America has a competence problem

We have democratized our society in the idea that equality means greater competence. What it actually means is promoting people that couldn't figure it out in the first place to levels where their incompetence is dangerous.

Witness the destruction of a historic bridge by a truck driver who had no idea how much her truck weighed.

Ms. Lambright was aware of the iron bridge stating she had driven on it several times in her personal vehicle and was also aware of the posted signage “no semis, weight limit of 6 tons”. When asked by Paoli Police why she continued through the bridge knowing the weight limit was only 6 tons she admitted to not knowing how many pounds that was. She was advised the weight of the vehicle at the time of the crash was close to 30 tons. - the police report

This is not a small problem. Truckers need to know the weight and height of their vehicles as a routine matter because many roads, bridges, and turnarounds are regulated by these measurements for good reason; exceeding the limit in either can cause a crash including one that may endanger many other people.

If the claim is that the mathematics of understanding weight in tons is too hard, consider what this driver knew:

Officials say 23-year-old Mary Lambright was driving a semi-truck on Christmas night with a 53-foot box trailer carrying 43,000 pounds of bottled water when the accident happened.

...She told police she was aware of the signage but was unaware of the truck’s actual weight.

Police say when she entered the bridge, the trailer’s top began ripping because it was taller than the top of the bridge. As the vehicle attempted to cross, the weight of the vehicle caused the bridge to collapse. - WHAS11

We have an Idiocracy moment here, folks. But there are many of late. We have successfully promoted many fools out of the poverty they deserve, and now, we will pay the price.