David Dunning, author of the article, was half of the team that defined the Dunning-Kruger effect: the cognitive bias stating that people with low ability at a task overestimate their own ability, and that people with high ability at a task underestimate their own ability.
We see people on TV, in opinion articles, and even in this forum, who have no idea what they're talking about but have strong opinions about serious topics that affect everyone. They often have the loudest voices and are able to stifle debates using bullying tactics that make honest debates impossible. They are also one of the reasons we don't get good candidates. Our elections are, and have always been, ugly. I think that pretty much sums it up. They're ugly, and they deter a lot of good people from running from office. Who wants to go through that process? Not the best and the brightest, that's for sure. It's just candidates who can put up with all the crap that goes along with running for office, and don't mind putting their families through it.
One possible solution is to only allow people with four year college degrees to vote. Going to college exposes people to ideas and forces people to think. Granted, there are plenty of incompetent people with four year degrees, but on average, they're more intelligent than those without.
Of course, if we were to implement that requirement, we'd need to make universities more accessible and affordable, and even free for those who can't afford it otherwise, and that includes living expenses.
