Interesting, any moron with an application fee can pass the EXTRA test. Takes ZERO knowledge. Download the questions answer and take the test on-line stupid. The whole license process is a joke along with the hobby. 99% of hams do not know the difference between an Ohm and a Drone.
Hi Brad (AI5BC):
I think you're being just a little pessimistic. About 32 million Americans (~10%) can't read, so take them off the table. And some of them aren't morons (old-style IQ of about 50-70) - just uneducated or blind. So right off the bat, 90% of the population already can't be in the "
...Download the questions answer and take the test on-line stupid" range. See? It's already a selective test.
Then there are those darn engineers and scientists. You know, the ones with training: BSEE, MSEE, Ph.D. EE and similar. Lots of THOSE in amateur radio. Quite a few physicists of various sorts, too. Like Joe Taylor, JT65/JT9/FT9 developer/inventor and Nobel Prize winner. Many have P.E licenses as well and know the difference between an Ohm and Mho. Not too shabby. LOTS of them out my way in AeroSpaceLand. Let's just ballpark them at 30% of the radio amateur crowd, with absolutely no supporting data (seems natural, today).
So now we're down to less than 70% who COULD be morons. And morons are RARE - less than 2% of the general population. Morons who can read, write and take tests are even more rare - and you have to applaud them for their achievements, given the barriers they face. So maybe ham radio only gets the very best morons, which would seem to be OK. But I digress...
Next, we have the BS or better, non-engineering "professional" crowd. You know - English teachers, real estate agents, art history majors, economics grads who go into business, wealth management and trading. Not morons by any means - just interested in ham radio for no other reason other than that it's "cool". And they have a proven ability to learn at an advanced level and usually do. Their diplomas and earning ability which enables them to buy $5,000 worth of radio gear proves it. Because this category is so very broad, lets say another 30% live in it. Now we're down to at least 40% of hams who aren't REALLY morons, though some might pretend to be, particularly on social media.
Next there are the "Techs" - 2-year degree holders and those with SOME technology training - at least enough to earn the cash to buy radios, antennas, homes, etc. You know the type, right? I'm SURE they're good for AT LEAST another 30%. But they're VERY vocal and SOUND like 75% - but we'll ignore that.
OK. So maybe as much as 10% of Radio Amateurs might be be literal morons - not just "acting morons". Or none at all. Given that the general population is made up of 2% morons, I tend to think that at least 98% of all radio amateurs are not literal "morons". Unless someone's lining morons up and forcing them to take the test. Who knows - we live in strange times.
So, with just a little work and some solid sideways logic and hard speculation, we've gone from maybe 99% of radio amateurs being morons, as you implied, to just 2% or less in that category. At least on the air. Social media is another situation altogether.
Isn't it wonderful what you can do with just a little thought and optimism?

Brian - K6BRN