Using American Meritocracy to Criticize Donald Trump

 

I am conflicted about a recent op-ed that I saw in the Tampa Bay Times: "Don't erode what makes America great" by James Unnever.

 

On the plus side, I think he is speaking the language of right wingers, so they might be inclined to hear his criticism of Donald Trump. He says the United States is a meritocracy (I know, right?) and Trump's choices for his cabinet have not demonstrated any merit that warrants their nominations.

 

On the other hand, his speaking the language of the right wingers makes my head spin.

 

It starts when he suggests that "anyone can go from rags to riches" is a fundamental, common value among Americans. He might even believe it is foundational, that it was something the framers of the Constitution had in mind.

 

I think more Americans are challenging the concept of a meritocracy, because they realize the game is slanted toward the already-wealthy. Most Americans, I think, want enough to be healthy and happy, and not magnificent wealth.

 

The American Dream I grew up with was being able to buy a house and raise a family with comfort and security - not owning multiple yachts. When did that change?

 

Then he says, "Indeed, the Republican party's successful dismantling of affirmative action and its 'war on woke' are meant to reaffirm the United States is a meritocracy." 

 

Some people (such as myself) would counter that the attacks on social justice were waged to keep safe the Myth of American Meritocracy. Republicans have targeted social justice efforts in government and education because those things threatened to reveal how the playing field is not even, and so the rewards are not distributed fairly. Many people of merit have been denied rewards because of their gender, their sexual orientation, the color of their skin, etc. What he sees as meritocracy is white privilege, patriarchy, and colonization for other people. 

 

I was even more upset when I finished reading his column and saw in his biographical blurb that he is a "former professor of criminology." If anyone -- anyone -- knows about systemic inequities it should be a professor of criminology. Tell me you did not learn anything about your academic discipline without telling me you did not learn anything about your academic discipline.

 

Attacks on "woke" frequently include attacks on Critical Race Theory (those attacks also include misleading definitions of it). One of the truths revealed by CRT is how systems that are not explicitly racist can be racist in their results -- such as the criminal justice system in the United States. For instance, criminal laws may not target ethnic minorities in their language, but they do in their enforcement. The professor should know this.

 

People on the right would likely tune me out as soon as they saw the words "white privilege, patriarchy, and colonization," so perhaps someone like this guy is needed to make the criticism of Trump. He can appeal to their American illusions while disillusioning them about Trump's ability to govern.