Most Americans are intelligent- no, make that many Americans are intelligent -while the vast majority have the understanding expected of a 12-year old. And the emotional, mental maturity of the average 12-year old. And graduated high school that way.

There’s a big difference between intelligence and the maturity to understand how to use that intelligence and whatever education is received. That requires wisdom, which requires a certain level of maturity that is sorely lacking in most Americans.

I know PhDs who are, to be polite, dumb as a rock. They don’t lack in intelligence or education but still haven’t grasped that maturity and the wisdom that (should) come with it are not the same as getting Master’s Degree or a doctorate.

I also know poorly educated people who are far wiser than many people I know who attended college and others who never completed high school, yet are wiser than many college graduates and I’ll often take their advice over that of some of my “well-educated” friends.