The great error of meritocracies
As my wife recently pointed out, there is a particular error to which meritocracies are prone. While they start out with clear principles favoring merit as the basis for advancement in society, inevitably some of those in exalted positions come to believe themselves inherently superior, rather than superior by virtue of past merit. This fall was described in detail in the book Twilight of the Elites.
Even worse, egotism may cause such leaders to regard their own progeny (usually male) as superior to average people. This perverts meritocracy into hereditary rule.
The Venetian Republic fell because its otherwise exemplary systems of government allowed hereditary Citizenship; different from birthright citizenship (common elsewhere), then barring from government those newcomers who could have warned of the threat posed by Napoleon.
The systems of a Celebration Society have been designed to avert these problems. Most importantly, by acknowledging that our designs for systems are and will remain imperfect, we will monitor key variables and make such improvements as prove necessary or helpful. No Celebration Society will begin from the hubris of certainty.
More specifically, we will engineer the systems of government to prevent the emergence of a ruling class. By making all positions in the Administration and the Parliament only a single term, with a maximum term length and a minimum interval between terms equal to the length of the last term served, the notion of “professional” politicians will disappear. (If people are professionally employed by the Administration, Judiciary or Parliament, they may have unlimited terms of service, though these like all other positions will be subject to recall by majority vote of Parliament our Citizen Initiative.)
However, the lead positions–there being no President or Prime Minister–of Minister of the Administration Council, Supreme Court Justice, or Member of Parliament, will all be time-limited as per above.
By cycling all lead positions in and out of government, with appropriate transparency and prevention of self-serving actions by officials, any separation of Citizens from government should be avoided. The principle of the Citizens as a body BEING the government becomes feasible.
In the case of the Royalty, it is anticipated that there will be an internal hierarchy. However, this hierarchy (and indeed the Royalty itself) will cover no special benefits or privileges. It is likely an opportunity to serve more fully, and membership will be conferred to those who have already demonstrated such a commitment in their lives over many years.
Further the Sarvay, acting as lead Royal, will have a particular tie breaking and ceremonial role; however, this will be time-limited to a single term, following which the Sarvay will become Sarvay Emeritus and counsel the new Sarvay.
There is an additional factor that will make it harder for Celebrationist meritocracies to devolve into hereditary rule. Because leaders will receive no special monetary or other material rewards for their service, they will not have the advantage of special assets to confer upon their children. Likewise, in a society which provides the essentials of a good life to everyone–including rich educational opportunities and support–differences in upbringing will not exaggerate innate differences of ability. Therefore, whether children come from rich families or middle class families (there being no lower-class families), it will matter far less than whether those children grow up in a Celebration Society or elsewhere.
Finally, by making Citizenship an office that any resident can attain, although only by successfully completing an objective and arduous process of preparation–a Rite of Passage–we will assure that the office of Citizen is valued and shall remain open to all on a meritocratic basis.