I just read something strange online today. I forget where I read it, so I won't mention the cite. But it was a board member. So he might have been expressing an opinion too. But he said the average American has a below normal IQ. Is that true? Because that has me confused. The word "normal" means average. Doesn't it? So if most of a population were some way it couldn't be average. So how could it be the norm? Or normal, in other word? BTW what is an IQ score? It's a specific test. The Binet test or something. They seem to still use it. What does it measure? And what does your score mean on it?
I have read someplace, who knows where, that 50% of the population has an IQ below 100. Funny, nearly half the population voted for Trump, too. Methinks there be a connection....
Don't forget about the rest of the world. If the thing you referenced is correct it may be saying that average American has an IQ below the global norm. I make no comment on its validity.
Also, I might as well post all of this here. In some places like Japan, if you don't succeed in school, you're life is finished at that point. Unless that's changed. I don't mean you're not successful, I mean you wind up in poverty. Success shouldn't be linked to intelligence, and a reasonable standard of living shouldn't be either. And, I think actually on that last one MLK, Jr. had a good idea. Universal basic income. We should all have the same basic standard of living to begin with. I guess some might choose not to work if we did that, though I've always doubted that. But the solution to that is to have a two-tiered system. Basic income, maybe just call it welfare benefits, if you don't work. Just enough to live on. And when you work, work anywhere, you get universal basic income. Unless you're legally disabled and entitled to that of course. There aren't many people who are legally disabled, so I don't think their not working would ever be a drain on the economy. And a doctor determines if you are disabled too. And I also think that we should do away with status or prestige jobs. Or at least people getting paid a lot for them. Doctors, lawyers, CPA's and master chefs in fancy restaurants. They should get for how hard they paid, like B. F. Skinner pointed out. Not just for their status or position. Like professors emeritus at universities. Professor emeritus is an honorary title awarded for distinguished service to the university. Emeritus professors have retired, but they keep a connection to the university. Some may be very active, continuing their research or teaching, while others may be less involved. I just read online that they are typically no longer paid a salary because they are not expected to fulfill the same duties as active faculty. I was about to tell you that it is wrong for them all to stay on the payrolls and get paid with public and student money if it is a public university. But why are any of them getting paid at all? I could look into their salary. But I guess there are very few professors emeritus, so that shouldn't be a big issue. But there are some jobs that are more honorary than others. And there are some jobs where people just get paid for things like their education and position. And I think most people would agree with me that's wrong.
70% of Americans believe in angels. 42% of Americans believe in UFO's. 21% of Americans believe in magic. 23% of Americans approve of Donald Trump. America ranks 17th in average IQ. 21% of adults in the US are illiterate. 54% of adults have a literacy below a 6th-grade level (20% are below a 5th-grade level). This is why we can't have nice things.
