AGAINST

Wu Jie

Legal Daily

As an aspect of an individual's private morality, it is difficult to precisely evaluate. Different people may have different views on whether one possesses filial piety or not. So, with this method it will be more of a formality to assess officials.

Taking the practice of Weixian as an example. The credibility of the certificate made by a candidate's parents or in-laws is questionable. Even for those who are disrespectful, their parents are likely to sign such certificates due to the fact that they love their children and are considerate of their children's future. Apparently, such a certificate is just a formality without any reference value.

In reality, a dutiful son or daughter is not necessarily an upright official as many cases have revealed. 

Cheng Ning

College student

Building a service-oriented government has become the primary goal of current governments at home and abroad. Assessing whether an official is dutiful to his family seems to have no direct relation to this goal. Personally, this virtue can only be a reference for leaders to appoint officials. If this reference becomes a public standard, it will lose its significance.

An official who does nothing for social development is not qualified, no matter how dutiful he is to his parents or in-laws. On the contrary, some officials successfully boost the economy and govern efficiently. Even if they lack in filial piety, they are good officials to ordinary people.

This does not mean I support corrupt officials. I suggest that mediocre officials be more active in serving the people.  

Zhong Feixing

Blog.voc.com.cn

The practice of Weixian confuses public virtue with private virtue, leading to the abuse of the public's rights. It reminds me of the feudal period when the future of an official is subject to his parents or in-laws.

Filial piety is an official's personal behavior, and therefore a private matter. To promote or not to promote an official is a question for the public sector. The key issue to decide on promoting an official is assessing his capability to serve the people and whether he is honest and upright. The right to judge whether someone meets these criteria belongs to the public, not the candidate's parents. In addition, it is dangerous to decide an official's appointment and promotion based on a certificate made by his parents or in-laws. In reality, are there any parents who don't hope their children will be promoted to a higher position? The answer is definitely no.