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The Dunning–Kruger Problem in Modern Governance
American Thinker ^ | 23 Mar, 2026 | Jeannie DeAngelis

Posted on 03/23/2026 5:43:51 AM PDT by MtnClimber

Overconfidence despite clear incompetence was evident in both Obama and Mamdani.

There is a cognitive bias called the Dunning–Kruger effect, which -- in my opinion -- would be better called the Obama-Mamdani effect today. Dunning-Kruger describes a delusional mindset where “People with low knowledge or skill in an area tend to overestimate how competent they are.” In biblical terms, this kind of hubris is defined by Paul in Romans 12:3 as one “...think[ing] more highly of oneself than one ought.” That Scripture verse captures the essence of two popular, similar politicians who, despite having little knowledge or skill, have convinced many Americans of an expertise that simply doesn’t exist.

The Dunning-Kruger effect is a significant issue in politics and governance. When leading people, a lack of self-awareness about personal experience or expertise, combined with excessive charm, can harm large groups of innocent citizens, leaving them vulnerable to those with delusional self-perceptions who wield more power than they can manage.

Those who enforce the delusion of Dunning-Kruger on others are often people who perform poorly but lack the self-awareness to see that their confidence is unfounded. For some of us, that kind of overconfidence despite clear incompetence was evident in both Obama and Mamdani.

Judging by the arrogance assessment, Zohran and Barack are men cut from the same egotistical cloth. Why? Both clearly overestimate how past experience of stirring up trouble for poor people translates into the ability to manage complex government systems. Barack Hussein Obama and Zohran Kwame Mamdani’s deception about their own abilities is so deep and wide that each ran for and won political offices they weren't truly qualified for. In fact, these guys are so similar that it takes only 1 hour and 30 minutes to fly from Barack’s “home country in Kenya" to Zohran’s birthplace

(Excerpt) Read more at americanthinker.com ...


TOPICS: Society
KEYWORDS: democrats; dunningkruger; leftism; mentalillness
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1 posted on 03/23/2026 5:43:51 AM PDT by MtnClimber
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To: MtnClimber
And there are still people who think 0bama was the greatest president ever.


2 posted on 03/23/2026 5:44:11 AM PDT by MtnClimber (For photos of scenery, wildlife and climbing, click on my screen name for my FR home page.)
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To: MtnClimber

Barry Soetoro - D evil


3 posted on 03/23/2026 5:51:06 AM PDT by PGalt (Past Peak Civilization?)
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To: MtnClimber

What will Mamdani’s cash for clunkers be?


4 posted on 03/23/2026 5:52:09 AM PDT by Track9 (Liberal tears make me smile. Thank you DJT!)
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To: MtnClimber

I do not assume either Barry or Mandami had the slightest concern for the people they harmed.


5 posted on 03/23/2026 6:03:09 AM PDT by marktwain (----------------------)
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To: MtnClimber

“And there are still people who think 0bama was the greatest president ever.”

He had the trifecta, he was well spoken, black and Democrat. That combination will elevate a person to great heights in America today.


6 posted on 03/23/2026 6:09:03 AM PDT by brownsfan (We are already on the slippery slope.)
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To: MtnClimber

The biggest problem with most politicians is that they believe winning the election is the achievement. Actually doing the job for which they were elected is less important.


7 posted on 03/23/2026 6:15:37 AM PDT by Repealthe17thAmendment
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To: MtnClimber

When Jimmy Carter was GA governor, he would attend DC events. He decided to run for the Presidency when he concluded that he was as good as any of the politicians he met. What he didn’t realize was that he was correct, but for the wrong reason: it wasn’t that he was as good as them, but that they were as bad as him.


8 posted on 03/23/2026 6:29:31 AM PDT by chajin ("There is no other name under heaven given among people by which we must be saved." Acts 4:12)
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To: MtnClimber

The “Squad” are the perfect example.


9 posted on 03/23/2026 6:30:55 AM PDT by TangoLimaSierra (⭐⭐To the Left, the Truth is Right Wing Violence⭐⭐)
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To: MtnClimber

In a nutshell: stupid people don’t know they are stupid.


10 posted on 03/23/2026 6:40:21 AM PDT by bk1000 (Banned from Breitbart)
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To: MtnClimber
I disagree with the premise if this article.

They know exactly what they are doing, and the rhetoric is just something to get the faithful to sit still for it.

Never take lefty rhetoric at face value.

11 posted on 03/23/2026 6:41:31 AM PDT by Salman
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To: marktwain

>> I do not assume either Barry or Mandami had the slightest concern for the people they harmed.

To achieve the Revolution Omelette you HAVE to break the eggs.


12 posted on 03/23/2026 6:42:16 AM PDT by Nervous Tick (Hope, as a righteous product of properly aligned Faith, IS in fact a strategy.)
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To: MtnClimber
The jug-eared Kenyan jackass got lots of encouragement/reinforcement of his D-K delusions:


13 posted on 03/23/2026 6:42:26 AM PDT by Sicon ("All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others." - G. Orwell)
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To: Repealthe17thAmendment

>> The biggest problem with most politicians is that they believe winning the election is the achievement.

Excellent point. We The People have made it this way, by failing to engage in local politics (i.e. basing it on actual relationship), instead through our laziness allowing it to become re$ource-based.


14 posted on 03/23/2026 6:45:29 AM PDT by Nervous Tick (Hope, as a righteous product of properly aligned Faith, IS in fact a strategy.)
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To: bk1000
stupid people don’t know they are stupid.

Yes I do.

15 posted on 03/23/2026 6:46:50 AM PDT by Sirius Lee ("Never argue with a fool, onlookers may not be able to tell the difference.)
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To: Sicon

The Dunning-Kruger test is used to find political candidates. Their handlers want someone dumb enough to think they’re smart.


16 posted on 03/23/2026 6:53:21 AM PDT by T.B. Yoits
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To: Sirius Lee

Stupid people can do smart things but not as often as smart people do stupid things. Knowing how stupid you are makes you a lot smarter than people who have no concept of how stupid they are.


17 posted on 03/23/2026 6:57:09 AM PDT by EandH Dad (sleeping giants wake up REALLY grumpy)
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To: Sirius Lee

If you have a wife, you know.


18 posted on 03/23/2026 6:59:37 AM PDT by steve8714 (I have great hope for Pope Leo. Please don't disappoint me by following your predecessor's ways.)
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To: MtnClimber

The Dunning-Kruger list is a whole lot longer than Odumbo and Dum-mommy. AOC, Adam Schitt, Fartwell, Fani, Schumcky. Too many to list.


19 posted on 03/23/2026 7:00:34 AM PDT by EandH Dad (sleeping giants wake up REALLY grumpy)
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To: MtnClimber

The amazing thing is that those who thought Obama was a good president ..are still allowed to vote. On some occasions they vote many times or break other voting rules also.


20 posted on 03/23/2026 7:01:58 AM PDT by oldtech
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