Gordon Brown calls for Meritocracy?!

Gordon Brown's latest pronouncement in favour of meritocracy over patronage begs a big question. Meritocracy means the most competent get the jobs, so let's leave aside the fact that almost every senior MP in Parliament and public sector bureaucrat would be out on their ear if this idea ever came to fruition. The fact is that meritocracy as a system of selection is no better, and may be worse, than any other. Who is doing the choosing anyway? Being born brainy is just as selective as being born privileged. Do we really want intellectuals in charge, or do we want competent people who understand and have experience of real life, even if they are not perfect. It's quite simple; the top people in government and public sector we need are those who are competent and want to serve the people, not master them: and, further, servants who love the people and nation they serve: and yet further, who serve by really listening to both the mass of the people and the individual so they can get delivery right. Then will we have the best people for the job.
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