It can be both meritocratic and unlikely for disadvantaged people to succeed. Those kids who are born disadvantaged are more often disadvantaged in their merits

It can be both meritocratic and unlikely for disadvantaged people to succeed. Those kids who are born disadvantaged are more often disadvantaged in their merits too. Their parents and peers teach them life habits and emotional problems that keep them poor, and their genes keep them similar to their parents. Maybe you're confusing meritocracy with equality. Meritocracy does create an underclass of "unmeritous" people.