[sircastor]

Deeply entrenched in that freedom is the fantasy of inventing some new miracle product, or supremely popular song or book. It’s protecting the idea that someday I might be the wealthy benefactor of these practices and rules. We see people vote against their interests all the time because of “The American Dream”, and the hope that they might achieve it.

[squigz]

At the heart of the American Dream (and indeed of most Western culture) is the meritocracy - or more specifically the lie of it.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myth_of_meritocracy