How Important is Low Intelligence?

[Andy9o8 0]

I hear so much about low intelligence, etc., in the political arena. The thought that a person who's dumb as a post and proud of it, but is a loyal, slogan-repeating dittohead, can do the job better than a person who, uh, ain't. The idea that the gene pool and environment that produced that stultifying ignorance is important.

Why is "low intelligence" so linked by some with "damn good street smarts?" Why is it so considered that a person who knows that God hates Socialists and queers would be a better leader than a person with an edjumacation?

It doesn't take a bona fide moron to be a president; although our most recent former one turned publicly acting like one to a form of high art. And yet, millions of people revered him. And the American public, Hanging Chads and all, voted him into a second term in office.

So what do you say? Should we stop pining away for quality? Do we under-value low intelligence? How low should we go?

[nerdgirl 0]

I would argue that in a globalized economy, it is very important.

At a first order level, IQ correlates largely with nutrition and exposure (or lack thereof) to certain compounds.

Average national IQ also correlates with increased GDP. Something akin to the *data* discussed in IQ & the Wealth of Nations with a physiological (nutrition) and development explanation (rather than latent racial explanation). Therefore raising the average national IQ is likely to raise the average GDP.

/Marg

Act as if everything you do matters, while laughing at yourself for thinking anything you do matters.
Tibetan Buddhist saying

[billvon 2,426]

>So what do you say?

Without low intelligence we would have no infotainment news, no American Idol, no lotteries, no "do not drink the contents" labels on lead acid batteries. We'd have to do away with spam, "walk" signs and sitcoms. Think of the impact to our economy!

[ryoder 1,396]

Apparently, quite important if you are applying for a job carrying a gun.

http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_56314.html

Back when this happened, Leno had him as a guest on The Tonight Show.

"There are only three things of value: younger women, faster airplanes, and bigger crocodiles" - Arthur Jones.

[skymiles 3]

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It doesn't take a bona fide moron to be a president; although our most recent former one turned publicly acting like one to a form of high art. And yet, millions of people revered him. And the American public, Hanging Chads and all, voted him into a second term in office.

We know stupid people like to associate with other stupid people. It seems stupid people also like to vote for stupid candidates. Makes them feel smarter I guess.

[justinb138 0]

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It doesn't take a bona fide moron to be a president; although our most recent former one turned publicly acting like one to a form of high art. And yet, millions of people revered him. And the American public, Hanging Chads and all, voted him into a second term in office.

We know stupid people like to associate with other stupid people. It seems stupid people also like to vote for stupid candidates. Makes them feel smarter I guess.

Your logic explains the current president as well.

[Andy9o8 0]

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raising the average national IQ is likely to raise the average GDP.

Irrelevant. I'm exploring the value of lowering it. Ponder and respond. Remember, grammar and spelling do not count.

[cliffwhite 0]

I'm exploring the value of lowering it. Ponder and respond. Remember, grammar and spelling do not count.

[billvon 2,426]

>Less intelligent people would never have invented the cell phones
>that interrupt my fine dining at "Red Lobster".

Of course, more intelligent people know how to set their phones to vibrate.

[quade 3]

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raising the average national IQ is likely to raise the average GDP.

Irrelevant. I'm exploring the value of lowering it. Ponder and respond. Remember, grammar and spelling do not count.

I doubt you'll be able to do a much better job at lowering IQ than "No Child Left Behind".

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[cliffwhite 0]

Of course, more intelligent people know how to set their phones to vibrate.

[lawrocket 3]

Without the unintelligent we would have nobody over whom we could feel superior.

Why, if everybody was equal, then there would be no room for self-important. Clearly, few are those who think they are on the lower half of the crowd with intelligence.

And one thing about morons is that they lack the mental capability to know that they are morons. So they, too, must have people to pick on as low intelligence.

My wife is hotter than your wife.

[Remster 24]

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>Less intelligent people would never have invented the cell phones
>that interrupt my fine dining at "Red Lobster".

Of course, more intelligent people know how to set their phones to vibrate.

They have a vibrate function? Wow!

Remster

[kallend 1,644]

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>Less intelligent people would never have invented the cell phones
>that interrupt my fine dining at "Red Lobster".

Of course, more intelligent people know how to set their phones to vibrate.

They have a vibrate function? Wow!

Is this thread headed for Bonfire?

...

The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[Andy9o8 0]

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Without the unintelligent we would have nobody over whom we could feel superior.

Why, if everybody was equal, then there would be no room for self-important.

THAT'S IT!!

In my humility, I failed to recognize that.