Where Will America's New Brain Elite Come From?   

found Shannara Johnson's article to be ironic.   Ms. Johnson implies the younger generation is mentally challenged. .  She may want to include herself in this group.  The best example of her lack of brain power, especially for a writer, would be ending the title of this article with a preposition.

To speak in the words of Winston Churchill (at least they’re attributed to him): “This is the sort of bloody nonsense up with which I will not put.”

And to be fair to Shannara I think you should've included the subjective personal pronoun to begin your sentence.  For example, instead of starting the sentence with "found Shannara Johnson's article to be ironic."  You should have included the subjective personal pronoun "I" at the beginning of the sentence in order to indicate that the pronoun (which is you and not to be confused with me indicating that you should've used "you" as an objective personal pronoun) is acting as the subject of the sentence. 

But again, that's trivial.  I think what we should be focused on is the fact that America's youth has gotten dumber due to numerous reasons (I blame American Idol, My Super Sweet 16, Paris Hilton and the breakdown in familiy values) .  And I do have to say, China and India may be where new minds come from to study abroad in the U.S.  However, I do feel they'll leave just as fast and go back home in order to be tops in their fields in their country of origin.  So if we can't grow em orgainically and we fail to retain them if they come to our country to study and leave, then that leaves the U.S in a very bad position.  What do you think? 

 Given the fact that our educational system is in a state of disrepair due to many factors it is unlikely that new brainpower will be coming from within the United States anytime soon.  In fact, I believe that our financial brainpower is overrated.  Most of the articles I read or choose ot read are written by people who live outside of New York City.  

 Our brainpower is being conditioned to believe that if you cannot get into a certain school you will not succeed in life and that one should be as shallow and greed driven as possible.

Nail on the HEAD waldo.  Apparently if you don't have an M.B.A. and/or graduated from Ivy League institution then you shouldn't be in business.  Which is total garbage. And Donald Trump's Apprentice show is case in point on shallow and greed.   I don't mean to keep bringing TV shows in the equaiton, but to make my point, these shows convery that you HAVE to be a jerk, shallow, bite the head off everyone and screw everyone but yourself to get anywhere in business.  Which is the exact opposite of what business is all about.  From my perspective, it's about creatiing lasting and fruitful relationships based upon honesty, honor and trust.  Not selling sex, not being a jerk, not stabbing people in the back, etc.   Maybe we can just blame Donald Trump for a worldwide degradation in business ethics.  You hear that Donald?  You're FIRED!!!  Now go get a haircut.