See, the thing about this comment isn't that I believe it couldn't happen. It's that I for damn sure don't think it will only be done by China.
The designing will be regulated in all countries, some attributes will be ruled unsafe to alter, or only allowed to be altered in specific fashions. The appropriate medical council variant will explain rationally that it's unsafe to do otherwise for such and such reasons. The line between medical justification and political meddling is pretty easy to blur with a bit of pressure and some good relationships.
The general public will have access to change certain genes/or be required to make these changes for the 'good' of the population. These Genes will be to make the working class less disruptive (reducing conflict by reducing genes that generate anger/or narrowing the emotional band of people to a much more narrow scope (think gene changes that have the same result as anti depression medication)) while stating that these genes need to be changed to get rid of medical issues such as ADHD For example Think about removing the ability to have their own children, got to pay extra if you want your child to be able to have their own.
The top will be able to change a lot of other things. They will be able to boost intelligent (do you really think the governments of the world want a super smart population? no, they will kept that for themselves)
All in all we are getting to the stage where there will be 2 classes of humans. The working class will become completely inferior to the uppers and thanks to the gene changes very few if any will ever raise above their station
Seems like we trying 1984 in US n Euro. And Brave new world in China
If you try and counter this with "people wont stand for it" they will, none of the China population will stop it, and once its standard there they were be breeding super humans. The rest of the world will either have to do it to keep up, or accept our Chinese overlords
So glad I have no plans to bring a child in to this future we all building for them
Alpha (“the upper class”)
Beta (“the second upper class”)
Gamma (“the middle class”)
Delta (“the second lower class”)
Epsilon (“the lower class”)
Double-Plus (“the superior subdivision among Alphas”)
Plus (“the superior subdivision among Alphas, Betas, Gammas or Deltas, but inferior to Double-Plus”)
Minus (“the inferior subdivision among Alphas, Betas, Gammas or Deltas”)
savage (“a person outside the integrated portions of society, and therefore separate from all classes”)
Your point about a society capable of large scale gene editing would not need a working class is legit. it will be used to thin the populations out to 'manageable' numbers. Then class split based on parentage.
A perfect system and within 3-4 generations completely normal
Because it's the hierarchy that defines you. An Alpha, alone, is indistinguishable from an Epsilon. See Veblen Good; if nobody looks at your rolex it's just a heavy timex.
The designing will be regulated in all countries, some attributes will be ruled unsafe to alter, or only allowed to be altered in specific fashions. The appropriate medical council variant will explain rationally that it's unsafe to do otherwise for such and such reasons. The line between medical justification and political meddling is pretty easy to blur with a bit of pressure and some good relationships.