I agree vehemently. Where (and when) I grew up, if you were smart, you were automatically cool, regardless of social standing, or whether or not you were "easy on the eyes." The problem is, obviously, multifactorial, and there are no easy solutions. Maybe I'm being a bit idealistic, but I think if we start with what we CAN control, and teach our own children the importance of education and its attributes, respect for themselves and for others, and educate them on the fleeting nature of popularity, popular culture, and material things, then that's certainly a start.