So we see that some people argue that the United States is about as meritocratic as a large, complex society can reasonably be. They believe that the gap between rich and poor is largely based on work ethic, values and other characteristics of individuals. Others contend that this gap is primarily caused by deep inequities in the United States that are intergenerational, regional, racial, and largely beyond the beyond the control of the individuals affected. In your examination of these two points of view, who gets the better of the argument and why? Support your view with logic, reason, and extensive use of the course materials.