There have been many intellectual tyrants. I disagree that we'll get better leaders simply by educating the people about science.

I still think it's a bit more abstract than that. Would you agree that overall knowledge is good? Or at least holds more objective, intrinsic good than not?

I'm positing that a society that knows more is better than a society that knows less. A society that knows more is better able to wield that knowledge to make decisions than a society that doesn't have that knowledge. I fail to see how there is any negative to educating more of the general public. Sure, it's gonna' be damn near impossible to measure anything on a political leader vs. general knowledge scale, but intuitively I think education is good.

I agree that a society that knows more is better than a society that knows less. Knowledge is good in its own right. But knowledge doesn't change human nature. The rising tide of knowledge will lift all moral boats. Smarter good people, smarter bad people.