TwilightoftheElites_AmericaAfterMeritocr.epub

Copyright © 2012 by Christopher L. Hayes All rights reserved. Published in the United States by Crown Publishers, an imprint of the Crown Publishing Group, a division of Random House, Inc., New York. www.crownpublishing.com CROWN and the Crown colophon are registered trademarks of Random House, Inc. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Hayes, Christopher, 1979– Twilight of the elites : America after meritocracy / Christopher Hayes. — 1st ed. p. cm. 1. Elite (Social sciences)—United States. 2. Business and politics—United States. 3. Corporate power—United States. 4. Power (Social sciences) 5. United States—Politics and government —21st century. 6. United States—Economic conditions—21st century. 7. United States— Social conditions—21st century. I. Title. HN90.E4H39 2012 305.5’20973—dc23 2012002435 eISBN: 978-0-307-72047-4 Jacket design by Ben Wiseman Jacket photography © Ryan McVay/Getty Images v3.1 To my mom and dad, who taught me how to see the world. Contents Cover Title Page Copyright Dedication Chapter One THE NAKED EMPERORS Chapter Two MERITOCRACY AND ITS DISCONTENTS Chapter Three MORAL HAZARDS......