11th
Ameritocracy on the Daily Show
I’d always hoped Ameritocracy would end up on the Daily Show:
Jon: “I think you’re looking at sexuality and not attributes, and I think it’s odd because the conservative mantra is “Ameritocracy”, and I think what you’re suggesting is, the fact of being gay parents makes you not as good as others.” (Dec. 9, 2008)
Of course, Jon is not talking about this website, but the reference brings up an opportunity to discuss the meaning of Ameritocracy further.…. The idea of “merit” is more complex than one might first assume. In order to create a full American meritocracy, an Ameritocracy, a number of issues need to be addressed in order to find the best leaders, and bring forward the best information.
* What social stereotypes affect our perception of merit? Race, age, religion?
*Is there equal access to the education and opportunities that will bring out a person’s full merit? How can we know we have the best ideas without providing growing room for all sorts of people and ideas?
*Who decides what “merit” is? Do we all get an equal vote in who the most meritorious is? Or do specialists in a given area decide that? Who decides who the specialists are? Is it turtles all the way down?
* How do we manage that fine line between networking and nepotism? How do we search for the best people while still being expedient?
So what do you think? How do we create an Ameritocracy in the fullest sense?
