Let’s face it America is far from a merit based western society, it’s rigged! America is rigged in favor of wealthy business oligarchs. The upper middle class leverage their wealth by using tax codes and zoning laws to insulate their wealth.
For example upper middle class members often purchase expensive homes, then get a tax deduction which is tantamount to a government subsidy. While on the other hand zoning laws are used to create redlines to ensure that only people of similar wealth and prestige are permitted to reside in a particular community.
Institutional discrimination isn’t limited to housing but often extends craftily to education. Wealthy people create local school boards and craft policies that determine which school students are permitted to attend, this is often achieved by creating school zoning rules. This means that parents must live within the geographical region where their child will attend school.