Anti-nepotism proposal

[dsrtao]

There are 250 million+ US citizens. The total government payroll is 2.4 million full-time employees. In other words, about 1% of the population.

My first suggestion is that no one shall serve in an appointed, confirmed or elected office of the Federal government who has a close relative [1] serving in such a position concurrently.

My second suggestion is that no one shall serve in an appointed, confirmed or elected office of the Federal government who has had a close relative serving in the same or a closely related office in the past twenty years.

I'm perfectly willing to extend this to the state level, as well.

[1] Close relative, for this purpose, is a direct ancestor,
descendant, spouse, spouse's ancestors and descendants, sibling, or sibling's descendants. For the sake of argument, anyway.

Comments

[dlevey.livejournal.com]

Well, that would have knocked out the current president, and would remove Hillary also. Then there's the Adams'.

[dsrtao]

Not a single one of those cases bothers me.

I view the current inhabitant of the Oval Office with alarm.

I am not sanguine about any of the current candidates, and not inclined towards Mrs. Clinton.

I don't believe in ex-post-facto laws, so have no worries that Quincy will suddenly be stripped of his presidency retroactively. The Roosevelts were fifth cousins; I have trouble justifying a prohibition on that degree of consanguinuity.

[dlevey.livejournal.com]

I kinda figured, but thought I'd check to be sure. Anyone else in mind?

[metahacker.livejournal.com]

This is a strong argument for celibate politicians. Or ones who adopt, post-office. Or disown their kids so they can rise to power.

But I'm not clear that there is any worthy correlation between blood relation and incompetence. :D Plenty of the latter to go around.

[cvirtue.livejournal.com]

If it's merit you're after, why not institute some kind of testing system?

[siderea]

I'm not sure merit is the sole desideratum addressed by this proposal. No matter how good someone is, there's the issue of conflict of interest and the ethical issues of dual relationships. e.g. Jeb Bush being governor of FL while his brother ran for President.

[dsrtao]

nods vigorously.

[dsrtao]

I'd like to, but any approach I have envisioned is subject to abuse and corruption. I'm much happier about preventing the re-entrenchment of dynasties.