Foreign Policy
Is American Meritocracy a Myth?
Meritocracy definition and Suggested read:
Equity vs Opportunity
- Can a society be a true meritocracy if people don’t start from equal conditions?
- How do things like family, zip code, or school quality affect “merit”?
- Is equal opportunity enough or do we need equal outcomes to make the system fair?
- Should meritocracy focus on equal starting points or equal chances to compete?
American Dream
- Do stories of people rising from poverty reflect reality or rare exceptions?
- Is the American Dream accessible for everyone, or just certain individuals?
- (For Seniors) How has your view on the American Dream evolved over the years?
- (For Students) Is American meritocracy still achievable for Gen Z, or has it become more of an ideal than a reality?
Psychology/Ethics
- Is it fair to judge someone’s worth based on their success?
- Can society become a blend of merit-based and equitable traits?
- Is the lack of meritocracy an economic issue or a cultural issue?
- In a meritocracy, how can things go wrong?
Tech/The Future
- Does technology (AI, internet access, etc.) increase or decrease opportunity?
- Could AI make meritocracy more fair or less?
- Will future success depend more on skills or access to tools?
- Has social media made people more or less likely to believe in the American meritocracy?
Education
- Do you believe accommodations in school and college promote meritocracy or hinder it?
- Is it fair that many students have to take on massive debt just to access the opportunities that allow them to compete? Does student debt reinforce or undermine meritocracy?
- Do standardized tests measure merit, or access to resources?
- Should college admissions be based on numbers (Only GPA & Test Scores), or holistic (Also including Essays & Extracurriculars)?
- Should elite colleges prioritize achievement or context?
- Are things like legacy admissions or donor influence fundamentally incompatible with meritocracy?
Economic
- Do people with more financial resources have advantages that make success easier to achieve?
- To what extent does economic mobility in the US allow people to move beyond the class they were born into?
- How much of success do you think is due to personal effort versus luck (family, timing, natural ability)?
Policy/Systems
- Do policies like affirmative action strengthen or weaken meritocracy?
- Should the government play a role in leveling the playing field, or does that interfere with merit?
- How do taxes, healthcare, and access to basic needs impact someone’s ability to “earn” success?