> It's not about, and I don't see anyone arguing the point, me being unable to move up the chain without someone moving down.

It's right here in the article

> Rather than sending our most brilliant minds up the income ladder, America is ensuring that the wealthy, no matter their mediocrity, retain their grip on the highest rung

The assumption the author is making is that both things (sending our most brilliant minds up the income ladder AND the wealthy retaining their grip on the highest rung) cannot be true.