Eugenics: Economics for the Long Run - Essay Example

Considering the role of genes in criminality, poverty, and intelligence in Miller's essay. Any policy which argues for the reintroduction of eugenics must base its arguments upon the genetic factors which influence behavior. In his essay, Dr. Miller argues that there is a strong genetic component' in both criminalities and those who live below the poverty line. However, while he makes a small amount of room for the theory that environmental influences may also have a strong impact upon behavior and intelligence.

He chooses to point at adoption and twin studies to demonstrate that there is a strong link between genes and criminality, poverty, and intelligence. Other studies have demonstrated that, while genes have their place, they are not determinants: i.e., it is not enough to simply inherit such a gene from a parent. Genes alone cannot predict how a child may develop: it is only necessary to look at the families of successful people to find that many of them came from underprivileged and criminal environments and that criminals such as rapists and murderers are not limited to the poor.

Dr. Miller's strategies for limiting births have flaws. While Dr. Miller is putting forward an argument for economic eugenics, he has concentrated his theory upon coerced birth prevention, or mandatory eugenics. This, however, is not the only method of controlling the population, and in fact, maybe the most uneconomic, since people are bound to resist these measures. As Dr. Miller's strategies are all compulsory, this raises many challenges to implementation in a society based on democracy. Economics, democracy and their role in considering eugenics.

The question of whether it is possible to bring eugenics into a democratic society. In a democracy, citizens that have committed no crime should not be coerced into receiving surgery or other severe measures. The economic factors surrounding eugenics also do not consider whether the long-term implications of birth control could mean that workers fall dramatically. Capitalism depends, sadly, on there being an excess of workers at the bottom, driving down wages. Dr. Miller believes that eugenics will mean higher wages for workers, though he does not consider whether this is economically viable, or whether it will mean that the normal worker overprices themselves, and companies turn to illegal immigrants (who will not be under the eugenics program) in order to keep costs down.

This seems a more likely outcome of limited worker stock, rather than simply paying a few more. Is eugenic practice really feasible in a democracy Although Dr. Miller believes that eugenics is economically necessary, he does not consider promotional voluntary eugenics, where birth control is promoted to the people, but not forced upon them? With concerns about population growth and sustainability, this may prove popular in future decades, and the government would not have to bear the brunt of forcing their voters to be sterilized.

Forced programs of eugenics are likely to be seen as a breach of a person's human rights, but voluntary programs offer voters the choice, and therefore cannot be criticized as inhumane. This solution would lead to a population reduction, while still keeping enough of the population to supply businesses with labor.