The First Thing to Know: Meritocracy

The first thing to know about the concept of “meritocracy” is that it suggests a ratio in which people get what they deserve in proportion to how hard they work, multiplied by a co-efficient for how smart they are. Our society likes to call itself a “meritocracy”

The only problem with that concept is that the idea originally came from a political science-fiction novel, The Rise of the Meritocracy, by sociologist Michael Dunlop Young. Young used the novel to make sarcastic fun of a nepotism-based dystopian society in which the sons and daughters of the very rich are made to feel they have actually earned the success bestowed on them by blind luck, trust funds, and nepotism.

For instance, I’m guessing that both Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump believe that their “success” literally radiates out from a genetically superior inner core blessed with an abundance of sparkling wit, charm, and business acumen. They would have you believe they would be just as successful if life suddenly found them living in a tent city near Downtown Los Angeles. I’m pretty sure they believe this — even though I’m pretty sure it isn’t true; nevertheless, it’s a delicious thought: Passing a destitute, dirty, and somewhat ripe-smelling Jared Kushner on the street holding out a tin cup.
“Spare change, mister?” Jared says.
“Get a job, you bum,” I say …but by the time I get home and turn on the television, Jared’s intelligence and hard work panhandling have already paid off. I watch on TV as he and Ivanka brush off the garbage and step onstage to accept the “Rush Limbaugh Congressional Medal of National Brilliance and Hard Work” award. Well, that changes everything.

“They sure are a hard-working couple of geniuses,” I say to myself. “Good looking, too.”