Quote: from Apotheosis at 3:02 pm on Feb. 27, 2007
It'd be a meritocracy because the richest would become smarter through bioengineering. 
That would be true if intelligence was directly tied to genetics and if morals and ethics were as well. Some of the richest people aren't the brights nor the most ethical. Again, results in a aristocracy. A meritocracy relies upon ethical intelligent people. The rich often only have one, or neither. What we could do is essentially what Socrates argued, abeit slightly modified. Take the most promising line of genetic heritage and then teach them specific morals and ethics. They then become the supreme biological philosopher Kings and Queens. I'd rather do that then merely favor the rich.
Starts off as a plutocracy, winds up a meritocracy. The problem with aristocracy is that all the inbreeding makes them all fucking retarded assholes--bioengineering not only corrects that, it makes them smarter. 
You can only work with a set number of avaliable genes. Unless you plan on importing genes from other people. That's of Mary Shelley if you ask me.
Usually one would want smart --> leader --> money; in this case, it'd be leader --> money --> smart. 
Not necessarily, and not in the US.
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