I think aspiring to the meritorious (ethical, wise, knowledgeable, dedicated, etc.) being successful seems like it'd be good, rather the problem isn't so much "

I think aspiring to the meritorious (ethical, wise, knowledgeable, dedicated, etc.) being successful seems like it'd be good, rather the problem isn't so much "meritocracy" as it is believing that meritocracy is an existing norm, rather than being more of an aspirational Avalon.