Strange Bedfellows

Why do comic book and cartoon super villains hire such incompetent henchmen? I know that every genius level character in these superhero universes are more apt to be super villains themselves than hired help, but can't these guys get goons with GEDs or something? I'm tired of seeing conversations where a criminal mastermind boasts about his awesome plan to his lieutenants and the entire concept is beyond them. DON'T YOU LEARN? How many times do your second stringers have to fail to protect you from Batman before you smarten up and go headhunting among the collegiate ranks?