Diploid said:

It's not clear why this happens and many reasons have been proposed including better nutrition, increasing brain size, and even plain old natural selection as smart people tend to make more money and can afford better food and health care than their low-IQ counterparts.

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redgreenvines said:

if intelligence means communication then yes
if intelligence means human rights then maybe
if intelligence means kindness then no

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as communication increases one would expect human rights and kindness to flourish as well though~

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yes one would, as with communication, should come increased understanding of others, which would lead to increased civility and kindness.

If increased means for communication are taking place, and understanding that leads to civility and kindness is not, what does that mean?

It just means that modern communications technology has allowed for us to be communicate with ears, minds and hearts closed at a faster rate. 

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. It would seem that people with lower IQs are choosing the smarter path for genetic success in the developed western nations.

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As long as we continue to expand new frontiers of societal development and don't let the progress of the last century stagnate, I predict we'll see that human evolution will naturally tend towards favoring the more intelligent. But we'd better get our education and government programs in high-gear if we're going to keep up with the rest of the world.

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Yes, and look at the programs you sited that helped others. Both involved acts of civil rights and kindness (understanding).

Many of the wealthy and successful know that if they give in to these traits, their will be no one left to shine their shoes, mop their floors, and work their businesses for them for minimum wage.

There is an advantage for the wealthy and intelligent to support programs that keep the masses dummied down, and to reject those that would change it.

The wealthy design systems that require "certificates" to get a head. They also design systems that make it hard to afford the ability to get that certificate, to get ahead.

Those born with raw high intelligence or innate wisdom, into poverty, rarely get a chance to shine and move things forward holistically for the whole of the human race, at a faster pace.

I think many of current systems slow down any real and meaningful progress.

More kids may be conquering algebra at earlier grades and more kids are also being shot in schools by other kids then ever before.

Is this the sort of progress we want to making and can it even be called that?

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Those born with raw high intelligence or innate wisdom, into poverty, rarely get a chance to shine and move things forward holistically for the whole of the human race, at a faster pace.

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gettinjiggywithit said:

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As long as we continue to expand new frontiers of societal development and don't let the progress of the last century stagnate, I predict we'll see that human evolution will naturally tend towards favoring the more intelligent. But we'd better get our education and government programs in high-gear if we're going to keep up with the rest of the world.

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Yes, and look at the programs you sited that helped others. Both involved acts of civil rights and kindness (understanding).

Many of the wealthy and successful know that if they give in to these traits, their will be no one left to shine their shoes, mop their floors, and work their businesses for them for minimum wage.

There is an advantage for the wealthy and intelligent to support programs that keep the masses dummied down, and to reject those that would change it.

The wealthy design systems that require "certificates" to get a head. They also design systems that make it hard to afford the ability to get that certificate, to get ahead.

Those born with raw high intelligence or innate wisdom, into poverty, rarely get a chance to shine and move things forward holistically for the whole of the human race, at a faster pace.

I think many of current systems slow down any real and meaningful progress.

More kids may be conquering algebra at earlier grades and more kids are also being shot in schools by other kids then ever before.

Is this the sort of progress we want to making and can it even be called that?

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one might say that the meaning of progress is to establish more and more complex systems, both in the fields of technology and social organization.

however what happens when complexity starts to become problematic and a burden to human well-being? would advancing through the above meaning of progress be really such a smart thing to do? would not retreating be a more intelligent response?

i think the consensus on the act of retreating is generally looked down upon. the basic idea is that deconstructing a system somehow goes against progress.

"we can't take down and completely re fabricate our institutions, that would mean pulling back, and by that we would be slowing down our advancement!"

it really seems like this is the kind of attitude floating about nowadays and i believe this calls for a deep look into our core values.

progress IMO is only a means and not an end, and so is retreating.

they're both neither preferred nor desired, but only directions which we can choose to take with the help of our intellect and wisdom.

harmony and well-being should always be the goal, not sometime in the future, but here and now.