You tend to get respect when you come from a good family background. Of course, there are people who came from nothing and made it big, rags to riches stories, but those are rare. In business, connections matter a lot. If you come from a wealthy or well-known family, it’s much easier to get into the right circles. Even if you’re not that smart, as long as you have the right connections, your chances of success are still high.
At the end of the day, even politics starts to look like a business. No one really enters public service without gaining something in return. The position always comes with benefits whether it’s influence, money, or both, so it's no surprise that many treat it more as an opportunity than a responsibility.