The push for meritocracy here is pretty simple to understand... since our kids have higher abilities, it only stands to reason that, through merit, they'd inherit the earth.

The wealthy use their wealth to promote their children above others. The well-connected use their connections.

I'm not sure what you mean by "Big Push." If you're referring to the economic theory of the name, I don't think there has been an example of that in the US on a national scale since the Apollo program... unless you count the military buildup of the 1980s, which was quickly reversed towards the end of the decade.