We're as clever as we think we are but we'll be a lot cleverer when we learn to use not just one brain but to pool huge numbers of brains. We're at a level technologically where we can share information and think collectively about our problems. We do it in science all the time - there's no reason why we can't do it in other endeavors.
I think most people believe success in government is how many fewer people are in government not because you kick them off of benefits like unemployment but they've been able to control their own destiny because private sector employers have created more jobs.