Every week, North Star will take some time out of our schedules to bring you our favorite reads from the past week.
Jeff Van Wychen
The War on Stupid People
Intelligence—narrowly defined in terms as the kind of “smarts” that is measured by SAT scores—is an attribute that only about one-third of Americans have, according to Freedman. Increasing, this sort of intelligence is becoming critical if a person is to get ahead in life. In fact, the less intelligent are likely to earn less and more likely to have health problems—both mental and physical. Freedman describes a modern culture that devalues the less intellectually gifted and argues that:
We must stop glorifying intelligence and treating our society as a playground for the smart minority. We should instead begin shaping our economy, our schools, even our culture with an eye to the abilities and needs of the majority, and to the full range of human capacity.
Freedman sets forth several specific policies for achieving this goal.
Stephanie Fenner
Minnesota Adds More Than 300 Lakes, Streams, To Polluted Water List
MPR reports that Minnesota is adding 300 lakes and streams to the state’s list of polluted waters. In total, 40% of Minnesota’s rivers and lakes have been found to be impaired by pollutants.
“Having the knowledge of what percent of our waters are impaired and which particular waters are impaired is important, but what is most important is that we then take that data and information and knowledge and use it to inform action,” said Glenn Skuta, watershed division director for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.
