[PaulHoule]

To take another example, so long as Silicon Valley doesn't move economic activity to other parts of the country, it is going to "succeed" because 49 1/2 states are redlined, not because it has any understanding of what people in the rest of the country (never mind the world) might want (or be able) to buy.

Unfortunately the #1 problem with the current American "meritocracy" is that it has enough control of the narriative that it can always frame itself as successful and blame its failings on other people. For instance, Marissa Meyer can manufacture "success" by buying worthless companies started by her friends, and now with a record of "success" they can go rip off more investors.