Too many losers in the merit race

This article was published in The Australian 1 February 2010

There is probably no more powerful motivator of human action than a lofty and sincerely felt philosophy of universal justice, combined with a determined and even desperate regard for the personal fortunes of our offspring. When the ennoblement of society and the career-success of our kids march hand in hand, we are willing to overlook any inconvenient statistic, to countenance any petty unfairness, and to surmount any obstacle of public opinion.

In the 1850s, the historians tell us, the modern meritocratic social ideal was born out of the British parliament's decision to open the country's civil service to competitive examination.

Before that time you could be introduced to 40 years of relatively comfortable office-toil on the simple basis of a recommendation from a family friend, combined with a modest example of your handwriting skills.