DEI arose for a reason: it attempts to fix what a pure meritocracy can’t. Sure, “may the best person win” sounds fair in theory, but real life usually gives a head start to those already holding resources, connections, or both. Growing up, I had advantages some families in underfunded neighborhoods, like parts of Detroit, never did. That…
DEI arose for a reason: it attempts to fix what a pure meritocracy can’t. Sure, “may the best person win” sounds fair in theory, but real life usually gives a head start to those already holding resources, connections, or both. Growing up, I had advantages some families in underfunded neighborhoods, like parts of Detroit, never did. That’s not true meritocracy; that’s stacking the deck.
This dynamic becomes even clearer when you consider merit-based immigration policies. On the surface, they seem logical: bring in top talent. But doing so often strips other countries of their brightest minds, the very people who could solve problems in their own communities. It’s a quiet brain drain that leaves those places stuck in a cycle of struggle.
Look at China’s recent ban on cram schools. Sure, it was meant to level the playing field for students, but families with money and connections still find ways around the rules: private tutors, special favors, anything to keep their kids ahead. The system just adapts, maintaining an uneven playing field.
Our political landscape follows a similar pattern. We’re told there’s a huge divide, but if you watch closely, both major parties chase insider trading opportunities, accept favors from lobbyists, and support expanded surveillance. Year after year, it’s the same script with different actors, and meaningful change rarely materializes. It’s as though everyone’s playing for the same team behind the scenes, just not the team most of us "normies" are on. I would like to bring up the castration of Bernie Sanders in 2016 as exhibit A.
I’m not claiming to have a solution. But I do know that clinging too tightly to any extreme, be it a pure meritocracy or a system built solely around identity, won’t give us what we need. To build a world where everyone can genuinely thrive, we have to acknowledge the hidden or not so hidden advantages, uproot the barriers, and find a balance that actually helps people rather than leaving them behind.
DEI arose for a reason: it attempts to fix what a pure meritocracy can’t. Sure, “may the best person win” sounds fair in theory, but real life usually gives a head start to those already holding resources, connections, or both. Growing up, I had advantages some families in underfunded neighborhoods, like parts of Detroit, never did. That’s not true meritocracy; that’s stacking the deck.
This dynamic becomes even clearer when you consider merit-based immigration policies. On the surface, they seem logical: bring in top talent. But doing so often strips other countries of their brightest minds, the very people who could solve problems in their own communities. It’s a quiet brain drain that leaves those places stuck in a cycle of struggle.
Look at China’s recent ban on cram schools. Sure, it was meant to level the playing field for students, but families with money and connections still find ways around the rules: private tutors, special favors, anything to keep their kids ahead. The system just adapts, maintaining an uneven playing field.
Our political landscape follows a similar pattern. We’re told there’s a huge divide, but if you watch closely, both major parties chase insider trading opportunities, accept favors from lobbyists, and support expanded surveillance. Year after year, it’s the same script with different actors, and meaningful change rarely materializes. It’s as though everyone’s playing for the same team behind the scenes, just not the team most of us "normies" are on. I would like to bring up the castration of Bernie Sanders in 2016 as exhibit A.
I’m not claiming to have a solution. But I do know that clinging too tightly to any extreme, be it a pure meritocracy or a system built solely around identity, won’t give us what we need. To build a world where everyone can genuinely thrive, we have to acknowledge the hidden or not so hidden advantages, uproot the barriers, and find a balance that actually helps people rather than leaving them behind.