Huxley’s visions of a genetically perfected upper caste might be available soon. It would be difficult to suggest that the development of such technology would not be hailed as progress by those who could afford to use it. Imagine what would happen if people could determine their child’s potential IQ before birth, or how rebellious they will be as a teenager. The above examples suggest we’re open to soft eugenics already. Less well known is the process of sperm sorting, which allows for a couple to choose the gender of their child as part of the process of in-vitro fertilization. Similarly, testing for a child’s sex before birth is a well-known procedure that leads to a wide gender gap in many countries. Almost 100% of detected cases lead to an abortion shortly after. In Iceland, this has resulted in the near eradication of new cases of Down Syndrome in the country. Pre-natal screening has created the ability for many parents to decide if they wish to carry a disabled fetus to term or not. Today, people make choices to influence the genetic makeup of their children regularly. Richard Dawkins: The Dangers of CRISPR, Designer Babies, and Artificial Genetic Mutation While the human assembly line described in the first part of the story is still a far-off fantasy, the basic concepts that make it work are already here. Perhaps more terrifying than other dystopian novels, in Brave New World there is truly no hope for change. Even the characters who are smart enough to know what is going on (and why they should be concerned) are instead content with everything that is happening. Huxley’s dystopia is especially terrifying in that the enslaved population absolutely loves their slavery. The assembly line is praised as though it were a gift from God. The tenets of this faith encourage mass consumerism, sexual promiscuity, and avoiding unhappiness at all costs. Global stability is ensured through the Fordist religion, which is based on the teachings of Henry Ford and Sigmund Freud and involves the worship of both men. The typical person is conditioned to love their subservience and either be proud of the vital work they do or be relieved that they don’t have to worry about the problems of the world. The dictatorship is managed by ten oligarchs who rely on an extensive bureaucracy to keep the world running. The world state is a dictatorship which strives to assure order.