"Merit": Word Hijacks the Conversation around Racial Disparities

[jacobi2393]

You said it yourself, the problem is the crappy conditions people live in in the ghetto and similar places. All those people need is access to equal education and thats the ticket out.... after they work hard. The system isnt racist or necessarily made of racist people. Even the poor conditions in the ghetto arent "racist" they just suck and are the leftovers of crap from a long time ago

[ITHEREONETHATHASNT]

Love how she avoids mentioning affirmative action. Those who make the rules in the public sector are BLACK. There is no meritocracy we live in a country ruled by special interests and a big one is african american! How can she afford to make these videos I am willing to bet she has a public sector job or is on welfare or even more likely is an affirmative action hire! Or what we call dead weight in the corporate world, not all blacks a affirmative action hires but some are!

[mikem1234]

This is true for any kind of achievement in liberal democratic societies. Shouldn't this also mention gender and class issues too?

[MultiSmartass1]

First of all, America has never really been a meritocracy for most of its history.

It hasn't been until the post-world war 2 era that a anything resembling meritocracy has occured thanks to increased access to higher education, a robust economy, a rising middle class and wider employment opportunities.

Secondly, most people really don't believe in Meritocracy because it is founded on ability, intelligence and talent not mere hard work and muscle.

Besides, merit is valid and logical.

[Technate1]

No the Theory behind meritocracy is that a man or woman should be be judged by his or her character and ability.

[boringstoreez]

You and the video are saying the same thing -- "People really want to believe that we live in a meritocracy," even though we don't, because it's easier to pick and choose facts (praise Obama, ignore Bush II) than it is to address the systemic problems that keep us unequal.

Watch it again. You're not disagreeing.

[Technate1]

But she said that Meritocracy is a "system which ignores racism", 'Meritocracy = The Lazy Poor' "It's a system that scapegoats people and uses that scapegoat to perpetuate racist laws" 'Meritocracy = Lifetime Assistance limits' "the theory behind meritocracy is if you play by the rules you get the reward"

None of that is Meritocracy. The real Theory behind Meritocracy is a system in which people are rewarded for character, skill, and ability rather than race, gender, or sexual orientation.

[boringstoreez]

At that point in the video, she's talking about "meritocracy" in the flawed execution that we all live with, pointing out how it differs from the theoretical ideal, and the problems that arise in an unquestioned system. The video's not arguing against meritocracy; it's questioning who benefits from wrongly referring to a rigged system as a meritocracy, and it does that by dissonantly pairing the word with the actual outcomes of the real system. I guess she could have used air quotes.

[Technate1]

Ah I understand, in that case I fully agree.

[Technate1]

Meritocracy is great, but we don't live in a meritocracy. The problems you listed are NOT problems with Meritocracy.

[yuangeng]

I agree with this completely, but I would also like to emphasize that just because those who play by the rules don't always get the results doesn't mean we should stop playing. Because if we stop playing how are you ever going to have a chance to write the rules some day? I would say meritocracy is not completely true, but certainly not completely false either. And that's the way the world is, and always will be - half meritocracy, half bullshit.

[DesireG]

Excellent breakdown.