How has the concept of meritocracy functioned in the United States? Is it really a boon to social mobility and the American Dream, or does it more often reinforce existing power hierarchies? Hayes argues that the United States political system is in thrall to an undeserving elite that has left Americans more alienated from government, policy, and politics than ever before. This is an optimistic account suggesting that Americans can hold the establishment accountable for its misdeeds and correct the current power imbalances.
