Yes, your value is not based on your intelligence but on your ability to generate economic value.
Economic value however is not meaningless. It represents a measure of contribution to the capital engine that powers our lives. The whole system however is completely unfair and biased since the actual economic value created by workers is not realized by them. Workers create value that companies could not survive without but these companies do not then redistribute gains from that value in commensurate with the work done.
As such I don't have a problem with us looking at being able to generate economic value as meaningful, I have a problem with the skewed system that distributes the rewards and opportunities unfairly.
I think you need to define "economic value" here. GP, I believe, was referring to actual exchanges of money for value.
The problem is that lots of very important, valuable jobs aren't compensated accordingly. One could say that being a good parent is one of the most important and valuable jobs, but it pays very little. The same is true of teaching and scientific research. A huge amount of value (almost incalculable) is created for others, but the creator is able to capture very little of it.
Do you have a citation?
``` We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed ... ```
[1]: Declaration of Independence, http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/declaration_transc...
^^Offer not valid in all locations.
Whereas disregard and contempt for human rights have resulted in barbarous acts which have outraged the conscience of mankind, and the advent of a world in which human beings shall enjoy freedom of speech and belief and freedom from fear and want has been proclaimed as the highest aspiration of the common people,
...
Article 1.
All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. . .
...
Article 2.
Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind. . .
. . .
Article 3.
Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.
... etc"
— Universal Declaration of Human Rights - http://www.un.org/en/universal-declaration-human-rights/inde...