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MPs are stupid
It's long been my contention that one reason why Britain isn't well run is that MPs are not particularly clever, and don't understand technology such as the internet.
But the truth is far, far worse than I thought: most MPs are too stupid to know the probability of getting two heads when you spin a coin twice. The correct answer is 1/4, but 60% of MPs got it wrong.
Tory MPs did better than Labour MPs, but even they got woefully poor results:
Among Conservative members, 47% gave the wrong answer, which is disappointing enough. But of the 44 Labour MPs who took part, 77% answered incorrectly.
Although most MPs are innumerate, many aren't aware of it. In an example of the Dunning-Kruger effect, they are too incompetent to realise how incompetent they are:
The survey also asked MPs if they generally felt confident when dealing with numbers -
- 76% of Tories said they did
- 72% of Labour MPs surveyed expressed confidence
There are only 650 people charged with making the laws in this country, so it would be nice if they were chosen so that the 650 most competent people were in charge. But most MPs aren't even minimally competent. In fact they are stupid.
Perhaps we should have an exam that parliamentary candidates have to do. It would ask basic questions on STEM subjects and test their scientific and mathematical knowledge. If they fail the exam, they would be required to wear a dunce's cap on all public appearances, and all their election and campaign literature would have to say in big letters "I AM STUPID". After all, if cigarettes have to carry warning messages, why not politicians?