As long as people control the narrative Meritocracy can not exist
This is sadly very true. There is some sort of utopian perspective to believe that a human being can sincerely evaluate another human being without becoming biased. It is in our very nature to be volatile. Maybe the whole idea that merit has to be given to X and Y is flawed. Because it makes the process of appreciation a comparison, a process of finding flaws in the other so that the other can be awarded the "more merit" sign. Maybe the whole humanity would evolve more if people would act without the need to be awarded a certain degree or performance stars. At that point humans would probably understand that we are all a part of a system, just like in a car. You can't say that the wheels are more meritous than the engine or the windshields. They all have their place in that perfectly designed piece of technology. I wonder if we would think the same about the Universe how our paradigms would change. Because wars and violence happened precisely because of this culture of meritocracy that we have been imbued with. Who deserves more power, more control, more money, more recognition?