I would agree with you to a point, but to say that intelligence means nothing is silly. I don't know what your educational background is but one of the primary reasons many people that I know believe what you do is that our educational system has been “dumbed down” dramatically over the last few decades.
It is now possible for persons of average or even less than average intelligence to complete courses of study that previously would have been out of their reach. On the surface that sounds like a good thing; unfortunately the training provided is now substandard compared to what it used to be.
This partially explains why there are so many persons who have earned “advanced degrees” in technical fields that will argue nonsense such as consensus is a valid part of the scientific method.
Hard work, determination, persistence and focus may very well get a person with less ability through difficult courses of study. In the real world these same attributes are also the most reliable predictors of success, but if they are hard working and determined those with innate intelligence and creative abilities are more often the true innovators in the real world. I am sure that you realize that discounting intelligence is a mistake.
The liberal news media has you all brainwashed and believing that successful people are there because they are “brilliant”, intelligent or talented. that is a BIG lie the socialist news media drill into your head to keep you small and that is so that you don't try . The media wants you (every individual) weak, small ,poor and so dependent on government/democrats. You think the media wants you to be wealthy or have 3 houses owned and paid off? no way cause then you might not need government and or not vote for democrats. So they train you , they drill in to your head the lie that only the talented or intelligent can suceed so that you say "oh i can't be rich or do what he did cause he's a genius and I'm not" . No someone might be doing better than you in some business because he knows more about that than you and worked very hard to get there Anyone can do anything if they set their mind to it and work hard at it every day for long periods of time.
Hey i’m trying to liberate you all from socialist brainwashing . bash me ridicule me if you want. but your liberal masters programmed you . just remember what is socialism/communism “from each according to his ability to each according to his need” . so that assumes that there are many individuals who can't provide for themselves that are needy and the talented have to provide for them . that is ridiculous and has never worked. now America and capitalism says that you make your own way through hard work and I believe that.
The media has sold you a lie. you are their puppet. i have proved a million times over .if someone can do something so can i . there is nothing that someone else has done that you(in general anyone) can not also do.
there is much more that can and will say but enough of this . time for me to get to work!