There is another dimension to this problem though; national borders and status.
There are a TON of really smart mexicans and other immigrants of every nation who are stuck into an effective caste system based on their status.
In fact, modern American society would literally fall apart if all the mexican service workers were raptured.
My point is that while we look at those who cannot contribute to a technologically advanced economy, we also are pigeon-holing many many others who are based on the complexities of citizenship status problem.