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Tom V's avatar

In our economic system, the brightest don't enter government service, because it doesn't pay. These may be some smart people but not the cream. The captain of industries don't want smart people in government. Efficient government means they can't get away with questionable practices.

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Realist's avatar

"In our economic system, the brightest don't enter government service, because it doesn't pay."

There is a big problem using the desire for monetary gain as a proxy for intelligence.

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Tom V's avatar

I understand money doesn't necessarily mean a person is smart. We do see that the vast majority of the wealthy are smarter than the average smart person. Let's look at the richest 10 people in America. They are the brightest we have. Except for Balmer, everyone is self made.

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Realist's avatar

"We do see that the vast majority of the wealthy are smarter than the average smart person."

Not a high standard.

"Let's look at the richest 10 people in America. They are the brightest we have."

Where the hell is the citation for that? Highly intelligent people seek knowledge...not wealth. Becoming a billionaire requires rapaciousness, not high intelligence. The richest one, Musk, gained his wealth through government largess (tax breaks and favoritism).

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Tom V's avatar

The competition itself is the proof. The competition for resources is universal.

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Realist's avatar

"The competition itself is the proof. The competition for resources is universal."

The competition is for power and wealth, which requires conniving and duplicity. This requires above-average intelligence but not high intelligence.

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Tom V's avatar

The law of large numbers say otherwise.

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Godfree Roberts's avatar

I estimate that the cutoff for acing the exam and getting an interview for one of 30,000 annual government job openings in China at 135. The competition includes 50 folks with 160+.

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Realist's avatar

"The US congress is also an intelligence meritocracy."

Way overstated. You are assuming that the Episcopalians in Congress are the intelligent ones. How do you know that the Episcopalians in Congress are not from the left of center on the distribution curve? The idea that a few in Congress may be above average intelligence does not convey an aura of meritocracy. It is hard to find a group of people more stupid than Congress.

Of the positive human traits, intelligence is one that ranks right up at the top; integrity is another.

Most everyone knows where Congress ranks in integrity.

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A. Hairyhanded Gent's avatar

I must caution here: if one firmly believes that an identified group is stupid, it blinds that person against recognizing instances in which he/she may be manipulated by these same "stupid" people.

Never, ever underestimate your adversaries, potential or actual.

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Realist's avatar

Hence my comments about integrity.

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mani malagĂ³n's avatar

That congress is an assembly of intelligent psychopaths controlled by more intelligent psychopaths through lobbyists adds little to the observation that a group of babboons is also a congress.

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Alan Perlo's avatar

Not sure how you drew the conclusion, though the point about Jewish and Episcopal overrepresentation is old news yet evident. Certain groups have way more members in Congress than their IQ results would warrant, and this was only strengthened by the rise of identity politics over the past 20 years or so.

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varactyl's avatar

Jews are geographically concentrated (with about a million living in New York alone). Unless they are willing to move far away, this limits their number in congress.

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Richard Bicker's avatar

I think you'd have to look at total Jewish population numbers, distribution of Jews across the USA, and the total number of congressional seats available relative to that distribution. I doubt a particular concentration of Jews (around 10% of total, I believe) in the state of New York or in New York City in particular would have much of an effect, one way or another.

You'd also have to keep in mind Jewish political participation either directly as elected politicians, appointed officials, and party apparatchiks or indirectly as movers and shakers in sundry interest groups, political action committees, media operations, opinion makers, and/or philanthropists and funders of political campaigns.

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Joe Boston's avatar

What is the point of this?

My first glance assessment is that I would be happy being ruled by Episcopals even though I am Catholic because Episcopals would rule me benevolent and well.

I don't give a flying fuck how smart and capable jews might be. They hate me and my people and are fucking genociding us.

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Realist's avatar

He gave his opinion. What is wrong with that?

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