re: dumbing down
In the late 80s I worked with a lot of very intelligent people on the Citizen's Advisory Council on National Space Policy. I wasn't one of the major players, like Heinlein, Dan Graham, or Max Hunter, but I was there. They worked a great deal with Dan Quayle on various projects, one of which culminated in the DC-X program.
Quayle was not a dummy. Not by a long shot. People one hell of a lot smarter than you or me have said so.