Agreed, on all points.
I would like to point out that China has no qualms about utilizing her intellectual resources. Given the focus of some Chinese genetic research into neurological development, and given America’s propensity to ignore the same, I have some serious misgivings about the coming century.
In the Fifties, the Chinese were educating women and moving them into the arts, sciences, anywhere they had talent. In the US women were expected to marry and have kids whether they really wanted it or not.
I can only think that the intelligent are going to go to the Asian countries and end up contributing heavily while the rest of Eastern Europe works to recruit them as well. Russia will work hard at getting our best and as usual, our country will ignore the entire development and then wonder why Russia and China are now jointly dictating world policy, with the US obeying.