To the brainy, the spoils

This story from the Economist (unfortunately behind their pay wall) is a painful reminder to me on Meritocracy. It's good only for a while and afterward it would lead to a storm the Bastille scenario.

Tharman talked about a continuous meritocracy which I felt was wishful. I laud him for his idealism though. We must have ideals or we will be short lived.

Real life Meritocracy is mostly about getting into the right doors and slamming it shut behind you. In other words there are limited tracks for success with the most financially and reputationally attractive the most competitive and few get in. Talk about starting your career track with one of the Big Three consulting firms.

If a static Meritocracy eventually leads to social economic stratification, hardened class divide and declining mobility, the end point must be an overthrow of the status quo, peacefully or otherwise. We are forced to be idealistic (thanks Tharman for trying and showing courage here) and unreasonable (like Steve Jobs always was) to avoid perdition.

Discussion on Tharman's idea seemed to have died peacefully. Unless the PM is keen to pursue this but these days he probably only focus on the next GE, we cannot expect too much.

To me, Meritocratically gained positions must have expiry dates like the stuff off the supermarket shelves. Problem is such positions also come with power to stave off challengers. We have not figured out how to deny the winners such powers and so unless you come out of the right birth canal, eventually the bell will toll for mobility for most of us.