As little children, we were always asked the all-important question about what we would want to be when we grow up. In those days, the most common desire was to be a doctor, an engineer or a lawyer. Probably no one would have dreamt of becoming a politician. But in today’s world it appears that siblings of politicians have one goal in life. It is to follow in the footsteps of their politician-father and become a politician. This has given birth to the concept of dynastic politics. There seems nothing wrong in following in the footsteps of our parents in the pursuit of a career. A doctor’s son is more likely to be a doctor; a lawyer’s son is more likely to be a lawyer. Hence a politician’s son/daughter is more likely to want to become a politician. But the trouble starts when even the husband, wife, uncle, cousin, nephew, etc., want to join politics and contest the elections. Then politics becomes a family business. When asked about his ambition in life a little boy replied, “I would want to become a police officer and follow in the footsteps of my father.” When asked if his father was a police officer he replied “No he is a thief”. Dynastic politics is not confined only to Goa, it is a global phenomenon. George W Bush followed in his father George HW Bush’s footsteps. So did the Kennedys. Mulayam Singh’s brothers, son and cousins occupy the top posts in the Samajwadi Party. Every politician worth their salt would want the family to prosper. And what better way than to join active politics? Indeed, politicians’ near and dear ones have first-hand experience of active politics and hence they will always be one step ahead of the new-comers with no political background. The problem is that if the politician parent is corrupt, in all likelihood the child will be corrupt. There is the possibility of a small State like Goa being ruled by a handful of families, it would then be matter of ‘all in the family’. Goan politics will be run by a ‘family of families’. There can be a brighter side to family politics-there will be no infighting and toppling games played. These politicians will stay together as one big family in the legislative assembly. Goa will probably have a stable government. There will be no tussle for the top-post. The head of the largest family in the ruling dispensation could be selected to head the government. With this alliance of convenience among family members, there may not be any need of an outside alliance. And if at all the family members decide to loot and plunder, it will all take place within the four walls and be a well-guarded secret. If these elected family members do not get the majority to form the next government, they will end up being a joint family sitting in the opposition. Talking about following in the footsteps of the father I am reminded of a joke. While travelling in a train three elderly peole were boasting about their respective sons. The first person a doctor by profession said “I am married and have two sons who are both doctors”. The second person, a lawyer said “I am married and my two sons are also lawyers”. They then looked to the third man who said, “Well I am a politician. I am not married and have two sons who are also politicians.”