Steve > Status Update

It's funny how the mainstream discourse about democracy and human rights totally ignores the question of economic inequality. Everthing is apparently fine as long as people are free to follow certain lifestyles.

They cheat us by talking about "freedom" and the "free world". The penurious individual is free to do only one thing - starve.

Economy is almost mystified and is certainly a new religion-like "script" where one criticism of the current status brands you as a lunatic. One of the worst ideologies is the idea of meritocracy. You deserve to be rich because you worked harder than others and if you're poor, well then it's your bad so suck it up. It's basically the same justification many religions have: if bad happens to you it's because you deserve it. There are numerous studies and books on how poverty is almost impossible to break out of no matter how hard you work. The inequality is even worse when thinking on how the 1% is in many cases not only above law but also not taxed as they should be. If they payed as much as they should many countries would have less problems. But God forbid they have the same duties as the 99%!

I think you misunderstand the meaning of the word 'meritocracy.'

I'm sure I don't misunderstand.
Success/status based on merit because you worked hard and are better than others at doing X.
But meritocracy is not flawless and in many cases it doesn't work. And as I said, it's used to legitimize inequality. Meritocracy is seen as somebody being successful because he/she worked hard and that everybody working just as hard will belong to the top. At the same time, is somebody doesn't belong to these 1% (to use one example) it's because that person "didn't work hard enough", which is ridiculous because other factors help or hinder advancing: financial situation of the family, societal background, gender, race, etc.

EDIT: The idea of meritocracy is good, what I'm talking about is the actual use and abuse of that ideology to justify inequality. The 1% uses the idea of meritocracy to legitimize their wealth and status. That's what I'm talking about.

Gretel wrote: "I'm sure I don't misunderstand.
Success/status based on merit because you worked hard and are better than others at doing X.
But meritocracy is not flawless and in many cases it doesn't work. And a..."
I agree completely with you, Gretel. This falacy called "you'll success (and what is the meaning of being succesful in our societies nowadays? Earning as much money as possible?) if you work hard" is getting on my nerves increasingly.

While we're here discussing these issues, many people are working hard to have something to eat today. Aren't they successful?

While the so called successful people are in their offices talking about nothing in the EU institutions and earning a lot of money, thousands of people are dying in the Mediterranean Sea. Do they feel ashamed? They should.