Have Humans Stopped Evolving?

The tempting answer is "yes." After all, natural selection seems to have come to a halt. Modern society provides for all its individuals, regardless of phsyiscal or mental abilities. There is no evolutionary pressure that would favor some traits over others and induce natural selection.

However, the answer may not be that simple. The most socially successful individuals, such as career women and men who achieve leadership positions, tend to have less children, on average, than the lower income population. In other words, those among us who have (arguably) the better genes and (arguably) better intellectual capabilities get to reproduce less. This sounds like a politically very incorrect statement. After all, who is to say those in the upper classes are smarter or better?

Nobody. In addition, it is fairly obvious that a number of individuals with excellent abilities are born in the lower classes. Nevertheless, from a social perspective the concept that the low income, low education segment of the population is constantly growing seems troubling.

I grew up under a communist regime that indoctrinated me throughout childhood with the idea that all humans are equal, and that there can be no distinction between us based on our social origin. I now live in a capitalist economy that teaches one how wrong this concept is, while at the same time reinfocing the "American Dream" idea that anyone can reach higher. There is no question we can overcome our origins and step up, but that is not to say we all do. Perhaps a very small percentage of us actually get there. If that is the case, I am worried about our society, and the evolutionary trend we seem to have adopted...