Meritocracy was not what produced American innovation.
Yes, American culture has always embraced entrepreneurship and ability, alongside an array of other norms.
But the technocratic idealization of aspects of this in “meritocracy” is more correlated with American stagnation.
Meritocracy isn't the problem. It's the solution. And the fact that both parties are now moving toward wholesale rejection of meritocracy spells the end of American innovation, freedom, and strength.