels of power and privilege must go on, only how it is done is different: "Here in Texas they just happen to use ranches. Up on the East Coast they use boats."

See also Tom Englehardt on the Armstrong connections to the Bush regime.

none

Posted: Sun - February 26, 2006 at 08:10 PM        


©