I just received something in my inbox, mentioning a Congressman Frelinghuysen — which made me smile. I had sort of forgotten that one of them was currently in Congress.

This is a season for talking about political “dynasties” — because Jeb Bush is running for president. (I don’t think Bill and Hillary Clinton constitute a “dynasty.” Now, if Chelsea ran . . .) Frelinghuysens have been in this country since the 1720s. And I believe they’ve been in government all along.

At the beginning of this year, I wrote a piece called “The Dynasty Question: Thoughts occasioned by Jeb Bush.” If you’d like to read it, go here. I won’t try to recapitulate it — but I will say this:

This country has long voted for Frelinghuysens, Adamses, Harrisons, Roosevelts, Tafts, Longs, Kennedys, Bushes . . . People have a right to run for office. And people have a right to vote for candidates of their choice — no matter what the candidates’ parents did.

When we elect Frelinghuysens et al., we are making democratic choices. If you don’t want to vote for Frelinghuysen, vote for Smith. If you don’t want to vote for Bush, vote for Cruz (for example).

Democratic elections are a beautiful thing. You close the curtain behind you and pull the lever for the candidate you want. And you don’t have to tell anybody whom you voted for (or against). Or why.

Anyway, my piece is sort of interesting (I think), and the topic sure is ripe.