Hi @surfermarley!
Of course, you can, it’s just a matter of whether you realise it. Exploitation is not a part of true meritocracy - after all, when everyone serves in a position appropriate to their skills and understanding, harmonious outcomes are guaranteed. The oligarchic structures that feature so prominently in western societies these days show that those who exploit others most ruthlessly are usually personality-disordered characters qualified to do little else; such structures are actually inversely meritocratic. Yet some would have us believe that power and money are synonymous with ‘merit’ regardless of the means of attainment. It’s a bogus narrative that really needs to be disposed of. Platforms like Steem are not the ‘answer’ to ‘meritocracy’, they are a closer representation of what meritocracy really is, or so I think.
Thanks for the welcome! I’ve enjoyed reading your posts, and I think the Steem blockchain has the potential to be extremely beneficial. Looking forward to seeing what the future reveals!