Old Delusions, Illusions, and Collusions Are Hard to Break

• Access to higher education has always had various layers of unfairness baked in that are designed to make sure that privilege remains privileged in America.  There is, of course, the use of a fake meritocracy based on the use of standardized tests, with scores that mirror the economic advantage or disadvantage of the children who are forced to take them as part of a demeaning scam that has gone on for a hundred years.  The scam part most people ignore.
  
  And there is the long history of legacy admissions, where top college access is passed down across the generations, regardless of how dim-witted the descendants of the white protestant elite might be (see the Bush clan).
  
  But the most recent FBI sting has uncovered a new depth of corruption among the rich and famous, as well as the whores throughout academia who are paid off to give preferential treatment to the spawn of the wealthy.
  
  And yet the the illusions, delusions, and collusions permeating higher ed down at the cellular level continue.  Look no further than this interview excerpt below, which was aired on PBS the day the news broke about the decades-long conspiracy to cheat and steal Ivy League access. it is clear from insiders, even reporters like Jeffrey Selingo, that the false belief continues that "in many cases, it wouldn't matter where they went." 
  

  
  

  William Brangham:

  At its core, really, this is about wealthy parents who are trying to buy in some ways even more influence for their wealthy children, right?
• Jeffrey Selingo:

  I mean, what's amazing to me is that, in some cases, it wouldn't really matter where these kids went to college, right? They have both the means, the financial means, but also the connections to live a great life because of their parents, no matter where they go.

  So it's kind of shocking that they really wanted that piece of paper from an elite college — an elite college, because, in many cases, it wouldn't matter where they went.