In France, Enlightenment ideals replaced monarchy with democracy during the French Revolution (1789–1799). But this system soon favored wealthy elites, devolving into oligarchies under the Directory. Power shifted again with Napoleon’s rise, undermining the meritocratic goals of the revolution. 2/4

Documents like the U.S. Constitution, while based on Enlightenment principles, failed to create a true meritocracy. Limited suffrage (initially for white male property owners) & systemic privilege ensured leadership often served wealth. Equal access to education & opportunity was also absent. 3/4

10/10 “If elections changed anything, they would be forbidden!” -Tucholsky

There are no "good elites" or "bad elites", there are just elites who look out for eachothers interest, this is the supreme con trick which has subjugated humanity since the first kingdoms and nations.

9/10 Nothing significant has changed since medieval times, the feudal Lords are born amongst eachother, stay with eachother, marry eachother, pay eachother, and perpetuate eachothers power.

Any threat of actual change will threaten their neat paradigm where, no matter what, they get richer

5/10 This applies to wider society; privileged elite at the top, resistant to demotion, blocks social mobility and replacement by Meritocrats. Negative selection is deliberately designed and perpetuated to maintain the power of over-promoted elites.

We MUST replace these systems with Meritocracy

3/10 Incompetent leaders become toxic, hinder progress and cost companies, those overpromoted ones usually realise their incompetence but cling to positions for the salary and perks

"Work is accomplished by those employees who have not yet reached their level of incompetence" -Laurence J. Peter

2/10 Peter Principle; In a hierarchy, individuals tend to rise to a level of responsibility above their competence.

Good workers are promoted until they exceed their talent, ending up in positions they are not competent for. Donald Trump is the archetypal example of this principle come to life

5/8 Then there’s cronyism, the art of rewarding one’s sycophants, allies, and friends with positions of power. It’s a system designed to elevate mediocrity, sidelining true talent. Unmeritorious cronies are favored over outsiders with actual skill, and this inevitably leads to disastrous outcomes

4/8 America’s leaders have refused to implement policies like a 100% inheritance tax, which would dismantle these inherited power structures. Instead, they lean toward 0% inheritance tax, ensuring the aristocracy of wealth remains intact

3/8 Nepotism, the practice of handing power and privilege to one’s offspring, cements the elites stranglehold on society. The rich ensure their children inherit their wealth and their influence, regardless of the heirs' competence. This is why the wealthy enjoy absurdly disproportionate success