In addition to other demographic data listed with your state government, your IQ should be listed on your driver's license or state ID. This way people can be carded for specific events, not based on age, but based upon their IQ.

For example, if you are talking to an apparent idiot, you can ask for ID and know for certain. It also might be a way to filter certain people away from potentially dangerous activities, such as drinking a McDonald's coffee, operating a copy machine, sending email, or running for a political office. Heck, the lowering of insurance rates for those in the higher IQ brackets might pay for the neccessary testing and software changes to enact the change.

Write your congressperson now.
-- vulgrin, Feb 12 2002

Stephen Jay Gould: The Mismeasure of Man http://www.amazon.c...93314251/halfbakery
The history and past abuses of intelligence tests and metrics. [jutta, Feb 13 2002]

The McDonalds Coffee Lawsuit http://lawandhelp.com/q298-2.htm
Mentioned in passing. Actual facts probably don't match what you imagine they are. [jutta, Feb 13 2002]

IQ test intelligence does not equal competence in other areas of life, since IQ tests only sample a small cluster of the constellation of mental abilities. Audiences for events or activities that benefit from an above-average intelligence tend to be self-selecting anyway.

Your intent would be better served by introduction of barriers-to-entry that are relevant to the subject. For example, if you only want "smart" drivers to be licensed, then insist upon appropriate performance competency tests. If you only want the literati to attend your poetry reading, then publish the announcement in convoluted, difficult verse.
-- quarterbaker, Feb 12 2002


With this system, if intelligent people commit a traffic violation, do they get treated more harshly? They should know better. But let the idiots off.
-- pottedstu, Feb 12 2002


Add marital status and number of dependents too. Then, those of us who are single can check the DL for intelligence and availability stats also.
-- runforrestrun, Feb 12 2002


Hmm. Does Larry Ellison read this site? Perhaps he should be taking notes for his National I.D. proposal for the U.S.

Actually, maybe enough data could be programmed into the cards that when you meet another person in the bar, you could simply exchange cards, quickly run them through a program that simulates your lives together and see if the result is Married or Divorced. Those who don't believe in marriage perhaps could have different options such as "Sneak out before they wake up", "Stay for brunch" or "hide relationship from parents for thirty years".
-- vulgrin, Feb 12 2002


Cop scans the license, quickly divides the published mental age by the operator's chronological age and multiplies by 100, and says "So your IQ is 65; well, how did the market do today?"

Would make for ridiculously long waits at the hardware store.
-- reensure, Feb 12 2002


No thanks. I don't want to have to obtain a fake ID listing my IQ at 100. (What makes you think it's just the dumb that'll be discriminated against?)
-- bookworm, Feb 13 2002


Great Idea! That way George W. would never have become president!
-- pogoman59, Feb 14 2002


he'd still be here in TX....probably still our governor too.
-- runforrestrun, Feb 14 2002


Sadly Inteligence and Common sense tend to act as opposites... usually the smarter someone is the less common sense they have.

I used to be really smart but a few years back I traded some inteligence for common sense. Now I'm only average.
-- CasaLoco, Feb 14 2002


"Intelligence and Common sense tend to act as opposites..." - (CasaLoco)

"Common sense is genius dressed in its working clothes." - (Ralph Waldo Emerson)

Your choice.
-- bristolz, Mar 08 2002


[bristolz] You did a disservice to [CasaLoco]: You spelled 'intelligence' correctly.
-- phoenix, Mar 08 2002


This is pretty much baked, but in a different order, at least the insurance part. Smart people don't get in accidents as often, so their premiums tend to stay low. If you're stupid, and you're getting into a bar, you are more likely to be thrown out for stupidity. Etc., etc. The system works the way you suggest, just not by the same mechanism.
-- Slicer, Mar 30 2002


Would that mean that points can be taken from your iq rating in accordance with doing dumb things on the highway?
-- loke, Jun 17 2002


and what would be wrong with all that, Steve? It may actually be a *good* idea to put suggested IQ levels for use on some things....
-- runforrestrun, Jun 17 2002


It would be nice to see an IQ requirement for some products, so there won't be this warning on a hairdryer: Do not use while sleeping.
-- Amishman35, Jun 18 2002


This is a spectacular idea. Vulgrin, a pastry for you! How could anyone be against this?!
-- Uberminky, Jun 18 2002


Has no one proposed "IQ on Halfbakery profile" yet?
-- mighty_cheese, Jun 18 2002


//Smart people don't get in accidents as often//
Except when they're hit from behind by stupid people?
-- angel, Jun 18 2002


Cf. Scott Adams, "The Dilbert Future".

Divide the population into high IQ and low IQ groups. Ask them to vote on a specific issue.

2 results:

1. All the smart people vote the same way. This means intelligence has a significant impact on the democratic process.

2. The smart people vote in the same proportions as the dumb people. This means intelligence has no impact on democracy.

Which is the scarier answer ?

All hail, mighty Scott. All trademarks and copyrights fully, humbly and grovellingly acknowledged.
-- 8th of 7, Jun 18 2002


How about IQ on police id card (and badge)?
-- pashute, Nov 12 2002



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