We're outraged that wealthy parents illegally paid to get their kids into elite colleges they would otherwise not qualify to enter. Despite evidence to the contrary, we still want to believe that America is a meritocracy. It's not. And believing that it is might be bad for you.

The word ‘meritocracy’ was coined as a satirical slur by Michael Young, a British sociologist and politician, in his 1958 dystopic novel, The Rise of the Meritocracy, 1870–2033. The idea that luck, socioeconomic status, and environment were neutralized by grit and hard work made it easy to absolve ourselves of discriminatory policy and rising inequality -- until now.  

Also this hour: the global threat of white nationalism and the NCAA brackets. 

We're outraged that wealthy parents illegally paid to get their kids into elite colleges they would otherwise not qualify to enter. Despite evidence to the contrary, we still want to believe that America is a meritocracy. It's not. And believing that it is <a href="https://www.fastcompany.com/40510522/meritocracy-doesnt-exist-and-believing-it-does-is-bad-for-you" target="_blank" rel="noopener">might be bad for you.</a>
The word &lsquo;meritocracy&rsquo; was <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2019/03/college-admissions-scandal-what-meritocracy-really/584875/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">coined as a satirical slur </a>by Michael Young, a British sociologist and politician, in his 1958 dystopic novel, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Rise-Meritocracy-Classics-Organization-Management-ebook/dp/B074CG5936" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Rise of the Meritocracy, 1870&ndash;2033.</a>&nbsp;The idea that luck, socioeconomic status, and environment were neutralized by grit and hard work made it easy to absolve ourselves of <a href="https://diverseeducation.com/article/140982/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">discriminatory </a>policy and rising inequality -- <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2019/03/college-bribe-scandal-about-class-inequality/584797/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">until now.</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;
Also this hour: the <a href="https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2019/03/new-zealand-mosque-attacks-global-right-wing-terrorism.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">global threat</a> of white nationalism and the NCAA brackets.&nbsp;

The Colin McEnroe Show is public radio’s most eclectic, eccentric weekday program. The best way to understand us is through the subjects we tackle: Neanderthals, tambourines, handshakes, the Iliad, snacks, ringtones, punk rock, Occam’s razor, Rasputin, houseflies, zippers. Are you sensing a pattern? If so, you should probably be in treatment. On Fridays, we try to stop thinking about what kind of ringtones Neanderthals would want to have and convene a panel called The Nose for an informal roundtable about the week in culture.

<a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/show/the-colin-mcenroe-show/about">The Colin McEnroe Show</a> is public radio’s most eclectic, eccentric weekday program. The best way to understand us is through the subjects we tackle: Neanderthals, tambourines, handshakes, the Iliad, snacks, ringtones, punk rock, Occam’s razor, Rasputin, houseflies, zippers. Are you sensing a pattern? If so, you should probably be in treatment. On Fridays, we try to stop thinking about what kind of ringtones Neanderthals would want to have and convene a panel called <a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/tags/the-nose">The Nose</a> for an informal roundtable about the week in culture.

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