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I don't think controlling for "ability" would affect the results or conclusions if we assume that "ability" is not set at birth. I think there is a lot of reaso

I don't think controlling for "ability" would affect the results or conclusions if we assume that "ability" is not set at birth. I think there is a lot of reason to believe that, given that much of "ability" seems to have to do with internal features like grit, empathy, and patience. These can (probably) be enhanced by good parenting and environment or detracted from by bad parenting or a chaotic or violent environment. (See John Medina's Brain Rules for Babies for a good summary of existing evidence) Of course, if these results are just the natural result of genetically hereditary features like intelligence than the conclusions are insanely gloomy- due to the "assortative mating" trend cited in the article, the US seems to be doomed to have hereditary social stratification.

stalcottsmith 12y ago
Internal features (as you describe them, they sound like virtues) of grit, empathy (or lack thereof) and patience are second-order modifiers of base ability which is largely fixed at birth or at least by early childhood. Some amount of virtue can overcome a limited deficit of potential but it is more the exception than the rule. We have had hereditary social stratification for basically all of human history. Only in recent centuries and only in the most developed parts of the world have we taken a brief detour away from some form of feudalism which is observed pretty much everywhere people settled down to practice agriculture and produce surpluses. It seems like today, we are busy recreating Feudalism 2.0 with American characteristics. The wealth inequality we observe today seems fairly indistinguishable from that which we might observe in a world where genetically heritable features (not necessarily or only IQ) largely determine financial outcomes and where wealth is inherited, compounding effects through generations. Whether nature or nurture, advantages will be passed along even if we implement a 100% inheritance tax.

stalcottsmith 12y ago

Internal features (as you describe them, they sound like virtues) of grit, empathy (or lack thereof) and patience are second-order modifiers of base ability which is largely fixed at birth or at least by early childhood. Some amount of virtue can overcome a limited deficit of potential but it is more the exception than the rule. We have had hereditary social stratification for basically all of human history. Only in recent centuries and only in the most developed parts of the world have we taken a brief detour away from some form of feudalism which is observed pretty much everywhere people settled down to practice agriculture and produce surpluses. It seems like today, we are busy recreating Feudalism 2.0 with American characteristics. The wealth inequality we observe today seems fairly indistinguishable from that which we might observe in a world where genetically heritable features (not necessarily or only IQ) largely determine financial outcomes and where wealth is inherited, compounding effects through generations. Whether nature or nurture, advantages will be passed along even if we implement a 100% inheritance tax.