Yes, there’s the question of “is genetic engineering of humans a monstrous, tower-of-babel or Antichrist scale evil” or “politically incorrect” — but those considerations tend to go by the board really quickly when national survival is at stake (see nuclear weapons, etc.) And SOME religious groups might say “the Lord helps those who help themselves.” And as far as political correctness – it will die out, since it is a luxury for people whose lives are too easy!!!!!! When the chips are down, political correctness will…evaporate.

So how about this scenario – wait as I put on my Science Fiction Writer’s hat…

Let’s stipulate that in 50 years, the relationship between reaction time and IQ is thoroughly understood. And genes and gene frequencies that contribute to IQ are understood — even if it’s a a million genes spread across the whole genome, each with tiny effect, “big data” technologies can be used to compute an embryo’s “estimated IQ range” by crunching all this data, in a few destructively sampled cells taken from an embryo after a few cell divisions.

And that whole genome sequencing is at a point that for, let’s say $50,000 US, a couple can have 1000 IVF embryos made up, from their gametes, and scanned for deleterious mutations – and the best brought to term. Schizophrenia, ugliness, shortness, etc. — gone.

Lots of professional couples would avail themselves of this technology (I know some who would – they told me). And it’s popular enough that the government can help subsidize it (the US government, not just, say, China). Government already subsidizes similar expenses…i.e. social programs, etc. So the politicians might see this as a good investment, especially if “the Chinese are doing it, too.”

And let’s stipulate that that it is widely understood that dysgenics is causing some bad social effects (in 2060).

If this kind of technological fix is applied across a large part of the population, say about half — would it be enough to stop this problem, especially if the technology advanced over time(i.e inserting synthetic genes, re-engineering the basis for high IQ so it’s not so fragile, etc…) And what if it continues for decades or centuries??

What are the prospects (stipulating cost, etc, as I have proposed) that this would do the trick?

Err, should be per decade.

1. http://drjamesthompson.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/a-response-to-two-critical-commentaries.html
2. http://drjamesthompson.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/original-paper-high-quality-replication.html

You will be able to buy the refined materials from sales reps in Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Singapore.

http://nypost.com/2014/03/11/college-board-has-made-sat-even-easier-again/

http://isteve.blogspot.ca/2010/09/is-sat-getting-easier.html

Grade 8:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2013/07/05/can-you-pass-this-101-year-old-test-for-8th-graders/

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/12/1912-eighth-grade-exam_n_3744163.html

Taste in books:

http://freakonomics.com/2011/09/01/were-colonial-americans-more-literate-than-americans-today/

http://www.johntaylorgatto.com/chapters/3b.htm (Ctrl-f ‘mohicans.’ I recall but can’t find a similar discussion at Foseti’s.)

The malthusian wringer was extremely harsh, as far as I know. It wasn’t just let the sick die, it was force the bottom half of the population to be sick and starving.

Not sure if those resources are easy to get or not though.