The fact that you said we need to get smarter but that more than that we need to get wiser is...well, pretty wise. If there is one thing we lack in this country it is wisdom. We have plenty of smart people but those who can exercise good judgement, those who can think long term, those who can imagine solutions beyond what might just be politically expedient are much harder to come by.
So here's a question: How would a population go about acquiring wisdom? I actually had a funny mental picture concerning this. We could have one of those ever popular "wars" on senselessness. I'd like to hear some of your suggestions for the Foolishness Zsar. It would make a good SNL skit, at least.
Of course we cannot think on a national scale for such an effort. It is simply too daunting. So the only thing to do is to press on one mind at a time. Challenging thinking, having discussions, continuing to pry open our own minds and those of friends. (I did give it up at parties my daughter will be pleased to hear.) One heart and mind is really about all we can hope for.
While we can't make stupidity illegal, we ought to at least honor sound judgement. But we don't do we? We give reality shows to people who ought to be (if we had any national self respect) be embarrassments. We export our ignorance and proudly display our shallowness. This is never quite as evident as when traveling in a foreign country and coming across American programming. The feeling is one of revulsion in a way that cannot be experienced at home. You become keenly aware that this is how those around the world may be interpreting us.
Yikes.
If we can't legislate morality we certainly can't legislate wisdom. Maybe we are going about it all wrong. Maybe we should try prohibition. After all it worked wonders for drugs and alcohol.
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