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Comment by apercu | Hacker News Reader

> Unless the system is highly unmeritocratic this does not happen. Say you work at McDonald's and you're a brilliant person. You will soon be promoted and get more options.

  This sounds not well thought out to me. How many movers and shakers do you know that started out poor and working at Mcdonads? None?

The world is highly unmeritocratic, otherwise Jared Kushner would be the one working at McDonalds.

If you were born economically disadvantaged the odds of success are highly unlikely, do not let anyone tell you otherwise.

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My personal experience is very different. I was born in a modest family in eastern Europe and now I work in an investment bank in London.

To give an example, one of Goldman Sachs former CEO's started as a janitor in the company: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sidney_Weinberg#Career_at_Gold...

He was a high school drop-out.

It will sound harsh, but the truth is that most people are average. If you are brilliant and with a bit of luck you will make it to the top in most western countries.

In statistics you are what is called an outlier. Many of us on HN came from humble roots and made something of ourselves, but just imagine where you would be if you were politically and economically connected?

It can be both meritocratic and unlikely for disadvantaged people to succeed. Those kids who are born disadvantaged are more often disadvantaged in their merits too. Their parents and peers teach them life habits and emotional problems that keep them poor, and their genes keep them similar to their parents.

Maybe you're confusing meritocracy with equality. Meritocracy does create an underclass of "unmeritous" people.

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