Why do they think that they're smarter than us?

At the core of the Progressive Movement is a deep abiding hubris that the "intellectuals" are better than the rest of us, that they are better equipped to make our decisions for us. Their dupes are told that progressivism is all about "progress", but in every case their ideas are regressive harkening back to the days of monarchs and dictators. You see, to implement their "better" ideas, they need absolute power. Now, I don't know about you but I'm an American and that just doesn't sit well with me. Here are two books that help explain my position.