Author: R. Alan Harrop, Ph.D.
This is another article in the series on issues critical to perpetuating America as we have known it for the past 250 years. America was founded on the principle of freedom and the opportunity for all citizens to achieve success in life based on their own hard work, perseverance, and responsible behavior regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, or religion. This has earned America the title of the “Land of Opportunity” and is the reason so many people want to immigrate to our country. Sadly, over the past few decades we have been moving away from being a meritocracy (where work and effort determine success) to a system where merit is not rewarded.
Here are some examples: Promotions in one’s career should be based on a person’s skills and achievements. In many corporations and businesses, promotions are now determined by quotas. A corporation must have the correct percentage of people in various positions based on race and gender. Diversity-Equity-Inclusion (DEI), propagated by the Marxist left, has become a controlling principle that many corporations are following.
Schools and universities follow similar practices not only in hiring but in grading the achievement of their students. The traditional grading system of A, B, C, D, and F has been either replaced by Pass/Fail or so distorted that very few if any students ever are graded below B. For example, a survey of colleges and universities showed that the Grade Point Average (GPA) was 2.83 in 1983; it is now 3.3. In 1965, 18% of students received an A grade average; it is now up to 62%!
Another example of not rewarding those who achieve is participation trophies. Instead of giving trophies to the best and most accomplished, everyone gets a trophy. This just reinforces the Marxist principle of equal outcomes regardless of effort and demonstrated ability/achievement. It does not encourage students to do their best and work harder. It is not the American way!
Marxism started in the mid-1800s, attempting to divide societies by economic class: worker vs owners/managers. That strategy worked in some countries like Russia, but failed in America because we had a middle class with an acceptable standard of living, and, most importantly, opportunities to advance based on a person’s own effort and achievement. The American Dream was a real possibility for most Americans. What are the Marxist leftists attempting now? They are attempting, and in some places succeeding, to divide the country by race and ethnicity. They use the notion of victimization to allow people to blame others for their own failure to achieve. If you are a minority race and not successful, it is because America is inherently racist; and therefore, it is not your fault that you are failing to achieve your dreams. The only solution, according to the Left, is to “fundamentally change America” as Barack Obama stated on many occasions. Transform to what you might wonder? Communism of course. The recent election of Mayor Zohran Mamdani, a proud communist, has shown how the Left’s strategy is working with a large number of people. This must be stopped if America is to be saved.
Most, if not all, of the significant technical advances in civilization are made by high achievers who are free to apply their skill and intelligence to creating. America needs to return to recognizing and rewarding achievement at all levels of society. Striving to achieve the best one can is what built this country to the most successful in the history of mankind. High standards of living are not created by low achievers. It is essential that we instill this principle in the youth of our country if America is to continue the success we have had over the past 250 years.