I’m not sure I would bring high IQ into this. Norwegians tended to own their own farms, they knew how to manage resources. The winters taught them to plan ahead.

Most importantly, Norway realised it had to avoid spending all its oil money to be responsible. An Iraqi immigrant helped establish this policy. Wouldn’t give him all credit as some give the impression of, but I think it’s interesting that people from the Middle East do have the right ideas. But the environment they’re in prevents their voices from being heard.

It reminds me that the mediocrity of an enormous amount of the U.S. is really quite voluntary. Enormous potential. Enormous wealth. Just cannot figure out how to socialize the prosperity.