[gumby]

Really depends on your definition of "merit" (which is frequently misunderstood the same way evolutionary "fitness" is often misunderstood).

Read Young's original book coining the term: it was both a satire and dystopian lament. Far from a term of approval!

Certainly many people -- perhaps most -- believe that "IQ" (loosely defined) is in fact the proper definition of meritocracy.

(In case it's not obviously I definitely disagree)

[ZephyrBlu]

If many people loosely equate IQ to merit then that is worrying to me.

It's all well and good if you're smart because it increases your advantage two-fold. But it basically screws over everyone else.