Courtesy of:
Bridgette Servino, excerpt from her Blog at: http://bpspolitics.wordpress.com/2006/12/07/blood-is-thicker-than-water-nepotism-in-government/ , December' 09, 2006
" Let us say you are a manager in a company or simply you have your own business, big enough for you to hire employees or someone to assist you in managing your business, you usually prefer to hire someone who is related to you, maybe by blood or by marriage, or someone you trust, your friend, instead of somebody else. The others might be deserving for the position but because of human instinct, automatically, you will choose your friend or relative basically to help them by giving job as a source of their income or because of debt of gratitude, then you might be guilty of nepotism...
Nepotism… Favoring relatives because of their relationship rather than their ability and merit. It is very commonly used as a word describing ‘connection’ that allows anyone to obtain a certain job. In the Philippines, it is known as “Compadre System” in terms of economic and employment. Nepotism creates problem, it is a common accusation in politics when the relative of a powerful figure ascends to similar power seemingly without appropriate qualifications. nepotism is synonymous to succession. In government, nepotism results to political dynasties that constraints other more better employees to be productive one. This also results to corruption because of self interest, under the table negotiations, illegal protection due to debt of gratitude and other political crimes leading to claims of conflict of interest, favoritism, and discrimination. yes, it is true that blood is thicker than water but it doesn’t mean that it is always right. An ordinary employee, trustworthy and deserve to be promoted suffers and choose to be silent and not to speak out to avoid conflict within the company or office.
The thing is where is the fairness? What is the essence of merit and fitness if nepotism dominates in the government? Because of this injustice kin selection, it lowers the morale of the government as well as the productivity of the whole country. If that’s the name of the game, then what’s the use of studying? Establishing your credibility? Your accomplishments? Where is the fair game? Everyone should have the opportunity to make a better life for themselves, then everyone should be equally given the chance and choices. There’s nothing wrong in hiring relatives in high office but of course, make sure that their qualifications are not questionable. Because of favoritism, every mechanism of the government is at risk."
