Misunderstanding meritocracy as anything other than aspirational continues to frustrate.

We can’t achieve a true meritocracy. That’s not an argument against trying.

Sure, but if you believe it does not exist then why argue against systems that level the playing field and offsets it?

Because “systems that level the playing field” tend to make a system less meritocratic (and less fair), not more.

So I guess what you're saying is it's better to maintain the illusion of meritocracy instead of acknowledging and being honest with ourselves that pay is not commensurate to effort?

> So I guess what you're saying is it's better to maintain the illusion of meritocracy …

No, it’s better to strive for meritocracy and fail to achieve perfection, than to abandon the effort to reward merit entirely.

> … instead of acknowledging and being honest with ourselves that pay is not commensurate to effort?

“Merit” is not a synonym for effort, pay was never commensurate with effort, and it never should be.

We’re not trying to reward effort — we’re trying to reward results.

> We’re not trying to reward effort — we’re trying to reward results.

What makes you think we do that now?

You don’t believe there’s currently any correlation between merit and pay?