, Columnist
The Idiocracy May Be Here, But It Isn't Hereditary
It's true that educated people have fewer kids. It's false to think that's making humans dumber.
Don't blame mom and dad.
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The more education people obtain, the fewer children they have. Scientists can now use big data to explore the implications of this well-documented sociological trend, which has spawned much fretful speculation on the future of the gene pool.
Academics talk about a sort of genetic degradation known as “dysgenics,” while films such as “Idiocracy” project that in 500 years, people will live in plastic huts and watch even dumber television than they do today.