Chris Dillow: On anti-meritocracy

Chris Dillow writes On anti-meritocracy.

In fact, there might even be something to be said for anti-meritocracy. It’s possible that Trump’s character flaws will prevent him using his presidency to do great irreversible damage, and they might even eventually discredit his policies: imagine if somebody of ability had his agenda.

And it’s possible that the knowledge that success in politics and the media requires obnoxiousness, self-promotion and a wealthy background and the right backers will deter good people from entering them. Whilst this would degrade public life, it would improve the talent pool available to other occupations and save good people from being disappointed; the embittered old hack is a fate to be avoided. Those of us who are comfortably off can safely tend our gardens and ignore the imbecilities of elite politics.

Whether we want an anti-meritocracy or not, it’s what we’ve got. The question is how to make the best of it.

Emphasis Mine

Trotsky once wrote that the times produced people preculiar to it. He gave an example that occurred during the Russian Revolution: a businessman gathered together his savings and went in search of military officers to give the money to. He had hoped that the old order could be restored with the aid of funds. He found group, after group, of loyalist officer engaged in gambling, drinking, and womanising. There appeared to be no capable and sober loyalist officers left.

The development of social systems decay when people of talent and ability are excluded from the power structures. This may be what is happening now. If so, the decay is starting to erode the Capitalist class, just as decay eroded the fedual lords.