I am sure some read my title and said, “Well, Duh, Mr. Obvious,” and others just chuckled.  Frequently, as I view the actions and antics of politicians, this reality smacks me in the face.  Many of them are lauded as being very intelligent.  When I observe and listen to them, I am again forced to acknowledge that having university degrees and being measurably smart does not make one wise! 

You can have the IQ of a genius and be a virtual moron when it comes to wisdom and common sense.  I’ve known people who are smart according to their test scores and are incredibly lacking in wisdom.  I’ve known some people who are or were not measurably smart but were incredibly wise, and I’ve known people who are both.

In my life, I’ve only been intimidated by one person intellectually, and that was short-lived because of who that person is.   He is smarter than I, and we both know it; he is my brother.  That someone is deemed smarter based on measurable test scores does not eliminate me from the conversation. I am allowed to have an opinion, and you are too!

Just because I state that I am not intimidated by people deemed incredibly smart does not mean that I am not saying that I think I am as smart as anyone or everyone else, heaven forbid.   I’m saying that I’m not afraid to think, examine, and express my thoughts.  If they are wise, they may give me the insight needed to expand my knowledge.

If measurable scores determined wisdom, my father would have failed miserably, but he was one of the wisest men I have ever known.  He was astute in applying knowledge, using common sense, and demonstrating rational thought, which made him wise.  I know people who are far more intelligent than I am, but that fact does not intimidate me because I am comfortable within my own skin and person. 

I am not afraid to acknowledge that I do not know something when I do not, and I am not afraid to converse with people holding multiple doctorates in various disciplines.  I find discourse with intelligent people stimulating, and it challenges me to dig deeper and apply myself more.

When I listen to arguments today or ideological presentations of politicians, activists, university professors, and others, I often think, “Measurably smart, practically dumb.”  Having the ability to use ‘legalese’ and write legislation that is larger than most novels does not mean you have demonstrated wisdom.  It may well mean that you practiced deception and are attempting to hoodwink the public and even your colleagues in Congress. 

Making something complicated is not demonstrating wisdom but the opposite.  How can you expect people to follow a directive when they do not understand it?  I found in raising my children that the less complicated I made my instructions, the more likely they were to be followed.

When Congress produces legislation that even they do not understand, you know we are not being governed wisely.  Wisdom would insist that laws and regulations be easily understood.  People often fear what they do not understand, and it often seems that it is precisely the objective of some legislation and legislators. 

It is almost like the religious hierarchy of ages past when the person in the pew was not allowed to have a Bible or read it for themselves.  The hierarchy wanted to explain to the people what was intended and thereby control the people.  I believe we have the same situation in Washington today, where most politicians want to ‘tell us’ what the legislation means rather than producing bills and laws that we could easily decipher.  It seems to give them a sense of power and importance to have us in the dark and confused. 

They believe they are ‘smarter’ than the rest of us; therefore, we have to be controlled because they are ‘smarter.’  That is incredibly lacking in wisdom, for when people become frustrated enough, they revolt; when they revolt, those in power are deemed the enemy, whether they truly are or not. 

We elect officials as our ‘representatives,’ not our ‘lords.’  I see a rebellion coming in this nation where the people become so fed up with the politicians they refuse to submit.  I am not suggesting or calling for an ‘armed insurrection’ but saying that dissatisfaction with politicians and politics is growing among those of varying political stripes. 

What will be the tipping point?  I don’t know, but I know that if you corner an animal, even one that is ordinarily passive, there is a point where it will fight back, and when it does, it fights for its life.

I hope the voting public sends a message to all politicians in every election that we are tired of being cornered and manipulated.  I hope that enough bad politicians are given their ‘pink slips’ so that others take note of what WE, THE PEOPLE, are saying instead of trying to tell us what to say, think, and do.  I long for a time when we hold politicians accountable for the laws and legislation they pass.  We might return to ‘citizen representation’ and a ‘Republican Democracy’ if that were to happen.

May God bless you, and may God bless America.