There is an infestation creeping through the halls of government in Josephine County, a cancerous rot that eats away at the very foundation of democracy, and it goes by the name of nepotism. The idea that public office should be a family business, where unqualified and inexperienced relatives are handed positions of power like participation trophies, should send a cold shiver down the spine of any thinking citizen. But instead, it has become the status quo. It is not only an insult to every hardworking, qualified individual who dreams of serving their community, but it is a clear and present danger to the very people who put their trust in these institutions.
Imagine this: you go to school, you dedicate years to studying, training, and preparing for a career in public service. You know the ins and outs of emergency management, financial planning, or public safety. Then, when the moment comes to apply for that position, you are passed over—not because of a lack of skill, not because you failed some crucial test, but because the job has already been reserved for the newly elected official’s wife, brother, cousin, or childhood best friend. This is not some dystopian nightmare; this is Josephine County, 2025.
Let’s be clear: this is not just about money, though money is certainly at stake. Nepotism drains public funds, padding the pockets of the unqualified while robbing taxpayers blind. When a government employee is placed in a role they have no business holding, they do not just waste a salary—they risk the well-being of the entire community. A disaster coordinator with no experience in crisis management? A financial officer who doesn’t know how to balance a budget? These aren’t just hypothetical dangers; they are active threats. The consequences of such incompetence are measured not just in squandered dollars but in lost lives.
And what about the victims of this blatant cronyism? What about the professional who was let go to make room for a politician’s spouse who never intended to actually work? It’s the citizens who pay the price. When people are hired not because of their abilities but because of their last name, the community is the one that suffers. Crime doesn’t get managed. Disaster response is an uncoordinated mess. Public services erode into nothingness. And when it all inevitably collapses, we will be left wondering how we let it happen.
For those still unconvinced, consider this: We have seen this play before, and we know exactly how it ends. Bell, California—ring a bell? Corrupt officials, self-dealing, salaries ballooning into the stratosphere while essential services crumbled into dust. Millions of taxpayer dollars vanished into the pockets of those who saw government as their personal piggy bank. And now, Josephine County is marching lockstep down that same disastrous path.
But hey, don’t take my word for it. Maybe I wasn’t right about DUO Gym shutting down. Maybe I didn’t predict Trump’s assassination attempt months before it happened. Maybe Kamala Harris never became the Democratic nominee despite all evidence pointing to it. Oh wait—those things did happen, just as we said they would. But the truth has an inconvenient way of getting lost in the noise of political theater, doesn’t it?
So don’t listen to me. Just watch. Watch as these unqualified parasites bleed the county dry. Watch as vital services collapse under the weight of incompetence. Watch as the people responsible deny, deflect, and distract. Watch, wait, and remember that you were warned.
Because when the dust settles and the inevitable disaster strikes, the same people who ignored these warnings will be the ones crying, “How could this have happened?” And when they ask that question, remind them: it happened because they let it happen.
Nepotism is not just a problem—it is a disease. And unless we, as a community, stand up and demand accountability, it will spread until there is nothing left to save.
