this post was submitted on 02 Feb 2026
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Yes I remember that. That's definitely not "pro-eugenics". There's a strong correlation between women's access to education and birth rate (they are inversely related), which is also not eugenics.
I don't know how to tell you that something is eugenics, if you don't see how a scenario in which stupids breeding too much and the smarts not breeding results in an apocalyptic dystopia in which the human race is not smart enough to operate a society is related to eugenics.
It also essentializes intelligence/education as something that is not dependent on policy or material reality. Only way to be smart is if your parents are smart. If your parents are dumb, sorry, you're dumb.
Not to mention the idea that only intelligent people are valuable to society is basically a right-wing talking point. The bell curve and books like that have made it popular.
Do you think that the US has been engaged in a program of eugenics between 2006 and now? Cuz we are a lot closer to Idiocracy now than when it came out.
Do you think we're "a lot closer to idiocracy now" because "stupid people" are breeding too much so there aren't enough "smart people"? How can you keep missing that that is what is eugenicist, not the portrayal of Americans? If you really think that is the problem with the US, you are a eugenicist. And that is how the movie frames the problem, explicitly from the very opening.
Yes, I think we are closer to idiocracy now (Bush II vs. Trump), but not because of "breeding". Nobody is "breeding" humans, lol. That's disgusting framing.
There was also the cultural aspect of anti-intellectualism where people displaying any hint of intelligence are abused, physically and/or verbally, which cultivates further anti-intellectualism. Also in the intro scene the 2 groups juxtaposed were one that live in a trailer park (symbolizing the poors) and one that live in a mansion (symbolizing the wealthy). The movie takes place in the US so we know access is drawn exactly along those lines. I saw it as more of a materialistic framing, and backed by the well established relationship between education and birth rate, but I guess that’s art, right? People walk away with different ideas after seeing the same thing.
Also, on another note, no need to be angry among comrades :) it's all good, we're all on the same side
They only took the concepts that back eugenics theories, that "stupid people" are poor people and breed more, and created an entire future dystopia from that framing. But of course it wasn't a movie supporting eugenics.
”Stupid people shouldn't breed/should breed less” is basically the definition of eugenics.
No, it's not. Eugenics is using selective breeding and/or forced sterilization to produce a human population with specific traits.
Yes, and in the movie "smart" is a specific trait that is only influenced by your parents. It might not be arguing for a eugenics program, but it is saying that underlying idea of eugenics is correct, when it is not.
Huh? I didn't get that from the movie. There was also the cultural aspect of anti-intellectualism where people displaying any hint of intelligence are abused, physically and/or verbally, which cultivates further anti-intellectualism. Also in the intro scene the 2 groups juxtaposed were one that live in a trailer park (symbolizing the poors) and one that live in a mansion (symbolizing the wealthy). The movie takes place in the US so we know access is drawn exactly along those lines. I saw it as more of a materialistic framing, and backed by the well established relationship between education and birth rate, but I guess that's art, right? People walk away with different ideas after seeing the same thing.
Idiocracy essentially makes the argument that we should use selective breeding and/or forced sterilization to produce a human population with specific (liberal intelligentsia) traits
Really? That must have gone totally over my head. Huh. Well, it's been 20 years lol. I don't remember there being any policy suggestions in the movie.
Eugenics is the policy proscription for dysgenics, which is what Idiocracy is about.
Yea, eugenics is intentional and human-directed. My recollection is that Idiocracy didn't have that aspect, but it's been over 20 years so I might be wrong.