The origins of family dynasties

Aside from impeachments and the flood-control fiasco, Congress is now focused on passing an anti-family dynasty law. But since more than 80% of our politicians come from long-standing, well-entrenched, and very powerful dynasties, we seriously doubt if a miracle can happen and such a law will ever see the light of day.

If we start with the Old Testament, the first family dynasty was started by Abraham, who fathered Ishmael by her wife's maid, Hagar, and later sired Isaac by his wife Sara. Isaac was the father of Esau and Jacob, and later fathered 12 sons, who later became the heads of the 12 tribes of Israel.

Jacob's first four sons were Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah, all four with his first wife, Leah. Then Leah stopped bearing children. Jacob's fifth son was Dan, with Bilhah, Leah's handmaid.  It was common tradition at that time that maids were ordered to bear sons on behalf of the wife. Jacob's sixth son was Naphtali also with Bilhah.

Jacob's second wife, Rachel, the younger sister of Leah, was barren for a while, and so, she gave Zilpha, her handmaid, to Jacob, and the maid bore the seventh son, Gad. Zilpha gave Jacob his eighth son, Asher. Then Leah, the first wife, became fertile again, and gave Jacob his ninth son, Issachar and his tenth, Zebulun. Leah also gave Jacob his only daughter, Dinah.

The eleventh son of Jacob was Joseph, the dreamer, by the miracle of God, with his second and more favored wife, Rachel, whom he loved more than the elder Leah. The twelfth and the youngest was Benjamin also with Rachel who died due to a very difficult childbirth. This is the reason why the newest Supreme Court justice to be appointed is called the Benjamin of the Highest Court.

The 12 sons of Jacob divided the land of Israel and Judah and gave rise to the historic conflicts with the Arabs who are the descendants of Ishmael, Abraham's first son, with his wife Sara's maid, Hagar, who was from Egypt. The descendants of the 12 sons were also having conflicts with each other and with the descendants of Ishmael. What is happening between Israel and Palestine today is the consequence of such historic conflicts over land, power, and wealth.

History tells us that for the longest time, across continents and nations, strong and powerful families always rule over the poorer and weaker members of human society. The Imperial House of Japan ruled that nation for more than 1,500 years with an unbroken chain of emperors until today. The royal family United Kingdom also ruled for 1,500 years but their chain of monarchy was broken in 1066 when the monarchy was shortly interrupted by revolt, and restored later by intermarriages of smaller kingdoms.

China, Russia, the Middle Eastern kingdoms, Asian empires and kingdoms, and most of the rest of the world were governed by ruling families. Family dynasties remain in power because they control the wealth of nations and command the armies to defend their monarchies and aristocracies. Power is determined by heredity and not by elections. Sovereignty resides in the king and the royal families and not in the people.

The Philippines today is being governed by pockets of dynasties that control the politics of certain regions and provinces, cities, and municipalities. There is a direct correlation between the strength of these dynasties and the incidence of corruption and poverty. Today's attempt to write a law abolishing it will most likely fail because the members of Congress, at least 80% of them, come from defined dynasties.

How can the problem itself provide the solution?