People are intrinsically intelligent.
However ...
when people are put together, they could become a herd
Sheeple are people who unquestioningly accept as true whatever their political leaders say and adopt popular opinion as their own, without scrutiny - they follow blindly, hardly ever question, and their Motto is :
"Follow The Asshole In Front Of You"
The first thing that a Sheeple learns is not to stand out in the flock. Keep your head down at all times. Respect and longevity within the flock are earned from obedience and conformity. Sheepleherders are only happy when all of the Sheeple travel in the same direction at the same pace. Runaways and stragglers don’t live long and comfortable lives.
We are encouraged to consume and reproduce, not baaaad huh? How could we possibly want for more than this?
Our weak and the old are taken away to “rest”, but that leaves more for us until we become old or weak. The resources in our world therefore, are endless, so we will never want for anything. I don’t see a problem here, do you?
A Sheeple must believe whatever the Sheepleherders say. Never question authority. Independent thoughts or actions are disruptive to the entire flock and will be dealt with by the Sheepledogs. Accept your lot in life. Never complain. A noisy Sheeple will draw the attention of the Sheepledogs and will end up in deep poople.
The Sheeple most obedient to the Sheepleherders are wethers; Sheeple with no balls. They have collars with bells attached and the other Sheeple follow the tinkling sound. The Sheeple with bells are called "leaders". Not as if they know where they are going, but they're called "leaders" because they have bells instead of balls.
A wether is the Sheepleherder’s favorite possession. That’s what I want my kids to be when they grow up.
.
However, as the Sheeple flock grows larger, groups form within the flock. Some of these groups are causing problems for all of us because they protect the weak and old from the Sheepleherders. They also kick the Sheepledogs. Can you imagine? Some run away to live in the mountains and take their chances with the wolves. Then, the whole flock is punished for those acts of disobedience by having the supplies reduced. Darn them, because shortages cause Sheeple to hoard and become greedy. Easily controlled too, with a mere carrot under their noses.
A new day brought a new Sheeple to the flock. No one had seen this young Ram before. He said his name is Richard Rambutt. Richard became separated from the flock when only a kid. He had been chasing a rainbow and the flock moved on without him. He was adopted and raised by an old Mountain Goat.
All of the other Sheeple were curious about Richard, and he about them. Richard was his own leader and took responsibility for his own actions. “What a strange way to act” they all thought.
A group of young Sheeple began following Richard; emulating his actions. Richard said, “I am your brother not your leader. Make your own decisions, take responsibility for your own actions, and learn from your mistakes”. “How can we do that”, they asked. “Assume nothing. Question what you hear from others. Listen with your heart and act with compassion. Learn something new every day”, Richard replied. They all heard his words but only few to none understood.
Richard tried very hard to fit in and be part of the flock, but the males were constantly starting fights and the females just wanted to make kids. Neither gender seemed interested in anything else. Richard wasn't really interested in that sort of thing that much, so, being a maverick within the flock is what Richard's fate seemed to be.
As for the Sheepleherders, they are a different species altogether. They are tall and walk on just their two hind feet. They have no wool on their bodies, only rough skin. They just seem to appear, and always with a pack of Sheepledogs close at hand. What happens after that, no one seems to remember.
And the Sheepledogs, well, they surround the flock like a wall containing us, the Sheeple, and barking warnings to all that approach. All of this is for our protection though, so that we can lay down and sleep in ease.
So, nothing to worry about. Trust me. All will be fine. Really, as long as you follow the asshole in front of you ....