Meritocracy Re-visited

This is a good sum up on the previous postings on meritocracy.....
Note these when reading the article:
- opening BANG using anecdote, and closing BANG that echoes the opening...
- the interesting anecdote on the etymological origins of 'compassion' towards the end (can be used for writing intro and conclusion)
- how meritocracy, while having served Singapore well over the years, is now starting to show cracks by widening the divide between the haves and have-nots
- the concept of 'compassionate meritocracy' to temper and redress the imbalance caused by extreme meritocracy (you want to know that meritocracy has been touted as a cause for people becoming more selfish and less caring about others; only the best gets the job, so one tries to make sure one is among the best, but some could try to achieve this by preventing others from becoming the 'best', or there is less incentive for us to help others better themselves lest they become a threat to us)
- recall the recent education reforms implemented last year to counter the negative impacts of meritocracy
- the use of affirmative actions in 'compassionate meritocracy' need not mean a compromise on standards of excellence