My soon-to-be popular opinion is that all political processes, even corrupt ones, are meritocratic. If you can't recognize what the real game is and either play it best or change the rules, then how are you fit to lead?
Because they're not exactly motivated by money. If you have good governance in cities then the progressive pet parasite class would be priced out and lose their patronage networks and more importantly, their status and right to physically intimidate people.