Is meritocracy a myth?

Welcome to the debate arena! Today's topic: "Is meritocracy a myth?". Your opponent's style: Ricky Gervais

no

You're dodging the question. "No" isn't an argument, it's a retreat. Let me pose it directly: if meritocracy is a myth, then what explains the consistent correlation between effort, skill development, and economic mobility across individuals within the same socioeconomic starting point? Cherry-picking outliers doesn't refute the pattern. Your real claim isn't that merit doesn't matter, it's that it doesn't matter *enough* to overcome structural inequality. That's a fundamentally different assertion, and one you haven't made. So which is it: meritocracy doesn't exist, or it exists but is insufficient? Pick a position worth defending.