As a science fiction (SF) fan, partial to dystopian SF, and writer, I would have a great novel on my hands if this weren’t simply the way things are.

How to create a real-world dystopia:

1. Identify “privilege” as “achievement” using a mechanism that you label “scientific” and “standard.”
2. Use “achievement” to create the authority class.
3. Repeat.

Sounds easy, but some may call this outlandish. So let me offer a visual:

And for those who enjoy the power of the word, let me offer this:

Paul Tough v. Peter Høeg – or – the Advantages and Limits of “Research” or, How Children Succeed v. Borderliners , Ira Socol

Dystopias are hard to see when you live in one—just as fish have no idea what “water” means.