Let’s be honest: American Santa Claus is unsettling. It’s not just the sight of an overly-jolly old man breaking and entering; it’s the entire Santa Industrial Complex that feels…icky. We recently had a discussion during an internal staff meeting about the guy (spoiler alert: he’s not real). For many of us, the tradition left us with lingering feelings of betrayal, inadequacy and even fear. It should be noted that there are a few of us on the team who have fond memories with Santa. But this article isn’t for those people. We’re talking to those of you who’ve always had an ick for old Saint Nick and haven’t quite been sure why. You might be thinking, “gee, what a bunch of sticks in the mud these humanists are.” We assure you, our cynicism is sincere, because when you peel back the tinsel, the Santa myth is far more than a harmless bit of seasonal fun. As we see it, these are our main gripes: 1. False Meritocracy. The American version of Santa Claus is most …