One day soon, through DNA manipulation scientists may be able to engineer highly intelligent human beings, free from genetic defects. Or at least they can discard genetically deficient embryos (I really don't want to get into the abortion debate here). This is definite future possibility, if not a certainty. If so this may render all this discussion moot, and probably shift the debate to the relationship between wealth and intelligence.

Funny you should ask ...

Wouldn't even begin to make this argument moot. The root of this argument is the same root as the argument against engineering your own progeny,

What is intelligence, and why should one person's version of it be selected for and judged superior?

Sure, they could find the genes that create genius level mathematic ability,but who gets to decide (and pay) what is best for the species as a whole?

Genetic engineering doesn't solve any of these issues. True science a decision maker, just a series of tools that helps people make the right choices. Having a tool that gives people who don't understand the scope of their own intelligence and genetic heritage, just brings all these societal issues about race and intelligence into sharp focus instead of a problem that can be spread out over generations.

With human society being as bluntly stupid as it is right now, the worst thing that could happen is for the pie in the sky promises of genetic engineering to fulfill themselves.

If such a technology exists, I doubt that it would be applied to the human species as a whole. I assume that it would be prohibitively expensive to most except for the very wealthy, at least initially. That is why I mentioned that the debate will over wealth and intelligence. It is simple human nature to want the best for your progeny, and if a technology exists than can further this goal, then it will be used.

has such people in it.

Hopefully, by that time there will be a beyond-human AI who can tell us what to be. And maybe even engineer a virus to make everyone in the world that way! Personally, I'd balk at any person trying to impose their vision on humanity, but perhaps if its suggested by an intelligence that can't even be measured, our fears would be assuaged. It's like having a God who actually does overt things!