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This is a very thoughtful comment and I don't think it should be downvoted. I particularly appreciate last quote it's utterly relevant in the Valley.
by sonnyblarney 8y ago
This is a very thoughtful comment and I don't think it should be downvoted.
I particularly appreciate last quote it's utterly relevant in the Valley.
- deleted 8y ago[deleted]
- arethuza 8y agoI can't comment on the Valley, not having spent a huge amount of time there, but here in the UK I tend to find that anyone using the term "meritocracy" seriously tends to use it in a rather self justifying way "we are a meritocracy, I have been successful, therefore I have merit therefore I deserve all the rewards I can get". However, I do welcome the type of meritocracy where people like Aneurin Bevan can go on to influence our lives in such a positive way: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aneurin_Bevan https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aneurin_Bevan [He started work down a mine at 13 and went on to found the NHS]. Also, on the military side it used to be possible for someone to rise from private soldier to Chief of the Imperial General Staff - something, even with a far smaller military, would be impossible today - a point made by the military historian Richard Holmes. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sir_William_Robertson,_1st_Baronet https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sir_William_Robertson,_1st_Bar...
- sonnyblarney 8y agoMost corporate systems are highly meritocratic, and high school dropouts who have no skills or ability are not rising to the top. The military is a completely alternative universe, and by the way many commissioned soldiers do make the jump to the officer class.