In defense of meritocracy, I would like to point out a few facts of my own history. My grandfather was an immigrant. My father did not have any college but was employed as a manager because of ability. My mother had two years of college, which qualified her to teach at that time. In my own generation, five of seven children earned college degrees and one more had most of the hours required for a degree. We all paid our own way. One sibling has a JD and two earned master’s degrees. In our children’s generation, of fourteen cousins, five were National Merit finalists. Four have law degrees. One is a medical doctor. Three earned PhDs. One has a Master of Public Administration. I don’t see that the family had much going for it other than talent and a good work ethic. Do I believe in merit? Yes, I do.
In defense of meritocracy, I would like to point out a few facts of my own history. My grandfather was an immigrant. My father did not have any college but was employed as a manager because of ability. My mother had two years of college, which qualified her to teach at that time. In my own generation, five of seven children earned college degrees and one more had most of the hours required for a degree. We all paid our own way. One sibling has a JD and two earned master’s degrees. In our children’s generation, of fourteen cousins, five were National Merit finalists. Four have law degrees. One is a medical doctor. Three earned PhDs. One has a Master of Public Administration. I don’t see that the family had much going for it other than talent and a good work ethic. Do I believe in merit? Yes, I do.