What ethical dilemmas do favoritism, cronyism, and nepotism present?

[buffguy123]

What ethical dilemmas do favoritism, cronyism, and nepotism present?
Probably the biggest dilemma presented by favoritism is that, under various other names, few people see it as a problem. Connections, networking, family-almost everyone has drawn on these sources of support in job hunting in the private spherre

So what's the problem?

The first issue is competence. For higher level higher paying positions, an executive will probably be drawn to experienced, qualified candidates, but historically, the lower down the ladder, the more likely for someone's brother-in-law to be slipped into a job for which he is not qualified. The American Civil Service Act was passed in 1883 in large part because so many patronage jobs, down to recreation leader, were being filled by people whose only qualification for employment was their support for a particular party or candidate. Also, the appearance of favoritism weakens morale in government service, not to mention public faith in the integrity of government. Do you see this in our local government?

Reasonable people will differ about the appointment of friends and family in high-level positions, but public officials should be aware that such choices can give the appearance of unfairness. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, 19 state legislatures have found the practice of nepotism troubling enough to enact laws against it. Others may restrict the hiring of relatives or friends in more general conflict-of-interest rules. Should our town have such laws?

Public officials should also note that dilemmas involving favoritism extend beyond hiring and contracting practices to the more general problem of influence. Golfing partners, people who come over for Sunday dinner, members of the same congregation all are likely to exert a greater influence over an official than a stranger might. Council members, mayors, and legislators must make special efforts to ensure that they hear all sides of an issue rather than just relying on the views of the people they know. Further, many conscientious lawmakers have discovered that they must change their patterns of socializing when their work involves many decisions affecting friends and associates. At the least, they may choose to recuse themselves from votes where social relationships may exert undue influence.

Unless you make a stand this practice will continue and get worse in our great town. There are no checks and balances in place with West Seneca's obvious blatant hiring's of under qualified overpaid friends and family.

[luv2fish]

Its gotten way out of hand in our great town.Im going to write a email to Meegan to let her know.
smeegan@twsny.org

[truth seeker]

Its gotten way out of hand in our great town.Im going to write a email to Meegan to let her know.
smeegan@twsny.org

Have you received a response to your e-mail? She might be too busy counting cats in town.