OK, if the people running the show are no better than "you" than does that imply merit doesn't rise to the top? If we aren't in a meritocracy, what does that mean for wealth distribution?
Absolutely no meritocracy required.
Is a minority from a ghetto just lucky if they get admitted to Harvard? When we see a stereotypical white guy get admitted to Harvard, we would assume they are privileged. Are the people who break out of overty doing it on their own, ala boot straps style, or are they the product of an unlikely serious of events which gave them the edge they needed?