Getting What You Deserve

On Meritocracy and Popularity

Is the United States a meritocracy? This is an outstanding question that deserves an answer.

The easy response is an exuberant yes, because that is the official policy. We are advertised to be this. It has been the hope of millions of people who arrived here from less-meritorious places.

A meritocracy is a society where the ladders of leadership are stocked with the best possible choices at each rung. People succeed based on being good at what they do. I dare not enter the world of politics here, because there are so many negative attitudes toward the government. The negativity has been well-earned.

So forget about that. If we look at every level of everything, from hospitals, to corporations, to your local fast-food joints, we can see people have been promoted based on something. It must be something, after all. So, as usual, I am thinking about the widest possible view to begin attacking this question.

Everyone had or has a job where someone in charge is incompetent. That could be the case for many reasons. Does it seem to you, dear readers, that people who are promoted too high also exude tyrannical qualities? I think there must be some correlation here.

We enter situations all the time where we are at a loss to explain how this manager became a manager, or how this salesperson would ever be hired to work with people. Most likely, scarcity (for sure not all the time) explains why this happens. It does not reflect on the issue of meritocracy.

We are quick to judge America as in poor shape and imagine this is true because the wrong people have been placed in charge at all levels. Some believe a lack of merit is now at an all-time high.

This is incorrect, however. In the 1800s, the country was led by folks who definitely did not deserve their jobs. This is true only in the general sense. If we go almost off-topic, and look at royalty and European History, then we are hit in the face with a bunch of kings and queens who could not run a lemonade stand.

Now let us return to the more recent. In my state of Alabama, there has been a string of law enforcement embarrassments and controversies. Basically, cops and judges have been caught doing very bad things more often than the norm.

One inmate was killed by gross-negligence. Without even consulting Google, and just thinking, I can tell you that within a few weeks two entire police forces have been fired and forced to restart. This is in two unrelated cities. Yes, things were so bad that someone shouted, “Alright, we are not counting that. We are starting all over again!” Twice.

The primary motivation for me telling you all that is to admit that this world can feel like anything but a meritocracy. I am betting people from all over the world can relate to what I am saying. It may not be just an American thing.

I am especially prone to see problems and easy ways to fix them. Mostly I refer to the daily grind of going here and there. Even so, we are definitely a meritocracy. But, I am perfectly fine with your disagreement. Let us know what you think.

There is a caveat to my argument, though, and that is: We are a meritocracy only where popularity is also a factor. Popularity is not the same as merit, but the world turns on it to some very large degree.

Popularity is so prevalent because people are lazy and had rather not think. One of the most common problems in the world are people who cannot separate private feelings from professional evaluation. Thinking beyond one’s feelings requires considerable effort.

So does thinking beyond the immediate to future contingencies we must imagine that might happen. Lots and lots of folks look perfectly apt for a present problem but cannot handle new intrigues that arise. Again, making preparations to hire or promote creative people takes careful study.

I must also include another variable into the mix: People hire others who they want to be around while working. This is popularity plain and simple.

Meritocracy is not all about workplace environments. All types of relationships are subject to the same conditions. Are human relationships about merit or popularity? I say merit, but this is a tricky one to chew on. It’s not love.

Sometimes I do not understand my reasons for writing a particular story, but I may have found my main reason here. All of you there reading these words are probably a victim of popular-meritocracy. Do not believe that everything is fair, because that is far from reality.

I see people claiming various successes on Substack and wonder WTH? That stands for what-the-heck?!

How many write away with heart and soul but have not mastered one or more of the popularity arts? Yes, this could even be a college major and a needful one at that. Think about it: Popularity 101.

Bringing people into your tent and having them like you demands some or a great deal of dishonesty. Con-artists and that guy who everyone feels is on their side share many attributes and character flaws.

What you do is probably great and on merit deserves to be shown to the masses. I see some writing every week that is languishing with few likes while cliche nonsense and pandering wins the public’s heart. The familiar keeps winning because it is familiar. Ahh, this is my favorite line so far.

People like to protect themselves, and they like a steady flow of money. So, leaders of every kind minor and major and people of every status promote based on merit to ensure success and to keep their jobs or relationships. Humans then reward capable people but not those so artful that they disrupt the churning of the machine.

The best machines are slow and steady, by the way. Also, those who are popular are most likely to leave the boat alone instead of rocking it. Certain personality types keep getting elevated and voila, here is America of today.

Oversimplified? You betcha.

Of everything here, please take away that you can absolutely be ignored, not based on merit, but due to the popularity arts. How to change this? I do not know. Revolutions are too hard, and I would rather just think about them.

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Please take inspiration from my words. Let us prop up each other. Thanks for reading. Do me a favor and subscribe.