Knowledgeable or Intelligent

Although now-a-days people are more generally knowledgeable (they mostly know the moon isn't made of cheese, aliens don't live on Mars, there is an Ozone layer, things are made of molecules and atoms etc) are they more 'practically intelligent'?

Firstly what do I mean by 'practically intelligent'. Let define it as: The ability to solve a problem or come up with a view with the use of a lot of information some of which isn't self-consistent (and therefore wrong). For instance someone who was reasonably practically intelligent would conclude that SUV's are a ridiculous waste of resources (despite having the opinion, perhaps, that they are a fun and comfortable ride).

I think that although people are more knowledgeable (compared with a few hundred tears ago) they may be less practically intelligent. Why? Because they learn primarily by being dictated to. Humans are (as all successful animals) are curious creatures with an innate desire to experience and learn things. But when you spend the first ~18 years of your life being dictated everything from your knowledge to your spiritual beliefs coupled with constantly being bombarded by advertisements twisting your emotions and tying them to products you loose your curiosity (not to mention in most cases your attention span). All of the things in regular peoples lives direct them to be good conformists who consume. TV shows you what you are suppose to act like, look like and even think!

This is all well and good, but where is the evidence? Look at our political system and our news. They are riddled with inconsistencies, loose truths and plain lies. If people could think for themselves no politician could promise the world and get away with it, people would realize it is nonsense. But they don't.