Meritocracy

[HK]

http://www.meritocracy.org.uk/index.htm

Anyone come across this before? A friend updated their status with the link just now and I've been reading the website.

Why do anti-establishment parties have to come off as so bitter? The entire introduction appears to be countless examples of just how gosh-darn awful the current system is. Yes. I got it after the first one, never mind the eleventh.

Anyway, I'm interested in whether anyone agrees with their system. In theory, I agree with some of their ideas - the distribution of the wealth and the monetary system are leading to failure as far as I'm concerned - but the whole attitude this site gives off just doesn't give me a good feeling. I know politics is hardly bunnies and roses, but this is all a bit too bitter and nasty.

Not to mention, although they make a big show about how they'd abolish the monarchy and the house of lords among other things, I'm pretty sure it's not that simple. You don't just gain power and get to wipe the slate clean and start over, am I right? I'm not exactly a political genius but I'm pretty sure if it were just a case of 'get enough votes eventually and you can just rewrite the entire system!' then things would be a lot different.

 

[TommyTooter]

interesting. never heard of this party before. as a vietnam era survivor, there is something to be said for the unfair advantages that inept rich kids have over poor ones. our 43rd president is a perfect example.

it is pretty indisputable that the facts they give are true and that unfair distribution of wealth is at the core of the world's problems.
​

The Facts

(Source: Superclass: The Global Power Elite and the World They Are Making by David Rothkopf.)
​

1. The world is controlled by a global elite of approximately 6,000 people.
2. 94% of them are men, and their average age is 60.
3. 2% of the world's population own 50% of the world's wealth.
4. 1,100 billionaires have double the assets of the world's poorest 2.5 billion people.
5. The world's 50 largest financial institutions control a third of the world's assets.
6. The world's 250 biggest companies generate sales of about a third of the world's GDP.

 

[JoeCool10]

http://www.meritocracy.org.uk/index.htm

Anyone come across this before? A friend updated their status with the link just now and I've been reading the website.

Why do anti-establishment parties have to come off as so bitter? The entire introduction appears to be countless examples of just how gosh-darn awful the current system is. Yes. I got it after the first one, never mind the eleventh.

Anyway, I'm interested in whether anyone agrees with their system. In theory, I agree with some of their ideas - the distribution of the wealth and the monetary system are leading to failure as far as I'm concerned - but the whole attitude this site gives off just doesn't give me a good feeling. I know politics is hardly bunnies and roses, but this is all a bit too bitter and nasty.

Not to mention, although they make a big show about how they'd abolish the monarchy and the house of lords among other things, I'm pretty sure it's not that simple. You don't just gain power and get to wipe the slate clean and start over, am I right? I'm not exactly a political genius but I'm pretty sure if it were just a case of 'get enough votes eventually and you can just rewrite the entire system!' then things would be a lot different.

You're right- the air of the site made me feel like the author was a man born in unfortunate circumstances and is now an extremely bitter person. However, I have to agree with the basic idea. You see so many people who are born into money, and do NOTHING to better their lives or their business/careers/etc., people like Paris Hilton who never did a damn thing for herself except making a stupid reality show with a coked out Nicole Richie (another who for the longest never did anything to deserve her wealth), and putting out a line of perfume that smells like a night club. Not a direct example of nepotism, but you get the idea. Then there are people who work and struggle their whole lives, they're honest, good people. But somehow life gives them the short end of the stick. It's all about "knowing people" anymore. It's a damn shame.

 

[KimmyCharmeleon]

interesting. never heard of this party before. as a vietnam era survivor, there is something to be said for the unfair advantages that inept rich kids have over poor ones. our 43rd president is a perfect example.

it is pretty indisputable that the facts they give are true and that unfair distribution of wealth is at the core of the world's problems.
​

The Facts

(Source: Superclass: The Global Power Elite and the World They Are Making by David Rothkopf.)
​

1. The world is controlled by a global elite of approximately 6,000 people.
2. 94% of them are men, and their average age is 60.
3. 2% of the world's population own 50% of the world's wealth.
4. 1,100 billionaires have double the assets of the world's poorest 2.5 billion people.
5. The world's 50 largest financial institutions control a third of the world's assets.
6. The world's 250 biggest companies generate sales of about a third of the world's GDP.

And 34000 children die every day from poverty and preventable diseases.

 

[TommyTooter]

And 34000 children die every day from poverty and preventable diseases.

at least bill gates is doing something about that with his excess wealth.

 

[dkwrtw]

This is really some BIG SECRET? It seems like common sense to me that a kid with Rich Parents will do better in life than a child with poor parents.

 

[edgray]

Interesting stuff.

A meritocracy would be a vast improvement over the farse that is democracy for sure. But to be honest, I really don't think politics is needed any more. Every "political" system has massive basic flaws, and that is, they are subjective and based on vested interests and opinions.

Problem with a meritocracy is that the idea is quite elitist, and especially would be in light of the variances in intelligence based on social circumstances. Unless you can guarantee everyone EQUAL education opportunities, EQUAL early life development and EQUAL living circumstances, then the system is flawed as those living in an advantageous position would invariably be the smartest and therefore become a ruling elite. Slightly better than the money driven elite of nowadays, but hardly a better system.

A technocracy is more appealing to me.

Even more appealing is a system with no political side whatsoever, a society driven purely by the scientific method.

 

[TommyTooter]

aldous huxley in brave new world and ira levin in this perfect day pointed out some of the pitfalls technocracy would present.

lawrence sanders in the tomorrow file goes further and fills his technocracy with exaggerated political intrigues.