Elitism is preferable to the supremacy of mediocrity. Do you agree?

Question

1. A system of academic selection in public (state) schools, for all its defects and biases, is preferable to an "egaliatarian" system by which children are allocated to schools based on residence area or lottery. Yes, academic selection might give the middle class an advantage, but bright children from poor families would benefit as well, and the competition to get into selective schools would force children to study harder.

SOME Americans and Europeans have told me that "competition is not good for children". Nonsense. Everywhere in Asia, bright children thrive on competition. And in any competiiton, some people will always come out ahead. It's not unfair, it's just life.

2. I would prefer having a meritocratic House of Lords composed of (or elected by) the intellectual elite. It should be a counterbalance to popular sentiment and somewhat disconnected from the masses. After all, do the masses really know what is best?

Comments and feedback appreciated.

Yes, I'm from Asia. Yes, I grew up in a competitive environment and am none the worse for it. Yes, I probably grew up in a society completely different from yours. Yes, my political views are probably completely different from yours (for example, I oppose Tibetan independence and can imagine you glaring at me).

And NO, I do NOT consider myself part of the "political elite". In fact, I want to have nothing to do with politics and leave it to people who know better than myself.

And just in case Americans misunderstand, the "House of Lords" is the upper house in the British Parliament. Don't worry - I wouldn't impose an artificial "aristocracy" on the US, but perhaps you could consider applying my idea of meritocracy to your Senate instead *wink wink* =p

America succeeds whilst Asia and Europe fail? Really, I can't stop my laughter.

Answer 1

This is one of the primary problems in America. The czars of our education system have installed a socialist system of "everyone is equal". Not only is that blatantly not true, but it leads to dumbing down, and does a great disservice to children when they enter the "real world" and find out that everyone is NOT equal and success is directly related to one's ability to compete. In certain schools, they don't even mark papers with red pen anymore because it's too demoralizing to students. Seriously? If you're demoralized by red pen, then the world is going to chew you up. Toughen up, people.

This is bleeding into our society through the bashing and hatred of our country's most successful. For some reason, we want to hate rich people, tear them down, and take their money. If we're going to do this to the rich, then why should anyone try? And if there are no rich, who is going to employ and pay the rest of us?

Answer 2

Without a doubt this "elitist" system is already in place in our private education system, and has worked very well at keeping the elites in power. In point of fact, the elites have ruled America government since it's founding. How else can you explain the ubiquitousness of Harvard, Yale, and Princeton degrees among politicians? The ruling class does govern, and I don't think they really care where your kid goes to school as long as it's not the same prep school his child goes to. Because that's what happens to the elite: they lose touch with the people they are ruling.

Did you plan on your question being so ironic?

You want to give your kid a good eduction so he can become an elite? Pay money for it. Pay lots and lots of money for it. Otherwise, stop criticizing a system that has given economically depressed areas equal access to education despite their impoverished status. The same public school system that created the middle class of the 40's and 50's.

America isn't like Asia or Europe, which is the reason why we succeed and those continents fail. We operate on Christian values and the idea of fairness.... or at least we pretend we do.

Answer 3

Over and over again mediocrity is promoted because real worth isn't to be found.
Author: Kathleen Norris

Answer 4

Salvation through the LORD Jesus Christ - Is preferable over spending eternity in Progressive Hell.