Debunking the Myth of Self-Made Success

Image by Libby Levi, via opensource.com

Here is a short piece I wrote recently foraZócalo Public Square discussionon the question “Is Rising Inequality Slowly Poisoning Our Democracy?” The discussion included experts from the Brennan Center for Justice, Cato Institute, Economic Policy Institute, and Georgetown University Center on Poverty and Inequality.

When Michael Young coined the term “meritocracy” half a century ago, he meant it to be an insult, not an ideal. In his view, a society where...