It is the belief that power and opportunities are gained because of merit.
The United States is, indeed, a republic, not a democracy. Accurately defined, a democracy is a form of government in which the people decide policy matters directly--through town hall meetings or by voting on ballot initiatives and referendums. A republic, on the other hand, is a system in which the people choose representatives who, in turn, make policy decisions on their behalf. The Framers of the Constitution were altogether fearful of pure Meritocracy and the American dream, however, are where I draw the line. Meritocracy is the belief that power and opportunities are gained because of merit. It feeds the American Dream that one can achieve anything one wants if you work hard enough. And of course we have our heroes and heroines throughout history and in our present who we point to as symbols of achievement.  meritocracy A social system in which status is achieved through ability and effort (merit), rather than ascribed on the basis of age, class, gender, or other such particularistic or inherited advantages.  Answers. Best Answer: Meritocracy-A system under which a person is elevated to positions of privelege or power based on their ability rather other factors such as wealth or birth. Gerorge W Bush got into Harvard George W Bush was President of the USA Not a meritocracy. Best Answer: Meritocracy-A system under which a person is elevated to positions of privelege or power based on their ability rather other factors such as wealth or birth The primary concern with meritocracy is the unclear definition of merit. Different people often have their own standards of merit, thus raising the question of which merit is the highest — or, in other words, which standard is the best standard. In a more general sense, meritocracy can refer to any form of government based on achievement. Like  utilitarian  and  pragmatic , the word meritocratic has also developed a broader definition, and may be used to refer to any government run by a ruling or influential class of educated or able people.. To enforce the merit system and the judicial system, the law also created the United States Civil Service Commission. In the modern American meritocracy, the president may hand out only a certain number of jobs, which must be approved by the Senate. In a more general sense, meritocracy can refer to any form of government based on achievement. Like  utilitarian  and  pragmatic , the word meritocratic has also developed a broader definition, and may be used to refer to any government run by a ruling or influential class of educated or able people.. 3 Responses to The Failure of Meritocracy in the United States. Sun, Jul 22nd, 2012 at 3:49 pm. for the elites to draw more and more into their own coffers and to distend equality to a wider and wider basis is a means to an end of their own elite status. “This is the paradox of meritocracy: It can only come truly to flower in a society that starts out with a relatively high degree of equality. So if you want meritocracy, work for equality.”. The United States is a meritocracy, or at least claims to be one. We reward those who work the hardest and perform the best with great riches and those who do not languish. This is the motivating force behind the high productivity, entrepreneurship, and achievement of this great nation ^ a: This is the history of the meritocracy in the technical sense. The vaguer definition of a meritocracy as a rule by intelligence has been applied to many ancient Greek, Indian, Chinese, and Jewish thinkers and statesmen. In a more general sense, meritocracy can refer to any form of government based on achievement. Like  utilitarian  and  pragmatic , the word meritocratic has also developed a broader definition, and may be used to refer to any government run by a ruling or influential class of educated or able people..
http://www.thisnation.com/question/011.html http://thoughtcatalog.com/kovie-biakolo/2014/01/the-lie-of-meritocracy-and-the-illusion-of-the-american-dream/ http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/Meritocracy.aspx https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20091214103405AAeHCBq https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meritocracy https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meritocracy http://www.politicususa.com/2012/07/22/failure-meritocracy.html https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meritocracy
why is the united states considered a meritocracy