But I'm less concerned with the implications of our ambulatory differences than I am with helping us as a society come to grips with our intellectual inadequacies. It's very clear to me that we need more rigorous and comprehensive precautions built in to our cultures to help forestall the terrible ravages of stupidity that make such a mess of our lives every day. First thing we do is give everyone a series of intelligence tests. I subscribe to the theory that there are different kinds of intelligence. Some people have a native sense of manual dexterity and are adept with tools and machinery, and yet are illiterate, for example.
Some people can pick up musical instruments with ease.
Others are good at communicating with people and manipulating the thoughts and feelings of those around them. The tests should sort everyone out, and those who have one skill or another shall be given patches to be sewn onto their clothing or rings they can wear on their fingers or some other such totem to designate them as being skilled, intelligent and valuable. The stupider the person, the taller, sillier and more brightly colored the hat. And they shall be prohibited from owning or operating motor vehicles and dangerous or heavy machinery. Chainsaws and backhoes, for example, are off limits right at the top of the list.