The Kennedy brothers had wealth but did not work in the private sector to create or increase that wealth. Instead they choose to work in the public service. Their wealth was created by their father who taught them along with their mother that public service was an honorable profession. In fact their parents schooled them at an early age in politics and world affairs and talked about such matters at the dinner table according to many reports.
All three brothers wore the uniform of their country and John Kennedy served in the pacific as a P.T. Boat commander during WWII. The older brother Joe was killed in WWII on a secret flying mission and it was said had brother Joe lived he too would have gone into public service. Despite being wealthy, the Kennedy brothers served their country.
While serving in public office the Kennedy brothers did not cater to the well off or the wealthy. They spoke for and represented the comman man. Special interest groups did not write legislation for them nor were they granted special favors. When John became President he started the push to rid the oil industry of its special tax treatment called the "depletion allowance" which was passed by the Johnson administration. The President also took on big steel, U.S. Steel when they lied to him that they would not raise prices and then did so. U.S. Steel after pressure from the President rolled back their price hikes.
The Kennedy brothers had compassion for their fellow man, did not engage in wedge issues to divide the American people and always talked about the real issues concerning the country and its people. They also recognized the difference between actual threats to the country and those that were preceived. President Kennedy refused to launch a preemptive strike against Cuba during the 1962 missile crisis that the joint chiefs and the neocons were pushing for and wisely decided on a quaranteen. The President also had the character and courage to push for and have adopted a nuclear test band treaty. Senator Ted Kennedy had the character and courage to vote against an invasion of Iraq over WMD that did not exist. He was proved right when he said Iraq was no threat to the security of the U.S. The war actually proved his position was the rigtht one.
The Kennedy brothers believed government could do good and needy things for the country and its people and that government did have a role to play. They also believed in the free market system, promoted it with sound economic policies and always put the country and its people first. Although they served at a time when income tax rates were much higher for the wealthy than they are today, that played no role in their policy. President Kennedy reduced taxes while in office and were balanced to help the economic recovery that had been in progress for 22 uninterrupted months. (President Kennedy's State of the Union speech in January 1963.)
Many wealthy politicians today who serve in or seek public office approach public service as a means to promote their own ideology not based on what is good for the country and its people but what is best for their own self interest. Instead of an economic policy they have a tax policy. Instead of a foreign policy they try to talk tough. Instead of having compassion they promote wedge issues to divide the country.
The Kenned brothers service to the country and its people is a good example how out of touch todays public servants are. And in the middle of a Presidential campaign some candidates refuse to release all of their tax returns and address the real issues. Yes, there was a time in America when wealthy public servants stood tall and put their country and its people first. And yes, there was a time in America when wealthy public servants and the wealthy did not mind paying their fair share in taxes with out loop holes. It is very obvious why the Kennedy brothers were popular with the voting public. They were the All Americans of public service.
It is easy to see why so many public servants today are so jealous of the Kennedy brothers. They feel inadequate and do not measure up. Yes there was a time in America when public service was an honorable profession. Today, the wealthy spend their time trying to buy public servants with their campaign contributions and decieve the public with their Pac money advertising. They have brought dishonor to public service and our country. And that really says it all.
