--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Technological change, globalization…" description: "\"“Technological change, globalization, genetic advantages, even greed, are to be found everywhere, and can’t explain why we are more immobile than the r..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad3/f-h-buckley-53539_change_technological-change-globalization-genet_1131282.jpg" --- # Technological change, globalization, genetic advantages… ![“Technological change, globalization, genetic advantages, even greed, are to be found everywhere, and can’t explain why we are more immobile than the rest of the First World. What those countries lack, however, is an elite with the clout of America’s New Class. The New Class is apt to think it has…” quote by F. H. Buckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad3/f-h-buckley-53539_change_technological-change-globalization-genet_1131282.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad3/f-h-buckley-53539_change_technological-change-globalization-genet_1131282.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad3/f-h-buckley-53539_change_technological-change-globalization-genet_1131282.jpg) > ““Technological change, globalization, genetic advantages, even greed, are to be found everywhere, and can’t explain why we are more immobile than the rest of the First World. What those countries lack, however, is an elite with the clout of America’s New Class. The New Class is apt to think it has earned its privileges through its merits, that America is still the kind of meritocracy that it was in Ragged Dick’s day, where anyone could rise from the very bottom through his talents and efforts. Today’s meritocracy is very different, however.”” [F. H. Buckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-h-buckley/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote argues that despite technological and economic forces, social mobility stagnates because elite power structures, not merit, dominate modern societies. **In simple terms:** Elite power limits mobility despite progress. Key Takeaway Recognize and address elite influence. Themes merocracy elitism social mobility inequality globalization Mood critical analytical Type sociopolitical critical When to use this quote - Policy reform - education access - corporate governance - grassroots activism Key Concepts Power dynamics social stratification meritocratic myth Questions to Reflect On - How does elite influence shape opportunity? - What reforms can restore true meritocracy? A Different Perspective Meritocracy alone cannot guarantee equal opportunity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Kind Meritocracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kind-meritocracy-3109475/) [Meritocracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meritocracy/) [Meritocracy Different](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meritocracy-different-3109473/) [Meritocracy Ragged](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meritocracy-ragged-3109474/) [Technology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/technology/) [Today Meritocracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/today-meritocracy-3109476/) ## Related quotes > [“This story is not at all an uncommon one in tech circles, including gaming. The popular notion is that women who get ahead must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bailey-poland/this-story-is-not-at-all-an-uncommon-one-in-tech-circles-including/) [Bailey Poland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bailey-poland/) > [Meritocracy is a good thing. Whenever possibly, people should be judged based on their work and results, not superficial qualities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-ries/meritocracy-is-a-good-thing-whenever-possibly-people-should-be-judged/) [Eric Ries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-ries/) > [“We simply cannot engage with either the ills or promises of society if we continue to turn a blind eye to the egregious and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angel-kyodo-williams/we-simply-cannot-engage-with-either-the-ills-or-promises-of-society/) [Angel Kyodo Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angel-kyodo-williams/) > [“Where the establishment emphasized humility, prudence, lineage, meritocracy celebrates ambition, achievement, brains&self-betterment”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hayes/where-the-establishment-emphasized-humility-prudence-lineage/) [Christopher Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hayes/) > [Innovation and meritocracy was what America was based on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shiva-ayyadurai/innovation-and-meritocracy-was-what-america-was-based-on/) [Shiva Ayyadurai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shiva-ayyadurai/) > [One of the things that is great about this country is that we're a meritocracy. 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Absolutely, and the kind that's codified by meritocracy is probably more toxic than the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-noah/is-class-snobbery-a-social-reality-in-the-united-states-absolutely/) [Timothy Noah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-noah/) > [The world is not a meritocracy, as much as we may like to pretend that it is. And we have a long way to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-gladwell/the-world-is-not-a-meritocracy-as-much-as-we-may-like-to-pretend-that/) [Malcolm Gladwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-gladwell/) > [“As democracy is perfected, the office of president represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of the people. On some great and glorious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken-2/as-democracy-is-perfected-the-office-of-president-represents-more-and/) [H.L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken-2/) > [Stand-up comedy in the end, unlike the rest of the entertainment industry, is a meritocracy. There's a certain level of undeniability you can work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-gaffigan/stand-up-comedy-in-the-end-unlike-the-rest-of-the-entertainment/) [Jim Gaffigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-gaffigan/) > [ Meritocracy is our social ideal, particularly among good liberals. Equality of opportunity, but not of outcome. Not evaluating people by their \[outside\] features, but… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hayes/meritocracy-is-our-social-ideal-particularly-among-good-liberals/) [Chris Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hayes/) ## More by F. H. Buckley > [“the needs of Americans take priority over the interests of non-Americans, that what is denied non-Americans must be paid for by what is given…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-h-buckley/the-needs-of-americans-take-priority-over-the-interests-of-non/) [F. H. Buckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-h-buckley/) > [“Nineteenth century industrial society had created a new class of slaves,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-h-buckley/nineteenth-century-industrial-society-had-created-a-new-class-of/) [F. H. Buckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-h-buckley/) > [“the enemies of promise.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-h-buckley/the-enemies-of-promise/) [F. H. Buckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-h-buckley/) > [“The natural aristocracy, said Jefferson, was one of virtue or talents, and he contrasted this with an artificial aristocracy founded on wealth and birth.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-h-buckley/the-natural-aristocracy-said-jefferson-was-one-of-virtue-or-talents/) [F. H. 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That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [“…progress isn't necessarily about change but about things turning out as we want them to”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-hogan/progress-isn-t-necessarily-about-change-but-about-things-turning-out/) [Phil Hogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-hogan/) > [Nobody can tell me that no changes are necessary in Washington.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-weld/nobody-can-tell-me-that-no-changes-are-necessary-in-washington/) [William Weld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-weld/) > [If my campaign is not in the debate, we will not be talking about how we really fix this problem of endless and expanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/if-my-campaign-is-not-in-the-debate-we-will-not-be-talking-about-how/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [When you walk down the street of Kabul your values for life changes, they do change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-pierre-white/when-you-walk-down-the-street-of-kabul-your-values-for-life-changes/) [Marco Pierre White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-pierre-white/) > [Your world will change whether or not you choose to change, but you have the power to choose it's direction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/your-world-will-change-whether-or-not-you-choose-to-change-but-you/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [I hope I continue to evolve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-flair/i-hope-i-continue-to-evolve/) [Charlotte Flair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-flair/) > [“Stay focused on bringing people together and more on positive messaging so that you can be the change you wish to see in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/stay-focused-on-bringing-people-together-and-more-on-positive/) [Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/) > [The biggest change for me as a mom was realizing I needed to put someone else before me. Now the hardest part about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-alexis/the-biggest-change-for-me-as-a-mom-was-realizing-i-needed-to-put/) [Kim Alexis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-alexis/) > [“After the funeral, my life changed. I felt as if time were suddenly precious, water going down an open drain, and I could not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/after-the-funeral-my-life-changed-i-felt-as-if-time-were-suddenly/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [You practice mindfulness, on the one hand, to be calm and peaceful. On the other hand, as you practice mindfulness and live a life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-practice-mindfulness-on-the-one-hand-to-be-calm-and-peaceful-on/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Irish research will contribute to global progress and have the potential to help all countries realise the potential of their land sectors in addressing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enda-kenny/irish-research-will-contribute-to-global-progress-and-have-the/) [Enda Kenny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enda-kenny/) > [No man can change himself into anything from sheer reason; he can only change into what he potentially is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/no-man-can-change-himself-into-anything-from-sheer-reason-he-can-only/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) [Browse all 33,920 Change quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Technological change, globalization, genetic advantages, even greed, are to be found everywhere, and can’t explain why we are more immobile than the rest of the First World. 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