I would point out that the equal opportunity espoused in the quote that start that article is not at all the same thing as meritocracy. A balanced playing fiel

I would point out that the equal opportunity espoused in the quote that start that article is not at all the same thing as meritocracy. A balanced playing field doesn't mean that luck plays no role. It also doesn't mean that you can't provide a safety net and do some balancing of outcomes. It just means you have eliminated systematic biases.