The quote "Bush began helping Enron in the eighties" by Paul Begala suggests a historical relationship in between former U.S. President George H. W. Bush (or potentially George W. Bush, although the timing aligns more with the former) and the energy business Enron, which became notorious for its monetary scandal in the early 2000s. Evaluating this declaration includes understanding both the more comprehensive political and economic context of the 1980s and the nature of Enron as a company during that time.
George H. W. Bush, who served as Vice President under Ronald Reagan from 1981 to 1989 and later on as President from 1989 to 1993, was deeply enmeshed within the political and corporate networks of the age. Throughout the 1980s, Enron was transitioning from a regional energy supplier into one of the biggest energy business on the planet. Its rapid expansion was facilitated by deregulation policies enacted during the Reagan administration, policies that were supported by Bush as Vice President. This deregulation allowed energy companies such as Enron to grow their company operations and explore speculative ventures.
The phrase "assisting Enron" can be translated in a number of ways. It might indicate political support or advocacy for deregulation policies that benefitted the energy market. It might also recommend that Bush's administration helped with connections and opportunities that straight benefited Enron's business interests. The close relationship in between political leaders and large corporations was not uncommon, as business frequently looked for to take advantage of political influence to produce favorable regulative environments.
Paul Begala, a political analyst and former advisor to President Bill Clinton, likely planned this declaration to critique the intermingling of political power and business interests. By highlighting the involvement of prominent political figures like Bush, Begala highlights the enduring nature of corporate influence in American politics and how it may have paved the way for Enron's ultimate dominance-- and supreme downfall.
In conclusion, Begala's quote mean a historic intertwining of political and business interests that benefited Enron throughout its developmental years. This relationship became a point of analysis following Enron's collapse, as it raised concerns about the role of political policies in promoting business impropriety.
