HUMBLE PIE IS COLD COMFORT Comment on M. Sandel’s The Tyranny of Merit

Capitalism has always had winners and losers, losers have been unevenly distributed among particular groups. From the beginning, people of color capitalism’s biggest victims made up a disproportionate number poor. Even before Reagan–Thatcher era, conservative cheerleaders for capitalism justified uneven distributions markets by blaming victims. In United States, example, according to famous Moynihan Report, Blacks were at bottom pecking order because “culture underclass” that included fatherless families teen pregnancy.The last several decades witnessed two important developments in this landscape. First, beginning late 1980s, New Democrats went all neoliberal version encouraged free trade deregulation. Instead their losses under neoliberalism, try harder, get college education avoid worst effects economic restructuring. Education featured centrally as star “equal opportunity” show—the great equalizer would ensure everyone fair chance being winner. Affirmative action helped Black brown students into higher jump-start success (although Democratic elites never fully defended it, seeing it anti-meritocratic).Second, acquired some new along way. wake global restructuring, long-term wage stagnation, Great Crash 2008, came include white working middle class (especially working- middle-class men). doubled down on meritocratic rhetoric push displaced workers children job retraining or degree. There was cultural bashing well. Certain politicians, including Bill Hillary Clinton Barack Obama, dissed various members class, calling them trailer trash, deplorables, simpleminded who clinging guns religion.Of course, we know what happened next. 2016, Donald Trump rode wave populist backlash, capitalizing working-class resentment, find pathway White House. According many commentators, Trump’s electoral depended heavily millions non-college-educated men infuriated they perceived relegation second-class status.In The Tyranny Merit: What’s Become Common Good?,1 Sandel calls out those abandonment cruelty market. Sandel’s argument is actually narrower than that: does not take issue with capitalism, displacement, but instead he takes used justify restructured economy’s wins losses. aim hubris meritocracy-talk generates indicts overly harsh moral judgment meritocracy imposes losers. view, such judgments erode solidarity, demean demoralize left behind, disempower ordinary citizens.In way affirmative prescription, argues rethinking its attitudes toward failure. Beyond arguments subsidy fancy-school admissions lottery, chiefly should be more humble, attentive role luck played success, affirming dignity respect work—not just work college-educated professionals ranks.There much recommend book an targeting snobbish assumption elite deserve riches lumpen proletariat do worked hard enough. Others written glowing reviews book, which I mostly agree. deserves effusive praise, both willing critique making his so accessible. However, write make critical points.First, fails recognize are also use distribution. Because focusing newest victims, effect them, only briefly mentions color. More specifically, aside from section difficulties affluent face getting selective colleges, focuses almost exclusively men, makes seem though ones affected.Although welcome focus whatever group chooses, book’s title framing suggest general study meritocracy. framework, exclusive suggests harmed primarily, maybe only, then men. There’s certainly distinctive story tell about others begun it.2 But tyranny general, suffers narrow people.We can see best sections where talking African Americans Latinos, not. For when pointing globalization automation hurt American workers, cites statistics men.3 turns disproportionately concentrated kinds support roles most likely affected automation.4 Indeed, William Julius Wilson wrote whole restructuring workers. When Work Disappears, tied disappearance jobs emergence ghetto industrial globalization, foreign competition.5 theorists argued might well miners’ canaries, warning future workers.6Similarly, compares Danes Canadians mobility, neglects mention that, even going increased, born parents household-income quintile still 2.5% rising top household income, compared 10.6% whites, gap rivals between Canadians.7Sandel wholly ignores He noted, research finding Latino students, believing erodes student self-esteem over time don’t measure up.8 surprisingly, discusses conversations merit begin leaves any sustained discussion stigmatizing race-conscious admissions. This struck me pointed omission, perhaps deliberate choice close door conversation race.Most tellingly, first describes backlash during 2016 election,9 rather class.10 But, wasn’t triggered associated election. It without As scholars election shown, group’s resentment coupled deep anti-immigrant, anti-Black sentiment. right note naked racism, wrong imply relatively less race meritocracy.Again, am arguing here focus, there no class. Rather, impact restructuring’s together men—all very historically specific ways. meritocracy, deliberately narrowed smaller group.Second, misdiagnoses problem capitalism. misdiagnosis means doesn’t problems seriously enough offer real solution. chapters, goes far male worker, lost manufacturing humiliated loss. one chapter, Case Deaton “deaths despair” these deaths attributable worker humiliation opposed material loss suffered.11 authors themselves attribute flaws capitalism—to weakened position labor, consolidation power corporations, loss, accompanying social capital accompanied restructuring.12 They say little hands underlying cause.13Because misdiagnosed problem, offers solutions worker. devotes chapter proposed lottery fancy schools, “qualified” schools. spends pages anticipating objections elites, structural inequality wouldn’t doom majority non-white fall unqualified applicants, groups apply schools reasons other GPA. non-elite forms education, like community training, drive-by sentence after discussing lottery.That becomes clear solutions-focused work. Here, endorses program looks something universal basic income program. solution, promising attitude shift, seems concede is, fact, rhetorical. then, programs supplement wages forced precarious informal economy. Wage subsidies solve displacement either. policy-making choices prioritize creation, recommendation Joe Biden appears taking heart early labor-focused cabinet picks. spoils soup creation environmental clean-up goals.Beyond subsidy, concrete relief, exhortation progressive humble non-college-degree shifting won’t provide high-wage, stable opportunities advancement. That’s big part why won—because promised bring back disappeared automated away—although really good promise. And that’s won again, pandemic intervened: inherited hot economy, track outpace Bush Obama disrupted everything.14Sandel suffered expanded legions victimized. core writ large small Meritocracy sideshow. A suggestion eat pie cold comfort suffer pain although unfair expect philosopher fix reminded advice got mentor law school (whose brother philosopher). My told philosophy raises questions society resolve disciplines answers. raising questions, succeeds spotlighting issues. answers, merit.