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.)
> The progressive left’s recent deviation into science-mongering is so hot and heavy with irony that it can be difficult to hold onto it long enough for serious examination. We may at least say that it represents desperation, and a tragic descent into dogmatism. It’s always been hard for our Editorial Board at least to hear “Trust the Science” as demanding anything other than: “Trust us”. If asked why one should do so, the only truly plausible answer is the one that none who mouth this phrase could ever actually give: “Trust the science because we are the ones in power, or because it is through our claims to a knowledge-monopoly that we hope to retain power, or better to secure it.”
> We may imagine that it was in some measure this intervention on ALC’s part that led some months later to that similarly acronymous New York woman-to-watch AOC’s removal, just this past week, of the pronouns from her social-media bios. We doubt this removal will lead to any confusion or social faux-pas, as we presume that more or less everyone has the “trained judgment” necessary to “sex” AOC as she would prefer.