[yew]

Meritocracy isn't real and hard work doesn't work, but there are lots of real factors under your control. Vote in your own best interest. Get involved in politics. Favor class, gender, ethnic interests. Sharpen your social skills.

That's a real internal locus of control. Shaping society is just another job, and a lot more rewarding to learn.

Get out, touch grass, do real things, meet real people, help your friends, let them help you. (Confound your enemies.)

[rayiner]

The groups that have focused on “class, gender, [and] ethnic interests” have made much less forward progress compared to groups that have eschewed political approaches. It’s a boat anchor around the neck of individuals in those groups who could otherwise succeed. It yokes individuals to the worst and most hopeless members of whatever group they belong to, dragging them down and holding them back.

[yew]

[flagged]

[rayiner]

But group solidarity and political organizing foster an external locus of control. It makes you think of your fate as being linked to that of your group rather than your individual efforts.

[yew]

Ah, sorry for the confusion. I'm not advocating group solidarity.

("Group" and "solidarity" are such fuzzily broad terms. But I think, not in the sense you intend. Real humans are, of course, social creatures.)