In the last few years I’ve realized, I’m not a ’son of.’

You know many son’s of: George Bush (president), Jesse Jackson. Jr. (congressman), Harold Ford, Jr. (congressman), Michael Douglas (actor), Andres Cuomo (HUD Secretary), Michael Powell (FCC Chairman), and Kate Hudson (actress) — oh the list could go on forever — and sometims that “Jr.” is a clue. It’s more than just Hollywood and politics. The same could be said for sports, or business.

Jobs, positions, wealth, in the United States are handed down like seats in the House of Lords.

For years, I naievly believed that if I just put my nose to the grindstone, went to the right schools, behaved well, then I would succeed. I didn’t ever really consider the other road to success — being born to it.

Here I’ve been peddling my wares — when all I’ve needed were more well connected parents.

America holds itself up as the banner of meritocracy — when it’s true tradition is American nepotism.

It’s not so much the nepotism that bothers me — that’s to be expected. I think if I had a child, I’d do my best to get them the job they wanted. Rather it’s the fawning treatment by the press that treats them like superstars (Drew Barrymore?), when there are clearly more talented folks out there — who are unfortunately un-connected.

No, I’m not complaining. I’m just gearing up to watch the Democratic National Convention, this week. But I’ll be sure to keep the laptop nearby so that when some young speaker is presented as a rising star, I can Google them and verify who their family is. I wouldn’t want anything as insidious as meritocracy to sneak by me.