Power corrupts. Absolute power corrupts absolutely. No human is so pure of character or motive that he should ever be trusted with unchecked power.....or the notion that he is intrinsically better than another. Your post is flawed because you are trying to conflate Elitism with MERITOCRACY. The two are not the same. Elitism is the notion that one person or a group of people are DEFINTIONALLY better than another. Some of the worlds greatest crimes have been perpetrated in the name of elitism. The blood bath of World War I, where Europe's dying monarchies sent its commoners to die by the millions in the mud in the defense of empires. The Fascism that lead to WWII. The racism that led tot he African Slave trade, and the anti-Semitism that gave us the Holocaust. Elitism is----by its VERY nature disrespectful and snide----because it believes that I am not simply more talented but that I am fundamentally a better human being than you are from the womb. MERITOCRACY is the notion that you EARN your place in society by demonstrating competence and talent. Universities that fill their classes with the chidren of (wealthy) alumni are being greedy and elitis. Universities that fill the classes with the best and brightest students are employing meritocracy. Sports teams are not elitists. Teams that wish to WIN are strict meritocracies. You compete win your starting position...and you compete to hold on to it...and the moment you are no longer the best player for the job you are either relegated to the bench or are off the team. The notion of elitism is that those who are "most capable" is determined by lineage, race, sex, and other factors of birth. Meritocracy is the notion that those who are most capable is proven by actual deeds. In the goal is to win in some competitive arena...then meritocracy is appropriate. It is the most effective and efficient way to find out who are the best at a given task. But elitism is always toxic and inappropriate....and even meritocracy is inappropriate in situations where there is not supposed to be competition for limited resources. Because toxic competitiveness sours and corrodes communities....and breaks the bonds of relationships.