Not All Opinions are Equal

Despite our claim of “liberty and justice for all” (and the 14th amendment that is supposed to protect that claim), meritocracies are actually quite rare in American society. Our dominant systems are not meritocracies. They are power hierarchies. This includes government, organizations and businesses, religious institutions, academia, political parties, and even art. In each of the areas, it is not a level playing field of equal opportunity. “Success” is heavily influenced by who you know and how much power, money, and status you have. This is especially true if you are a WAM (White American male).

There are two significant meritocrial systems: sports and the military. Not coincidentally, these two systems were some of the first to integrate races, gender, social classes, etc. Of courses, neither are pure meritocracies, but they are the closest.

I also want to draw attention to another smaller but historically significant meritocracy: agriculture. Especially cowboy culture. Cowboy culture may be the closest thing to a pure meritocracy. Cowboy culture is based off of working hard, taking care of your neighbor, and riding for the brand literally and figuratively.

But for this essay, I wanted to talk about a philosophical meritocracy; one that crosses almost every societal label, structure, and system. I’m speaking of the Meritocracy of Opinions.

In the Meritocracy of Opinions, everyone has the right to express their viewpoint, idea, or perspective. But not all opinions are equal. Not all carry the same merit. In the Meritocracy of Opinions, merit is earned, credibility is earned, authority is earned.

In the Meritocracy of Opinions …

You have to be able to defend your position. The burden of proof is on you, not the recipients. (This is one of my complaints about Joe Rogan)

You have to be willing to expose your opinion to the open-air of the idea marketplace.

You have to have the skill to articulate your views calmly and without being condescending.

In the Meritocracy of Opinions, the value is not in having an opinion, but in having a well-informed, well-thought out one.

“Nothing inspires more reverence and awe in me than an old man who knows how to change his mind.”

― Santiago Ramón Y Cajal