Start Poor. Work Hard. Do Well. Be Hated Anyway.

Slate ^ | October 11, 2010 | Anne Applebaum

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

In 1958, an English sociologist and Labour politician named Michael Young imagined a future in which the British establishment dissolved itself, abolished all forms of hereditary power, and created instead a meritocracy (a word Young invented) based on IQ. In Young's fable, the academically talented working class happily join the elite. But the less talented resent them even more than they did the old dukes and duchesses. By 2034, this resentment leads to the creation of a violent populist revolution, which sweeps the meritocracy away.

To some, this story has always seemed like a warning to the United States. In 1972, American sociologist Daniel Bell cited it and predicted, with amazing prescience, the rise of an anti-elite-education populism. Bell got one thing wrong, however: He thought the coming attack on universities would take the form of enforced quotas and lowered standards. In fact, American universities staved off that particular populist wave in the 1970s by expanding their admissions to include women and minorities while keeping standards high.

The result of that expansion is now with us: Barack Obama, brought up by a single mother, graduate of Columbia and Harvard Law School, is now president. Michelle Obama, daughter of a black municipal employee, graduate of Princeton and Harvard Law School, is now first lady. They brought with them to Washington dozens more people, also from modest backgrounds, mostly without inherited wealth, who have entered high government office thanks in part to their education. Not that Washington wasn't stuffed with such people already. Think of Clarence Thomas, son of a domestic servant and a farm worker, graduate of Yale Law School, and Supreme Court justice.

[JerseyHighlander]

bfl.

[FTJM]

Michelle and Obama needed AA to get “blessed” with their educations, and there is no evidence that they ever actually worked for them, handed to them is more accurate.

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

AA simply demeans its beneficiaries with the implication that they need government/institutional help in order to make it.

[dennisw]

I read the whole clueless essay. I’m not wasting my time saying why

[fr_freak]

In fact, American universities staved off that particular populist wave in the 1970s by expanding their admissions to include women and minorities while keeping standards high.

Don't need to read any further than this BS.

[TSgt]

[Grizzled Bear]

They brought with them to Washington dozens more people, also from modest backgrounds, mostly without inherited wealth, who have entered high government office thanks in part to their education.

...Barrack Hussein's father was a Kenyan Moslem with multiple wives. Barrack attended a Madrasa in Indonesia. That doesn't sound very working class.

[Vigilanteman]

Correct. The ObaMao's grew up to be resentful because they weren't handed more. Clarence Thomas, on the other hand, would have graduated from high school about the time the Civil Rights Bill was passed. There is no evidence that it did much, if anything, for him. He had to work for it. And despite the imperfections of the society in which Clarence Thomas grew up, he has a solid grounding in the constitution, maintains his humility and seeks to united rather than divide our country.

BO may have seized the highest office in our country, but morally, he will never amount to a pimple on Clarence Thomas' backside.

[Intolerant in NJ]

. But the less talented resent them even more than they did the old dukes and duchesses...Naturally - it's easy to excuse your own failure to succeed when you simply weren't born into the right family - that's not your fault - but when everybody has a chance and you don't make it because you're not bright, capable, or ambitious enough, it's hard to accept - only thing worse is to make it because of some gratuitous factor like, say, the color of your skin, and to know deep inside you really didn't merit the achievement - that can really make you petty, petulant, and resentful - witness our President......

[goodnesswins]

"he (Obama) will never amount to a pimple on Clarence Thomas' backside."

Needed repeating!

[Eldon Tyrell]

Wow. Wow.

Obama and “meritocracy” mentioned in the same article.

The left just refuses to let irony die.

Obama is sooooo smart - he is chicken to release his grades or SATs.

Is there any evidence that he worked hard - EVER? He is just an affirmative action ghost - who most of the smart kids at these schools just tolerate - and pretty much ignore. (Which is why no one remembers him from Columbia.)

This girl is a typical brain damaged leftist - her reasoning abilities are gone. Just missing.

By the way - the majority of these weak minds in government from “elite” schools are from the humanities departments. All of our researchers, and engineers, and Drs - are perfectly fine, thank you - and even more disgusted by the performance of these know nothings than the Joe Sixpacks of the world.

Oh - and Obimbo went to private High school. His dad was a PHd - etc etc. Clarence Thomas he ain’t.

[PzLdr]

Patti Page Scholarships: “How Much Is That Doggie In The Window”.

[5thGenTexan]

Obama was not raised by a single mom. Obama was raised by well-off parents of a spoiled brat who allowed to play academic her whole life, instead of getting a real job like the rest of us.

How can the writer say "modest means" and "Harvard grad" in the same story and keep a straight face?

I grew up in modest means: I contributed to my family finances as a high school student, paid for 100% of my secondary school, repaid all my student loans with interest, and worked myself up the ladder at my career.

[rmlew]

The problem is not the meritocratic elite, but rather that they act as a foreign aristocracy. They don't believe in our values, attack the country and suffer from Oikophobia. Even as a nominal member of said class, I despise them for their hypocrisy arrogance and group ignorance.

[SkyPilot]

In fact, American universities staved off that particular populist wave in the 1970s by expanding their admissions to include women and minorities while keeping standards high.

Well, there is Lie #1 in the article.

[Nepeta]

They brought with them to Washington dozens more people, also from modest backgrounds, mostly without inherited wealth, who have entered high government office thanks in part to their education.

...but in large part due to Affirmative Action and other manipulations to advance them far beyond their inherent talent or any work they did.

[dbehsman]

Anne Applebaum kind of jumped the shark for me when she tried to defend the liberal child molester Roman Polanski.

[BWDog]

Seems as if the author is in a snit that not enough of the proles are or remain deferential to the current crop of those who have the traditional leadership credentials.

Well, tough noogies... I'm sick and tired of all of those chipping or hacking away away at the traditional American concepts of individual freedom and responsibility. I don't really care about their resumes. Whether it's being done by an affirmative action empty suit vs. a WASP legacy empty suit is a distinction without much of a difference.

Why should I worry about the qualifications of anyone who supports allowing me to make my own decisions? One doesn't need a fancy diploma and a string of letters after one's name to be in favor of freedom. The record of the other side, with its grandiose, society-wide "solutions", has been, to put it charitably, checkered enough that I'm dubious/suspicious/darn cranky at the roll out of each new one.

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

Anne Applebaum kind of jumped the shark for me when she tried to defend the liberal child molester Roman Polanski.

Had I known that, I wouldn't have even posted this article.