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August 11, 2004

Rambling Rant

I'm just gonna ramble on here, so feel free to completely ignore me.

Today, I read about how many leftists despise any kind of meritocracy - they don't believe that one should get any more money for working hard than a person who doesn't work hard. I found this article via The Corner- thanks, Ramesh.
Matthew Yglesias wrote :

equality of opportunity and the cult of the self-made man is an utter fraud both empirically and morally. Meritocracy is an appalling ideal. Being born with the inclination and ability to become financially successful is no more morally praiseworthy than being born with the inclination and ability to inherit a large fortune. It's chance all the way down either way. There are reasons to structure incentives so as to encourage a certain amount of hard work so as to increase overall prosperity, but this is a question of pragmatics not desert, and only worth doing if overall prosperity is being managed so as to cause widespread prosperity.

Now, I will be the first to admit that Matthew Yglesias is a brilliant young man, even though I disagree with him on nearly everything he discusses. I fail to find any sense in his reasoning that hard workers are not more deserving of merit recognition in the way of raises and awards, though.

Now, I'm an old fart - 51 years old. I graduated from a small Jesuit College way back in 1975 - probably before Mr. Yglesias was a sparkle in his father's eyes.

And even though I attended a small college (or perhaps because I attended a small college), I learned to think. We were required to have something like 16 hours of philosophy and 12 hours of theology to graduate (and no, it was not all Catholic theology and philosophy, though the study of St. Anselm's Ontological Argument was quite fascinating). We all joked that the Jesuits taught us to question everything.

So, back to the idea that people who put their shoulders behind the wheel are no worthier of merit than the self-described hippie I saw today on the Plaza with a sign that said 'help a hippie, give me money". (I swear I will carry my camera with me at all times in the future so I don't miss these opportunities!!!)

So, as I ramble on, these are my thoughts on 'meritocracy' -

Matthew says "equality of opportunity and the cult of the self-made man is an utter fraud both empirically and morally"

In 1993, I ended up a divorced, and therefore single mom. I had not worked for 8 years. Back when I had worked, I can't say I had ever had a career - first a social worker, then retail management - not much money, not much fun. Anyway, I cleaned houses for awhile. Yes. I cleaned houses - I was a house cleaner - I cleaned other people's toilets, floors, kitchens, windows! (perhaps that is why my house is such a mess now - can't stand to clean anymore!)
So why am I a fraud? Please explain this to me?
Now, my official title is "Senior Technology Analyst" (I'm really a consultant). My salary is much higher than I ever imagined I would make, and I am up for a promotion and another large salary increase next month. The company I work for truly rewards those who do a good job, and that is why good people stay there. Now, for those who believe that people end up doing well because they look good or because they have connections - you are all full of shit. I do well because I work my ass off and because our clients really like me because I am honest and true and friendly. (although occasionally snarky)
But Matthew thinks that giving merit raises to hard workers is wrong. I should make the same amount of money as the just out of college slug who manages to put in maybe 20 hours of true work a week.

He thinks that it is immoral that I earn more than a co-worker who does not work as hard or make as many clients happy as I do.

Just what would be my incentive to work hard without reward? Huh? Nothing, hell, if I thought I could get away with sitting around at home, throwing pots on my wheel and being creative with my stained glass and playing with my horses, dogs and cats every day, well, the heck with work. Let some other hard working idiot provide me with the wherewithal so I can be 'me'.

These folks really believe that we should all have the same amount of stuff ... no matter how hard we work. I guess that is why they are Democrats - so they can take as much as my hard-earned money as possible and give it out to starving artists who can't earn any money because they don't want to sell out their souls by working at a real job that pays money.

I believe that I appreciate what I have because I have earned it myself. I believe that there *is* a difference betweeen people who work for their money and people who inherit it or marry into it (Teresa and John Kerry come to mind)

I am immoral, according to those of Matthew's political beliefs. And I'm a fraud.

The whole idea that hard work is not deserving is so unbelievably absurd, that I just get the willies thinking about it all.

argghhhh

Posted by Beth at August 11, 2004 08:47 PM