A belief that the human species should be improved upon by means of governmentally-enforced "natural selection" methods - as Charles Darwin had written about regarding animals and plants - was one of those rather far-out visions of the early Progressive Party. Although the Party faded before long, the eugenics studies - and experiments - continued on into the early 1960s.
Again, the early Progressive Party is not the same as the ideals and goals of the current "progressive" branch of the Liberal Democrat political party in America today. At least not the eugenics part, I don't think. On the other hand, the current bunch of crazies living on HuffPost would probably think it would be ok to lobotomize Sarah Palin in order to silence her.
I want to talk about eugenics rather than politics in the next few posts, however.
This subject is too large to do in one post. Some of the topics I want to cover include Kellogg's of Battle Creek, Seventh Day Adventists, mental health facilities in the U.S., some theorists, famous locked-up people, some people associated with the progressive/eugenics movement, Nazi Germany, and more. I HOPE YOU WILL COMMENT RIGHT AWAY IF ANYTHING ABOUT THIS SUBJECT INSPIRES YOU TO DO SO, RATHER THAN WAIT UNTIL I FINISH THE WHOLE THING, AND WITHOUT WORRYING ABOUT WHETHER I INTEND TO TALK ABOUT YOUR COMMENT SUBJECT LATER.
I've always liked the idea that SOMEONE should have a hand in how many people live on planet earth and have never seen anything wrong with trying to weed out people who will never live productive lives. Sadly, this group would include me and a good many people that I know. I kind of like the idea of eugenics by Means Testing. If you can afford it, go for it.
ReplyDeleteRobert A. Heinlein was in love with eugnics that he devoted a good part of his last ten books or so to the concept. Of course, his was a Private Eugenics,not a Government mandate. He also liked the idea that only those who had served in the military could vote and that a well armed society was a polite society.
As to the Porgressives of olden days, what will our ideas about life, the universe, and everything look like in a hundred years?
The current quantity and variety of human ineptitude is not exactly a good argument for the Intelligent Design folks.
DeleteFollowing up on Heinlein some more. I know him only for the sexy parts. I think that was Heinlein?
It was. He also thought you should have to do math to vote, didn't matter if you were a kid or what.
DeleteI loved the works of Heinlein, by and large, but I fear his brain was starting to leak out of his head the last few books which tended to begin ok and then kind of turn into an orgy with no point.
Pity. When he was good, he was really good. And thought provoking, even when I didn't agree with him.
I must give him more attention and research.
DeleteI'm hoping to progress, if I work at it diligently, from imbecile, to moron.
ReplyDeleteIt is encouraging to realize SOMEONE whose intellect I respect is taking my long hours of research seriously.
DeleteLobotomising Sarah Palin?
ReplyDeleteNope. It's pointless. A true eugenics hit-squad would go back in time and eliminate her parents before they could breed. The woman's stark, staring loopy.
I thought you were going to say "impossible because she has no brain" but I'll settle for a mixed metaphor. :)
DeleteAs you know, she is my hero. ine. At least in the helicopter (chopper) moose hunting category.
If ever you get the chance, watch the movie "Iron Sky" for a spoof of Sarah Palin as President. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1034314/...
DeleteMind you, I somehow doubt it will get a showing in the U.S., because it does rather poke fun at your nation.
Graham Crackers, don't forget those.
ReplyDeleteWhat?
DeleteA comment too far.
You're probably just cream crackered.
DeleteGraham Crackers.Invented for the same reason as Kellog invented his own corny goodness, in a sudden creative spurt.
DeleteUnfortunately, I know too many idiots. I didn't realise just how far down the scale they came.
ReplyDeleteI just bought T. Corrahessan Boyle's book, 'The Road to Wellville', which is a historical novel set around the exploits of John Harvey Kellog and the Battle Creek Sanatorium...
ReplyDeleteI'll try to remember to report upon it.
Corraghessan with a g.
ReplyDeleteMaybe I should take your typing course.
I saw the movie (of the same name) that was made from the book. It was hilarious. Sir Anthony Hopkins played Kellogg. He wore a dental thing to make his front teeth stick out. I have seen pictures of Kellogg and I didn't notice that he had buck teeth. Artistic license, I suppose, but it was VERY funny. You should rent it. It was mostly about the health aspect and the enemas and no sex and corn flake recipe stealing. Not much about his views on eugenics if I remember. I recommend you rent it for a laugh.
DeleteEugenics, like any breeding program, is hampered by two things: one, free will and two, the fact that no one is definitively qualified to say who is really fit to breed and who isn't.
ReplyDeleteOne could base it on value added, but then that doesn't make them effective parents or prove that genes will tell.
Most you could do is breed out obvious physical issues - but then being a hemophiliac doesn't keep you from being a brilliant individual who contributes unduly to the world.
Not a responsibility I would relish, deciding, even if it bothers me that we make people take tests to drive vehicles but anyone with the right working parts can create a whole other person (even if they have no other qualifications whatsoever and can't even take care of themselves, let alone someone else).
Are you saying we should have some sort of minimum standard in order to reproduce? :)
DeleteWhat I'm saying is I can understand the frustration when children grow up in the hands of those who can't take care of them properly, the frustration that there are no criteria.
DeleteHowever, on the other side of that is the rather egregious concern that no one could come up with criteria that would be sure to weed out bad parents or that those that passed would be good parents. education, money, intelligence...none of those assure being a good parent any more than the lack of those things preclude it.
Becoming a parent can make someone ne'er-do-well get their act together. Someone otherwise responsible can be a neglectful parent.
Truth is, being a parent is OTJ training and predicting those that will do it right, more than I am certainly capable of.
Does not make seeing children pay for their parents' lapses is still desperately sad.
Unfortunately, I don't have a solution. For the reasons I mentioned, however, I don't see eugenics as the answer.
When I get pets, I get them from the shelter. And I'm a firm believer in hybrid vitality.