[solenoid0937]

Because without having the smartest people, the reigning superpower is totally, utterly, unequivocally fucked.

Power is a function of technological superiority. The moment you it stops attracting the smartest people, a country will fall behind on military and economic power.

[bluecheese452]

Which matters not one lick to the average citizen. Norway is no superpower yet life is pretty good there.