Nepotism

[Josef K.]

Well, it is a concept perhaps not often talked about, but it seems to be looming from everywhere. At least, I can speak for my country, this seems to be some kind of illness here, nepotism is very high and almost all of the public institution are based on it. It might just be due to the small population in my country, a popular phrase we use here is: "Everyone knows everyone". It's kind of a small town complex, that devours the whole country.

This seems to go against every aspect of a free and fair market, of course the private section is overwhelmed by this as well. It seems everywhere you turn around there is a hierarchy that is build upon nepotism. Globally I really want to know about this phenomenon?

I really do not know if it is common elsewhere as it is here. It seems to be the central topic of BEING for most people.

And also another thing is how to find solutions about this problem?

Discuss, please.

[benelori]

It's popular here...and there's only one thing that can really stop it...big failure...imagine a person of authority lending positions to his kids...and the kids screw up, and someone competent has to rise to solve the problem...that person usually doesn't give into the lure of nepotism, so it works out...

It's like that popular saying that exists in every culture...if something is really bad, tear it down and rebuild it...or along those lines anyway...too bad other peoples' lives are at stake...

[Josef K.]

We are brothers in this category, bene, sadly, since our countries have suffered the same historical conditions. I do not know if developed countries ever faced this along the way, well they certainly can not face the way we are facing it.

Interesting solution, are you calling for a revolution? Hey it rhymes.

Jokes aside, I think it has to start with the individual, like that one guy that stopped the tanks in China, I image one guy standing up for what is right might make the difference, how that will go down is uncertain though, still on the drawing board on that part.

[synapse]

organize and revolt in numbers. better than living your life like deadbeats

[Franckie]

In theory, the simplest solution is probably to make as much of civil service accountable to elected leaders. The United States suffered from rampant nepotism all the way up to the 1900s with the Spoils System. Alas, it's easier said than done, and I doubt the majority of people who subscribe to such a view practice what they preach. Furthermore, nepotism is as old as human civilization itself. The ancient Romans, for example, have accounts of people being awarded positions of influence who probably shouldn't have been (e.g. Tiberius). If you want modern examples, just see what is happening in China and the United States. Nepotism threatens China and what is going on in Harvard is but one example of nepotism crawling back into the US as the plutocrats strengthen their hold on the US government.