My comment on intelligence was directly in response to my parent comment's quote "Aside from that, people in aggregate just aren't that bright"

> We can try to aspire to it, but none of us can honestly say we just want what's best for everyone.

This is exactly why having anything approaching a ruling class is a large hazard to avoid. Intermediate steps between citizens voting and power being executed are an attack area for people with selfish interests to inject themselves.