Originally posted by Dowding:
But then you believe poor people must be feeble-minded and of low intelligence to be poor in the first place, so they get what they deserve!
If I am only talking about USA, then definitely yes.
My personal experience and detailed statistical studies I've read led me to believe that is the case.
I do believe that inability to find a place in life despite abundant opportunities, tendency to commit crimes or be involved in other kinds of self-destructive or anti-social behavior is closely linked to intelligence. Since intelligence it to a great degree inherited, there is no fault of an idividual for having low intelligence.
That is why I would
never use a derogatory term like "feeble-minded". Also "deserved" can hardly be used here since it is hard to imagine how someone could "deserve" a certain set of parents (unless you believe in reincarnation). I would definitely not combine the above two with an exclamation mark.
I would be much obliged if you abstain putting words in my mouth.
If you must quote me, here it is - the current inequality of incomes and crime rates among various ethnic groups in USA other then first-generation immigrants reflect inequalities in their genetically inherited capabilities and to much lesser degree their cultural and socioeconomic differences (also inherited to some extent).
It would be a very strange coincidence if evolution or creator made races/ethnicities different in every single biological/physical aspect but exactly the same in terms of brain complexity. Multiple studies indicate that it is not a case.
The only way to determine intelligence is to give person a test and see the ratio of right answere to wrong - intelligent people making more right choices and cognitively-challenged people making more wrong choices.
Now, if seems obvious that making wrong choices is detrimental to an individual's success in life, unless you live in a socialist country where
equality of outcome is insured.
In order to be a college material a person should have IQ around 115 which puts it one standard deviation above average. That means 16 people out of 100 are that capable.
In order to be an executive/scientific material, a person should have IQ score of around 130 points or 2 standard deviations above average. That means 3 our of 100.
Since having a college education or being an executive or qualified professional is highly related to a person's financial success, it is easy to see how a difference in average intelligence affect their outcomes.
For a race with average IQ, 84% are above the borderline retarded level, 16% are capable of attending college and 3% of becoming executives.
For a race with average IQ of 85, 50% are above the borderline retarded level, 3% are capable of attending college and 0.3% of becoming executives.
That is a natural state of things. The issue is what is possible to do to minimize social problems.
Lowering educational standards till everyone can receive a certificate of graduation is not going to help.
Creating social campaigns that intended audience cannot mentally comprehend is not going to help either.
Providing training for people incapable of absorbing the knowlege is not going to make a difference.
Ensuring jobs simple enough for less-capable people would probably help.
miko
[This message has been edited by miko2d (edited 04-30-2001).]
