Is meritocracy the cause of limited opportunity in the United States?

While the US may stress a meritocracy that promotes equal levels of education and opportunity, history and lecture has shown a nation with limited opportunity and mobility. With meritocracy, wealthy children may not receive a "guaranteed" wealthy inheritance, but instead receive a ferocious work ethic and a strong education. That in itself may perpetuate more wealth inequality and destroy opportunity. As lecture has shown, this may have led to lower income inequality, less income mobility, lower reciprocal altruism, and less re-distribution.

http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2011/11/the-tyranny-of-meritocracy/248061/