Leveling

Here’s Eric Hoffer again, writing in 1974:

The agitation about the population explosion is persuading many talented and enterprising Americans to have few children. The resulting change in the composition of the population will probably be not unlike that produced by war, which kills the strong and venturesome and increases the proportion of those least fit to improve and adorn mankind.

We see at present brilliant people agitate with all their might against the birth and advancement of brilliant Americans. They want to divert all wealth and energies toward the nurturing of the least endowed.

Before the Sabbath, p. 25

5 Comments

  1. JK says

    I’m unsure whether this comment is what you’re hoping for, but aren’t those the most likely to volunteer for Dunkirk?

    Posted April 21, 2010 at 11:50 pm | Permalink
  2. Dan says

    Mike Judge (of Beavis and Butthead/Office Space fame) made a movie about this very idea: Idiocracy.

    Posted April 22, 2010 at 12:55 pm | Permalink
  3. Malcolm says

    A classic, I’m told.

    Posted April 22, 2010 at 1:08 pm | Permalink
  4. Malcolm says

    JK, everybody volunteers when it’s Dunkirk.

    Posted April 22, 2010 at 1:08 pm | Permalink
  5. JK says

    I didn’t think that through. You are correct of course.

    How about Demolition Derbies?

    Posted April 22, 2010 at 9:26 pm | Permalink

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